The rhythm writing question in ABRSM Grade 1 is unique because it gives you your first real taste of composition. You’re given a two-bar opening and asked to write a two-bar answer — something that feels connected to the start but doesn’t just repeat it.

The Golden Rule: Repetition vs. Novelty [00:00:43]

To make your answer feel like it belongs with the opening, you need repetition. Change everything and the music feels disconnected — like two unrelated ideas placed next to each other. But repeat too much and you lose the listener’s attention. The balance is: keep enough of the original pattern to feel consistent, and introduce enough novelty to keep things interesting [00:01:22].

Structural Advice: Slowing Down [00:02:49]

A very common mistake is keeping the rhythm too busy all the way to the end. Generally we want the music to feel like it’s arriving somewhere — reaching a conclusion. The simplest way to do this is to slow it down towards the end: use longer note values, like a minim or semibreve, to finish your four-bar phrase.

I’d avoid ending on a group of quavers [00:04:55] — that tends to flick the music back into motion rather than letting it settle. Unless you’re writing something specifically funky or high-energy, longer notes at the end are almost always the right call.

How to Approach the Question

  1. Analyse the opening: Look at the rhythmic patterns used in the first two bars.
  2. Copy an element: Take one recognisable rhythm from bar 1 or 2 and reuse it in bar 3 — this creates the sense of continuity [00:02:26].
  3. Vary the finish: In bar 4, introduce your novelty and use a longer note value to bring the phrase to a satisfying close.

Rhythm writing is your first chance to be a composer in the ABRSM syllabus — make the most of it. If you’re finding it difficult to strike the right balance, get in touch — I’m looking forward to hearing your story.