An online music theory adventure for young players
Meet Max the musical monster detective of Monster Town. Someone has been stealing the mash potato and Max needs help to find the culprit. Rule out the monsters one by one by playing the games. Successful detectives unlock a printable certificate.
Music teachers can add their own students to play these games
Sign up for a free teacher account to get started and follow the instructions in the Teacher Dashboard. Create a group, add your students (who automatically receive log-in details) and view a snapshot of their activity.
Games with a serious purpose
There are twelve online theory games to play and each one reveals a clue to the identity of the mashed potato monster. Some include leaderboards for extra fun and can be played as many times as you like until access expires (one purchase gives access to one person).
Find Kitty Cat
Kitty Cat likes to wander around the village but keeps getting stuck behind the locked doors. Can you find her? (recognising note values of 1, 2, 3 and 4 beats)
Beach Day
Reach the sandcastle before the waves wash it away – three waves and it’s game over! (using note values of 1, 2, 3 and 4 beats)
Sailaway Teacher
Send your teacher to a desert island if you can add up the note values correctly!
Superhero
Create your own boy or girl superhero and practice rests (1, 2 and whole bar rests)
Spooky Town
Visit the town full of friendly ghosts – just don’t tap the bats or it’s game over! (1, 2 and whole bar rests)
Autumn Leaves
Catch the leaves as they fall to the ground in this fun leaderboard game (names of the white piano keys C, D and E).
Sheepy
The sheep need a wash but only pink sheep score points! (split into rounds with round 1 covering the white piano keys C, D and E, and round 2 the keys F, G, A and B).
Groundhog Chase
Catch the groundhogs as they pop up from the ground in this leaderboard game (dynamic signs p, mp, mf and f)
Love Hearts
Spin the wheel and collect hearts (musical signs quiz)
Birthday Cake
Will you get hired or fired in the cake shop by putting the candles on the birthday cakes? (missing bar line quiz using time signatures of 2, 3 and 4 beats in a bar and note values of 1, 2, 3 and 4 beats)
Bullseye
Can you hit the target to score points? (complete the bar so it is correct using time signatures of 2, 3 and 4 beats in a bar and note values of 1, 2, 3 and 4 beats)
Pin The Monster
This is a bit like that classic game of pin the tail on the donkey but with monsters! (missing bar lines quiz using time signatures of 2, 3 and 4 beats in a bar and note values of 1, 2, 3 and 4 beats)
Complements any beginner piano method
“This music pack comes in three versions; a student licence, a studio licence for music teachers or the option of setting up teaching groups. Whichever version you choose simply open a web browser on your computer, laptop or tablet, select a game and play! “
Susan Leigh MA LRSM LLCM FISM – Music teacher and creator of the games
Happy music teachers and students
3 piano kids buzzing about using interactive games for their music theory. 2 sisters were very excited and want to compete!! Thanks @learnatune
All my students are now thoroughly addicted! The games are fantastic!
Genuinely thank you so much – particularly during lockdown teaching your games have been such a lifesaver and transformed the lessons. Truly grateful.
Great for budding musical detectives!
Piano theory topics
Topics are all at beginner level
- note values (1, 2, 3 and 4 beats)
- rest values (1, 2 and whole bar rests)
- time signatures (2, 3 and 4 beats in a bar – missing bar lines or completing a bar)
- names of the white piano keys (even if students don’t play the piano, a knowledge of the keys of a piano can be very useful when learning theory)
- musical signs (such as simple dynamic signs, treble and bass clefs etc.).
