"Standard Form"

The template for a piece of music, specifically a jazz standard or show tune. Also known as the AABA form. Derived from the classical Sonata Form of exposition(repeated), development, and recapitulation. In 20th century music these sections are often called verse, verse, bridge, verse. Thousands of common songs have been written in this form, perhaps none more famously than George and Ira Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm".

There are often extensions added to the basic Standard Form. Some of the more common are Coda, tag, and confusingly, a Verse which is in fact an introduction separate from the main theme of the song.