When We Were Young: E-Z Play Today

This arrangement makes one of Adele's most introspective songs accessible to intermediate pianists without sacrificing the emotional weight that makes the original so compelling. The six-page format gives students a manageable project that rewards careful attention to dynamics and phrasing.

Reflective and grounded, with the quality of looking back on something significant without sentimentality. The arrangement should feel like a moment of quiet recognition rather than a dramatic performance.

Intermediate pianists drawn to contemporary pop and students exploring how to translate modern songwriting into solo piano performance. This works well for students building confidence with songs they actually care about.

• Shape the opening bars with restraint; the power of this song lives in what you don't force early on.
• Pay attention to any dynamic markings that guide the emotional arc across these six pages.
• Let silence matter as much as the notes themselves, especially in moments between phrases.
• Record yourself at different tempos to find the version that lets the melody breathe naturally.

Include this in a student recital alongside classical pieces to show range in repertoire, or feature it as a winter concert selection where intimate, character-driven songs land particularly well with audiences. It also serves as a bridge for students transitioning from classical training toward contemporary songwriting.

• Balancing melody and accompaniment in a two-hand texture
• Controlling dynamics across an extended form
• Phrasing contemporary popular music with legit musicianship
• Interpreting minimal notation to find emotional intent