Phrasing in Music?? What!?

So, often in music you will see a "slur" that looks like a black curved line that ties a group of notes together. What does this line mean? It signifies a musical phrase.

The Alfred Handy Guide- Practical Dictionary of Musical Terms states that a Phrase signifies " a musical phrase that states an idea or thought". This is similar to a sentence in the english language. As you progress as a musician, you will be able to demonstrate the musicality of your piano pieces by utilizing the phrasing of each piece.

Practice. Practice. Practice.

You will not pick up on the phrasing right away but the more familiar you become with the piece the least likely you are to focus on the particulars such as finger patterns and note interpretation. This will allow you to understand how to aid in phrasing the fluidity of the musicality of your piece. The ability to do this will take you from a novice to a more advanced student.

Below is an example of what a phrase looks like. It can make the piano piece look scarier than what it is supposed to be but it is only there to help you play the song as it was intended.