You're The Top (from Anything Goes): E-Z Play Today

This E-Z Play arrangement captures Porter's signature charm without sacrificing the harmonic sophistication that makes his music so rewarding to study. The two-page length keeps it accessible while the jazz idioms and theatrical flair expose students to the vocabulary they'll encounter in any serious songbook repertoire.

A sophisticated wit wrapped in a smooth, urbane melody. You're caught between admiration and humor as Porter's lyrics stack compliments with increasing absurdity, all underscored by harmonies that dance with chromatic color and jazz sensibility. The piece feels effortless to listen to but demands care to play with the right amount of charm.

Jazz pianists building their standards repertoire, music theater students preparing audition material, and classical pianists looking to expand into the Broadway vernacular. This arrangement works equally well for serious student players and educators seeking accessible yet musically substantial teaching pieces.

• Approach the accompaniment as a jazz style rather than strictly classical. The swing feel depends on your ability to sit just behind the beat; practice with a metronome until this becomes second nature.
• Pay attention to the lyrics as you play. Porter's words and music are inseparable, and understanding the song's wit will shape your phrasing and dynamics in ways sheet music alone cannot convey.
• Shape phrases around the natural speech patterns of the text. Breathe where the singer would breathe, and use rubato sparingly to let the melody's elegance breathe.

Feature this in a jazz or Broadway-themed concert where it pairs naturally with other Porter standards or American songbook selections. It also serves beautifully as a solo piece in recitals where you want to showcase versatility beyond classical repertoire, or as a teaching tool when introducing students to the harmonic language of popular song.

• Swing rhythm and jazz accompaniment patterns
• Harmonic analysis of jazz standards (chromatic movement, substitutions)
• Coordination of melody and accompaniment in the theater style
• Interpretation based on lyrical content and theatrical context
• Performance of syncopated rhythms with precision and style