In music, the same principle applies as in speech which can be understood more or less clearly through clear pronunciation. Phrasing makes the melody understandable in the sense of speech. Phrasing connects and groups elements that belong together. Emphasizing corner points in the melodic flow structures the melody on the rhythmic level. The musical text and the form of the melody as understood by the performer determines the choice of phrasing. In improvised music in particular a performer's personal touch is often defined by the way she or he phrases a melody. This chapter focuses on rhythmic flexibility, a prerequisite for differentiated phrasing. This involves systematically shifting accents within a melodic line.