Music Theory - Grades 1 to 5
Save 20% with this discounted bundle! The complete course for Grades 1 to 5 music theory.
Enroll in CourseBUNDLE COURSE
Become fluent in the fundamentals of music theory.
It's our belief that every musician needs to have the theory knowledge that supports their playing, singing, or composing skills. This course features clear explanations of music notation, many worked examples and practice exercises, definitions of important words and concepts, specimen questions and many helpful tips for students. As well as being suitable for candidates preparing for ABRSM music theory exams, this course also provides an excellent resource for anyone wishing to develop general music literacy skills.
Courses Included with Purchase
Grade 1 Music Theory
Starting with the very basics of music theory, this course sets out much of the groundwork of essential theory knowledge with great clarity. It includes videos and practice exercises covering all of the topics on the list.
Learn MorePreviewRhythm and time values
Bar-lines and time signatures
Notes on the stave
The treble and bass clefs
Rests
Ties and dots
Accidentals
Semitones and tones
Major keys and scales (C, G, D and F)
Degrees of the scale and intervals
Tonic triads
Composing an answering rhythm
Perfomance directions
Grade 2 Music Theory
Building on the topics previously covered, this course introduces new areas of study. It includes videos and practice exercises covering all of the topics on the list.
Learn MorePreviewLedger lines
Time signatures (2/2, 3/2, 4/2, 3/8)
Major keys and scales (A, B♭ and E♭)
Triplets
Minor keys and scales (A, E and D)
Grouping of notes and rests
Intervals
Composing simple four-bar rhythms
Perfomance directions
Grade 3 Music Theory
Progressing introducing a number of key topics and reinforcing previous material covered. It includes videos and practice exercises covering all of the topics on the list.
Learn MorePreviewDemisemiquavers
Major keys and scales with four sharps or flats
Beyond two ledger lines
Transposition
Compound time
Minor keys and scales with four sharps or flats
Grouping notes and rests
Four-bar rhythms
Intervals
Simple phrase structure
Performance directions
Grade 4 Music Theory
Moving through and looking at many of the nuances of theory with simple explanations of new a variety of key subjects. It includes videos and practice exercises covering all of the topics on the list.
Learn MorePreviewTime signatures
Alto clef
Double sharps and double flats
Breves, double dots and duplets
Major keys and scales with five sharps or flats
Minor keys and scales with five sharps or flats
Technical names of notes in diatonic scales
Four-bar rhythms
Triads and chords on I, IV and V
Intervals
Writing a rhythm to words
The chromatic scale
Ornaments
Instruments
Performance directions
Grade 5 Music Theory
Rounding off the fundamentals and moving towards a more advanced level of theory knowledge. It includes videos and practice exercises covering all of the topics on the list.
Learn MorePreviewIrregular time signatures
Tenor clef
Major keys and scales up to six sharps and flats
Minor keys and scales up to six sharps and flats
Transposition
Voices in score
Irregular time divisions
Intervals
Naming chords
Composing a melody
Ornaments
Chords at cadential points
Instruments and voices
Performance directions
Also Included
Along with all the teaching material you'll also get access to many additional resources.
The Circle of Fifths
Find out how to draw the Circle of Fifths and learn how to use the it to work out all the major keys, all the minor keys and all their key signatures.
Practice Exercises
Every grade has a complete set of sample questions for for you to test your knowledge after working through the teaching material.
Performance Directions
Documents are included for every grade which give you a full list of performance directions, musical terms, signs and all of their definitions.
Music matters is fantastic! Gareth Green and your amazing videos got me from zero to Grade 5 ABRSM Theory with a Merit with just six weeks of studying!
- Joanne
I have recently purchased your videos on Music theory as I am currently doing my grade 5 theory. I really like the way you explain things in simple terms. The videos are brilliant.
- Timothy
You’re an awesome music teacher sir! Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity, professional quality and integrity! You are the very best!
- Jorge
BUNDLE COURSE
Who Is This Course For?
Can you think of any other human endeavour where not knowing what you're doing is considered a positive? Understanding music theory is of great importance to all musicians. Music is a universal language and knowing how it all works is the key to improving. Our music theory courses cover all the essential elements of music from the ground up and are ideal for students preparing for examinations, as well as an excellent resource for anyone learning to read music.
Professional Teaching
You'll receive expert tuition, making it easy to follow, digest and internalise all the important concepts of music theory.
Practice Exercises
The course contains a complete set of sample questions for you to test your knowledge after working through the teaching material.
Ask Questions
Below each video you are able to post comments and ask questions should you have any in regards to the course topics covered.
Easy to Follow Structure
The course is divided into multiple stages, breaking down each part separately before putting in all together.
Complete at Your Own Pace
You can easily fit the course around your regular commitments, completing it at your own pace and in your own time.
Anywhere Access
Your course never expires. Learn when and where you choose! Computer or mobile. Just get comfortable and dive in!
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Your Instructor
Hi, I’m Gareth and I'm passionate about developing ‘the all round musician’.
Nearly 35 years of music examining with ABRSM, work with the BBC on Radio and TV, experience on the international concert platform, as a published composer and arranger, have brought rich resources to the 40 years of teaching in which I've engaged.
Scholarships at The Royal College of Music, Oxford University and St. Paul’s Cathedral gave me fantastic opportunities to learn from the best musicians, scholars and teachers. Working as Director of Music at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School then provided a wonderful opportunity to develop my teaching skills.
Teaching individuals and groups of all ages, and at all stages of development have refined a teaching approach that I hope is fun and engaging, and focused on explaining things clearly and logically. And that is what these courses are all about - understanding the basic principles with clarity, then going deeper, applying them to your musical life and liberating yourself as a musician.
It’s a rich and amazing journey, and I can’t wait for you to join me today!
Frequently Asked Questions
A Letter from Gareth Green
MA (Oxon), MA (Leeds), FRCO(CHM), FLCM, ARCM
Many students of music want or need to pass music theory exams and this course is very focused on enabling you to achieve that.
At the same time, theory is about much more than passing exams. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get inside the mind of a composer? Think of a piece that you’re working on or listening to at the moment. What inspired the composer to write it? When did the composer live and what are the features of musical style at that time? Then what did the composer need to think about in order to compose the piece?
Theory explores the ingredients that bring music to life and, contrary to the idea held by some that theory kills creativity, it’s theory that enables musicians to make sense of their musical ideas.
If we go back in time music was in the world well before anyone dreamt up music theory. So do we really need theory? After all, we can all enjoy music without needing to understand the nuts and bolts. Some musicians have the ability to perform and improvise without completely understanding the theory behind what they are doing. I can manage a few words and phrases in Italian but because I understand more grammar and vocabulary in French I get on much more successfully in French than I do in Italian. Because I understand even more grammar and vocabulary in my native tongue I get on considerably better in English than I do in French. The more we understand of a language, the more fluent we become, and music is often described as a language.
The interesting thing is that music theory was taken very seriously as far back as the time of the Ancient Greeks, who were keen to explain how music worked and to establish why certain approaches were more successful than others. Ever since, theory has continuously evolved to keep pace with explaining musical development.
Having taught music for over 40 years, my experience is that the more students understand theory, the more they understand and appreciate the music they perform, and the more excited, creative and engaged they become.
Don’t learn theory for the sake of learning theory. Engage with music as a listener, a performer, and/ or as a composer then grasp the theory that will equip you to reach your full potential as a musician. That’s what makes music theory so exciting! Enjoy!
— Gareth Green, Music Matters
Save money with this bundle!
This complete bundle set of our Grades 1 to 5 theory courses is offered to you with a massive overall saving of 20%.