Beginner's Corner: What are Phrases?

In music, a phrase is a group of notes that go together to express an idea. It is a bit like spoken sentences. A phrase starts, builds up, and then often comes back down again - either in volume, tempo, or intensity. A phrase may be very short - perhaps just four measures, or it might be several lines long

As you listen to music, try to tell where each section comes to a finish and where the next one begins. When you play your pieces, notice where each phrase is. One idea is to play louder at the beginning and softer at the end. Sometimes a phrase goes right on into the next one and does not come back down. Another way to notice phrases in music is to listen to (and sing) vocal music.

In songs, you can usually find phrases by looking at the lyrics. Punctuation like commas and periods often indicate the end of a phrase. Look at the example included and notice some characteristics of phrases.