Ending Pieces Too Quickly?

I've noticed lately that I tend to have music go about 40 measures or so, then end that passage but it sounds like that could be the end of the entire piece all together.

I think I need to add variation to the starting melody or something like that. Do I have the right idea... Or am I completely off?

rather than ending the phrase, try leading it smoothly into the next phrase. this will help make the piece flow. hope this helps

ljoekelsoey

I know what you mean, I went through such a stage before. What you need to do is what Ljoekelsoey said, but you can also variate your motif/phrase and then the piece will naturally become a longer one.

Can you explain what you mean by variate the phrase?

You know what variation means, right? Simply make small/big changes to a phrase you have composed. Change the melody, harmony you name it. You can transpose to another key, do something rhythmically, maybe by adding or taking away a pause - prelongning/shortening a note.