Grade 5 Rhythm: Simple, Compound, and Irregular Time
Grade 5 Rhythm – Simple, Compound, & Irregular Time
Build rock-solid confidence with time signatures up to Grade 5.
Rhythm is the foundation of all music theory, and it’s a core focus of the Grade 5 exam. Yet many students find time signatures confusing — especially when it comes to compound and irregular meters.
This mini-course brings clarity.
I’ve gathered all the rhythm lessons and worksheets from Grades 1–5 into one complete resource, then added step-by-step teaching videos to guide you through every concept. You’ll not only learn the rules — you’ll understand how rhythm works in practice.
What you’ll learn
- Simple time – how beats divide into 2, with examples you can count and clap.
- Compound time – how beats divide into 3, and how to spot them instantly.
- Irregular time – unusual time signatures that break the pattern.
- Practical skills – how to read, write (including proper beaming), and analyse rhythms with confidence.
What’s included
- Teaching videos explaining each concept clearly and step by step
- Downloadable ebook (PDF) with all slides + worksheets from Grades 1–5 rhythm sections
- Lifetime access to the course — learn at your own pace, revisit anytime
Who it’s for
- Students preparing for the ABRSM Grade 5 Theory exam
- Teachers looking for ready-made rhythm lessons and worksheets
- Adult learners or musicians wanting to finally “get” rhythm
Your next step
By the end of this course, you’ll be confident with time signatures up to Grade 5 and ready to tackle the rhythm portions of the exam.
👉 Enrol today for £47 and get instant access to the ebook + teaching videos.
Your Instructor
I have been teaching music theory and composition since I began my
graduate education in 1999. While studying for my MA in Music
Composition at the University of Pennsylvania, I started
teaching music theory to Penn
undergraduates. I have since taught music theory and composition at
Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, Plymouth University (UK), Dartington
College of Arts (UK), and in my own studio at home. I own and operate
the Totnes School of Piano.
I entered my undergraduate studies completely focussed on studying piano
performance, but I quickly found that studying music theory improved my
sight-reading and my ability to memorise music; it heightened my
musical expression and understanding at the piano; and it eventually led
me to composing music.
I hold dual undergraduate degrees in piano performance and music theory, an MA and PhD in composition from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and two MFAs in performance (improvisation emphasis) and electronic music and recording media from Mills College in California, where I won the Flora Boyd Piano Performance Prize in 2011.
But most importantly, I have a passion for teaching music theory. I
believe it is the key that unlocks all musical treasures. It can be
engaging in its own right, but music theory, for me, is best viewed as a
means toward greater musical expression and creativity.