Meaning & use
verbs for music
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
A learner's topic list of action verbs commonly used to talk about making, playing, performing, or listening to music.
Grammar: Used as a heading or study label, not as a sentence element; the individual verbs follow normal grammar.
Patterns
- verbs for music: play, perform, compose, sing
- use a verb for music + object
The teacher gave us a list of verbs for music, starting with play and perform.
If you are writing about a concert, choose verbs for music like sing, strum, and applaud.
Her vocabulary notebook has a page headed 'Verbs for music' with compose, conduct, and rehearse.
Common combinations
- play an instrument
- She plays the violin in the school orchestra.
- perform a song
- The band performed three new songs at the festival.
- compose music
- He composes music for films and video games.
- sing along
- Everyone sang along to the chorus.
- listen to music
- I listen to music while I study.
Practice
Which verb best completes the sentence? 'The conductor raised her baton and began to ______ the orchestra.'
Choose one answer.
'Conduct' is the verb for directing an orchestra. 'Compose' means write music, 'listen' takes 'to', and 'strum' is for playing strings casually, so none fits the conductor's action.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “verbs for music”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.