Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 11
- AQA
Understanding metre
I can identify simple, compound and irregular time signatures.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 11
- AQA
Understanding metre
I can identify simple, compound and irregular time signatures.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Time signatures (or metre) can be grouped into simple, compound and irregular time signatures.
- Simple time signatures have two quavers in each beat.
- Compound time signatures have three quavers in each beat.
- Simple and compound time signatures can also be described as duple (2), triple (3) or quadruple (4 beats).
- Irregular time signatures cannot be counted with groups of only 2 or only 3 beats. Examples are 7/8 and 5/4.
Keywords
Simple time - each beat is divided into two quavers; 4/4 and 3/4 are examples of this
Compound time - each beat is divided into three quavers; 6/8 and 12/8 are examples of this
Irregular time signature - the number of beats cannot be divided by 2 or 3 (e.g. 5, 7)
Common misconception
Compound time signatures create more complex sounding music and aren't used often.
This isn't strictly true. Compound time signatures are extremely common, including in popular music styles. While the theory of them is slightly more complex than simple time signatures, to compose or play using them is not particularly difficult.
To help you plan your year 11 music lesson on: Understanding metre, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 music lesson on: Understanding metre, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 4 music lessons from the Understanding metre, rhythm, dynamics and articulation unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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