What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?: Ukulele

Loesser's jazz-inflected harmonies and conversational lyrical style translate beautifully to ukulele, where the instrument's warmth enhances the song's sophisticated charm. This standard works equally well as a solo showcase or ensemble piece, giving you flexibility in how you deploy it during the holiday season. The melody sits comfortably in the ukulele's sweet zone, and students will love the urbane wit of the lyric.

Urbane and flirtatious, with the ease of someone asking a question they genuinely want answered. The song balances nostalgia with a forward-looking optimism, wrapped in those sophisticated harmonies Loesser perfected. It's playful without being silly, elegant without feeling stiff.

This arrangement serves ukulele students ready for jazz-influenced standards and performers building a holiday repertoire beyond traditional carols. It works for solo recitals, small ensemble settings, or as part of a mixed-instrument holiday program.

• Treat the vocal phrasing conversationally rather than strictly metrically; Loesser's lyrics flow best when you let the natural speech rhythm guide your timing
• Anchor the uke part with a steady underlying pulse while allowing rubato in the melody, creating that classic jazz-standard feel
• Highlight the chromatic movements and unexpected chord changes that give the song its sophistication; don't bury them under busy strumming

Pair this with other jazz standards or swing-era songs to create a sophisticated holiday set that appeals to audiences beyond the typical December repertoire. It works beautifully as a bridge between traditional holiday music and contemporary arrangements, especially in casual concert settings or holiday showcases where variety matters.

• Reading jazz chord changes and chromatic movement
• Phrasing flexibility and rubato within a steady harmonic foundation
• Navigating sophisticated lyrical diction with musical clarity
• Understanding the interplay between vocal melody and instrumental accompaniment in standards