When I See You Smile: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures a master class in accessible songwriting. Every song on these pages has proven its staying power in performance and on the charts, which means your singers and pianists will work with material that feels immediately rewarding. The range of tempos, keys, and emotional territories keeps the collection fresh for different performance contexts and voice types.

These songs carry the unmistakable emotional clarity of Diane Warren's writing: powerful hooks that lodge in memory, straightforward lyrics that earn their sentiment through melody rather than complexity, and arrangements that support rather than overwhelm the human voice. Whether you're singing a quiet devotional moment or a soaring anthem, the music provides a secure harmonic foundation that lets sincerity and vocal expression come forward.

Singers building a contemporary pop repertoire, pianists seeking sheet music that bridges classical training with commercial song styles, and voice teachers wanting standards that engage students with familiar material. Guitar players and keyboardists will also find the chord information essential for ensemble work or for adapting arrangements to fit their groups.

• Balance the vocal line with the piano accompaniment by thinking of the piano as a foundation rather than a shadow. Let the vocal melody breathe over the harmonic support, especially in the quieter verses.
• Study the chord symbols alongside the staff notation. Understanding the harmonic movement will deepen your phrasing choices and help you find the emotional weight of each section.
• Adapt keys to suit your voice or your students' ranges. Many of these songs exist in multiple recorded versions, each in a different key, which gives you permission to transpose when needed.
• Use the presence of the chords as an invitation to interpret the accompaniment idiomatically. Whether you're playing from the written score or improvising around these harmonies, let the style of each song guide your touch and dynamics.

Use this collection as a bridge between classical recital and contemporary music programming. A pop/rock themed concert or cabaret works beautifully with several songs from this book, or you might select individual pieces to close a more formal program and connect with your audience through familiar song. The variety of styles also makes it valuable for student recitals, audition preparation, and solo competition programs.

• Reading piano/vocal/guitar chord charts and lead sheets
• Navigating the relationship between written melody and harmonic accompaniment
• Interpreting contemporary song phrasing and dynamics
• Transposing to different keys for vocal range and ensemble needs
• Building confidence with commercially successful, recognizable material