Levels of Learnatune Books

Learnatune Books Level Guide

This is an overview of how some of Susan Leigh’s piano and theory books fit together in level order. Use the tabs above to navigate and levels roughly correspond to a series like Piano Adventures. Teachers may be interested in my FREE Books Hub which includes solutions to all the mysteries, demo tracks and a few freebies. Be the first to know about new books by subscribing to my blog and check out reviews from happy teachers here.

Latest news from Learnatune

Keep up to date with new book releases etc. by subscribing to my blog below

Enter your email to receive updates

FREE Books Hub for music teachers

A useful companion for music teachers using my books, it includes solutions to all the mysteries, demo tracks and also freebies like ‘Reggie’s Heist’, a fun online detective game with questions that can be customised by the teacher. Find out more about the Free Books Hub by clicking here.

Primer level books for younger learners

These piano and theory books have been created with younger students in mind (approximately below the age of 7 or 8). The series of method books can be used as a method or as a standalone book to reinforce any other series.

Book 1: Who Ate The Apples?

Part of a series of 3 books featuring a mouse detective called Frankie.

Book 2: Mystery of the Lost Crown

Part of a series of 3 books featuring a mouse detective called Frankie.

The ‘BAG’ Files

A piano mystery adventure

Piano tunes to learn with optional teacher accompaniments.
Plus music theory puzzles with clues to solve
Treble notes CDE and bass notes CBAG , making it an ideal reinforcement to everything learnt in ‘Mystery of the Lost Crown‘
A primary focus is on consolidating the BAG notes in the bass clef to help students remember this useful pattern of notes
1,2,3,4 beat notes and 1,2 and 4 or whole bar/measure rests
Time signatures of 2,3,4 beats in a bar/measure

Book 3: Help! I’m a Tomato

Part of a series of 3 books featuring a mouse detective called Frankie.

Theory: Who Ate My Cupcake?

A fun theory book ideal during the first year of learning

Primer level books for older learners

These piano and theory books have been created for students of around age 8 upwards to teenagers. The series of method books can be used as a method or as a standalone book to reinforce any other series.

Book 1: Who Stole The Broccoli?

Part of a series of 4 method books featuring Detective Drake

Who Ate My Pizza?

A detective mystery for piano (also available for treble instruments)

Piano tunes to learn with optional teacher accompaniments alongside music theory puzzles
Treble notes Middle CDEFG and bass notes Middle CBAGF
1,2,3,4 beat notes and 1,2 and 4 or whole bar/measure rests
Time signatures of 2,3,4 beats in a bar/measure
Tied notes, staccato, slurs, dynamic signs (p, mp, mf, f), multirests, stave, treble and bass clefs, bar line and double bar line, instruments of the orchestra
Stem directions

Who Stole My Dragon?

A detective mystery for piano (also available for treble instruments)

Piano tunes to learn with optional teacher accompaniments alongside music theory puzzles
Treble notes Middle CDEFG and bass notes Middle CBAGF
Half, 1,2,3,4 beat notes and 1,2,4 or whole bar/measure rests
Time signatures of 2,3,4 beats in a bar/measure
Terms including D.C. al Fine, Fine, staccato, crescendo, decrescendo, ritardando
Stem directions
Music signs include slurs, staccato, accents, tied notes, bar lines, sharps, flats, pause sign, stave or staff, treble and bass clefs, dynamic signs (p, mp, mf, f)

Book 2: Mystery in Room 13

Part of a series of 4 method books featuring Detective Drake

Level 1 books

Piano mystery adventures and more at around level 1. The series of method books continue from Primer level and can be used as a method or as a standalone book to reinforce any other series.

Book 3: Sneaky Sabotage

Part of a series of 4 method books featuring Detective Drake

Book 4: Harry’s Hideout

Part of a series of 4 method books featuring Detective Drake

Continues from ‘Sneaky Sabotage’
Treble notes Middle CDEFGABCDE and bass notes Middle CBAGFEDC
1,2,3,4 beat notes and 1,2 and 4 or whole bar/measure rests
Time signatures of 2,3,4 beats in a bar/measure
Continues with intervals of a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
New notes are presented in pattern blocks, eg. FACE notes, the four C’s, treble notes CDE
Introducing the upbeat
Dynamic signs including p, mp, mf, f and crescendo, decrescendo/diminuendo
Tempo terms lento, andante, moderato and allegro

Piano Pattern Detective

A piano mystery adventure to help with piano reading skills

Notation in the form of exercises with notes on the entire grand stave (including Middle C but no other ledger line notes)
1,2,3,4 beat notes and 1,2 and 4 or whole bar/measure rests
Time signatures of 2,3,4 beats in a bar/measure
Patterns including repeated notes, rhythms, bars/measures. The shape of the melody and rise and fall of notes. Intervals of a 2nd and 3rd or steps and skips.
Dynamic signs p, mp, mf, f, plus the pause

Dinosaur Escape!

A time travelling escape adventure for piano

Piano tunes to learn with optional teacher accompaniments
Music theory puzzles with clues to solve
Notation covers almost the entire grand stave (plus middle C but this is the only ledger line note)
1,2,3,4 beat notes and 1,2, 4 or whole bar/measure rests
Time signatures of 2,3,4 beats in a bar/measure
Interval reading of a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th with simple two note chords
Stem directions, sharp/flat/natural signs
Signs such as pause, slur, staccato, accent, tied note, dynamic signs (p, mp, mf, f and crescendo, decrescendo/diminuendo), octave, pedal sign
Terms such as lento, andante, moderato, allegro, ritardando (or rit.)

