Under A Blanket Of Blue: E-Z Play Today

This E-Z Play arrangement captures the lyrical warmth of a standard while keeping the harmonic vocabulary within reach for early intermediate players. The two-page length makes it ideal for students who want to tackle real jazz vocabulary without the time investment of a longer piece.

Tender and nostalgic, like sitting at a piano in a small club on a quiet evening. The melody floats above gentle accompaniment with a sense of ease that belies the sophistication underneath.

Early intermediate pianists ready to explore jazz standards and song material beyond classical etudes. Teachers seeking short, complete pieces that introduce students to the harmonic and stylistic territory of American jazz and popular song.

• Balance the melody against left-hand support; the tune carries emotional weight, so keep accompaniment restrained and conversational rather than dense
• Explore the jazz inflections in phrasing, allowing time to breathe at phrase endings instead of rushing through to the next bar
• Adjust tempo to suit your touch; this standard gains intimacy when played with a relaxed, unhurried quality

Pair this with other standards from the American songbook to create a jazz recital segment, or slot it into a pops or crossover concert where classical and jazz repertoires share the same program. At two pages, it works well as a palate-cleansing piece between longer works.

• Reading and executing jazz articulation and phrasing
• Understanding lead sheet harmony and chord quality in jazz contexts
• Balancing melody and accompaniment textures
• Interpreting written jazz style notation