Shape playback and phrasing

Shape playback and phrasing — guided practice

Use a rest and tempo comparison to shape the phrase.

Open B. Guided phrasing revision: replace the final D4 quarter note in bar 4 with a quarter rest. Compare quarter-note tempos 90 and 120; finish at the tempo you prefer and record it.

1. 1. Create a small breath

   Select the final note in bar 4, press N, 5, 0, then Esc. Inspect the quarter rest after G4 half note and E4 quarter note.

   You should see: Bar 4 now contains two notes plus a one-beat rest, still totaling four beats.

   A rest replaces sound with measured silence rather than shortening the bar.

2. 2. Compare the pace

   At the score’s tempo marking, double-click and edit the quarter-note number from 90 to 120. Play from the start, then restore 90 and compare. Keep the playback tempo multiplier at 100% if shown so it does not override the comparison.

   You should see: At 120, 32 beats take about 16 seconds; at 90 they take about 21.3 seconds before playback tails.

   Tempo changes duration across the entire score.

3. 3. Choose and document

   Select either 90 or 120 as the final score tempo and record why it fits the intended feel. Select the first note, open Dynamics in Palettes and apply mf if you want an explicit medium-loud starting marking.

   You should see: The chosen tempo is visible on the score and matches the note.

   A stated setting can be reproduced; a vague request to play faster cannot.

4. 4. Check the final phrase

   Play or visually count bars 4 and 8. Confirm the rest lasts one beat and the final C lasts four. Save B and record 26 sounding note events plus one quarter rest.

   You should see: The revised score still spans eight bars and 32 beats.

   Silence changes articulation and event count while preserving meter.