Who Stole My Guitar?

A detective mystery for piano

Piano tunes to learn with optional teacher accompaniments
Music theory puzzles with clues to solve
Notation covers the entire grand stave as well as note G sitting on top of the stave in the treble clef (plus middle C but this is the only ledger line note)
Half, 1,2,3,4 beat notes and 1,2, 4 or whole bar/measure rests
Time signatures of 2,3,4 beats in a bar/measure
Steps and skips, stem directions, sharp/flat/natural signs
Signs such as pause, slur, staccato, accent, tied note, dynamic signs (p, mp, mf, f and crescendo, decrescendo/diminuendo)
Terms such as lento, andante, rallentando

Level 1 note reading books

Level 1 is often the stage where students might need reinforcement of note recognition. The following books are all ideal for practising note naming in treble and/or bass clefs.

Mozart’s Mice

A treble clef note naming mystery featuring the mice that live underneath Mozart’s floorboards!

Bob’s Bass Tournament

A bass clef note naming challenge. Beat Bob and his team at over 30 sporting events!

Freddie’s Fun Fair

A treble clef note naming challenge. Beat Freddie in games at the funfair!

Level 2A books

Piano mystery adventures and more at around level 2A. Ideal to supplement any method series.

The Time Thief

A detective mystery for piano

Piano tunes to learn with optional teacher accompaniments
Music theory puzzles with clues to solve
Notation covers the entire grand stave (plus middle C’s and also ledger line D in the bass clef)
Half, 1,2,3,4 beat notes and 1,2, 4 or whole bar/measure rests
Time signatures of 2,3,4 beats in a bar/measure
Signs such as pause, slur, staccato, accent, tied note, dynamic signs (p, mp, mf, f and crescendo, decrescendo/diminuendo)
Sharp, flat and natural signs
Stem directions
Terms of metronome, ritardando, andante, moderato and allegro
Tones and semitones plus intervals of a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Names of instruments like the flute, trumpet, clarinet

Level 2B books

Piano mystery adventures and more at around level 2B. Ideal to supplement any method series.

Reggie’s Museum Heist

A detective mystery for piano

Piano tunes to learn with optional teacher accompaniments
Music theory puzzles with clues to solve
Notation covers the entire grand stave (plus middle C, D in the bass clef, and ledger line high treble C and low bass C ). A feature is the stretch of a 6th interval (played together and separately)
Half, 1,2,3,4 beat notes and 1,2, 4 or whole bar/measure rests
Time signatures of 2,3,4 beats in a bar/measure
Signs such as pause, slur, staccato, accent, tied note, dynamic signs (p, mp, mf, f and crescendo, decrescendo/diminuendo, also sf or sforzando)
Sharp, flat and natural signs
Key signatures of C, G and F major including the scales in those keys (plus the tonic, dominant and leading tones)
Terms of ritardando, andante, and allegro
Tones and semitones plus intervals of a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

Level 3A books

Piano mystery adventures and more at around level 3A. Ideal to supplement any method series.

Escape Dragon Island

A detective mystery for piano

Piano tunes to learn with optional teacher accompaniments
Music theory puzzles with clues to solve
Piano music uses notes on all lines and spaces plus a few ledger line notes. Theory puzzles include identifying up to three ledger lines in both clefs
There is simple stretching and moving out of hand positions. Puzzles include recognising intervals up to an 8th, tones and semitones, and identifying/playing mini chromatic scale patterns
Half, 1,2,3,4 beat notes and half, 1,2, 4 or whole bar/measure rests. Time signatures of 2,3,4 beats in a bar/measure, plus 6/8 and also common time
A big feature of the piano music is the sustaining pedal. Other signs such as the octave sign, accent, staccato etc. also appear
Key signatures of C, G and F major. Some of the music is in minor keys to give a mysterious atmosphere but this is not included in the theory puzzles
To solve the mystery and escape, students search for musical terms. These are based on tempo words, dynamics, names of instruments, and also performance directions and names of musical signs.

Space Rescue

A music theory adventure

ABRSM exam board grade 1 level (roughly equivalent to music theory level 3A)
All stave treble and bass notes, sharp/flat/natural signs, plus tones/semitones
Note values of a quarter, half, 1, 2, 3 and 4 beats. Rest values of a quarter, half, 1, 2 and 4 (or a whole bar rest). Dotted note values. Time signatures of 2,3,4 beats
Key signatures of C, D, F and G major in both treble and bass clefs, including their position on the stave. Plus working out the key of a piece of music. Scales of these keys and also degrees of the scale
Intervals and tonic triads in keys of C, D, F and G major
Music signs including staccato, slurs, pause sign, repeat, metronome mark, accent, dynamic signs. Terms such as cantabile, dolce, and fine.
The planets in this mystery are all named after tempo terms and are a great way to introduce students to them. They include rallentando, ritardando, lento, accelerando, allegro, moderato, adagio, moderato, presto, andante, vivace, allegretto, largo, vivo, andantino, grave, larghetto, stringendo, prestissimo, adagietto, allargando.