Phrase Forms

This lesson is part of the Rhythm, Meter & Form category.

Objectives

• Students will understand the definition of a musical phrase.
• Students will be able to write and analyze melodic sentential and periodic structures, including their subcomponents (basic idea, antecedent/consequent, presentation/continuation, cadential progression)
• Students will be able to identify different types of phrases and multi-phrase structures.
• Students will be able to compare and contrast a phrase to its theoretical template.

Class Activities

• Discussion and definition of phrase analysis
• Phrase analysis of different types of music
• Composition of a phrase type given a specific motive
• Composition and improvisation of a consequent phrase which corresponds to a given antecedent phrase

Assignments

• Phrase analysis of written and recorded music
• Composition of a consequent phrase for a given antecedent phrase
• Writing of a phrase structure given a specific motive (as basic idea or antecedent)