Lead the Way: Composing with a Lead Sheet

Imagine you hear 'Happy Birthday' played by a jazz pianist, then by a solo guitarist, then by a string quartet. The melody is identical each time — yet each version sounds totally different. How is that possible? The performers are all working from the same basic information: the tune and the chords. They fill in everything else themselves. That 'basic information' is exactly what a lead sheet gives you. Before moving on, think about this: if you were a musician receiving a piece of music for the first time, what is the minimum you would need to know to play it your own way?