If you’ve been searching for the perfect supplemental piano book for your students, Andrea and Trevor Dow’s Very Useful Piano Library is worth checking out!
Unlike other songbooks, these mini-books hone in on one music theory concept using one hand position to give each of your students exactly the review they need.
These books, designed to complement the WunderKeys piano method book series, are flexible and work with any lesson books. If you’d like to learn more about the WunderKeys core lesson books, check out my full review here.
So, whether you already know and love the WunderKeys books, or you are unfamiliar with the WunderKeys world, come along as we explore these unique Primer and Elementary micro-leveled books.
The Very Useful Piano Library: An Extensive Library
When we say extensive…we mean there are several choices for each WunderKey method level (whether or not you are using them with the WunderKeys series).
The books are leveled from Level A to Level Q and cover micro-levels within the Primer and Elementary levels to hone in on just what your student needs to review.
Be sure to read on for a quick reference guide PDF you can save to help you choose the right book for the right student at any time during their journey.
All Levels of the Very Useful Piano Library
Here is a list of all of the Very Useful Piano Library levels:
- Early Primer (WunderKeys Primer Book One)
- Level A – Black keys, finger numbers (Glissando and the Slimy Songbook)
- Level B – Black keys, finger-number notes with rhythm (Chillin’ on the Black Keys)
- Level C – Alpha notes with rhythm (Nuts for Alpha Notes, The Undersea Alpha Note Songbook, The “Elf-a” Notes World Tour)
- Level D – Early middle C position A-B-C-D-E (Bat von Flapp’s Fairy Tales and Scary Tunes, My Piano Teacher is Prehistoric)
- Mid Primer (WunderKeys Primer Book Two)
- Level E – Middle C Position, all notes, stepping only (Hildegard Needs a Happy Tune)
- Level F – Middle C Position, stepping only, 3/4 (Soaking Wet Songbook, Amadeus Platypus, Fa La La Late for Christmas)
- Level G – Middle C Position, stepping and skipping (The Flight of the Christmas Tree, I Dig Piano, Tasty Tunes, Mummy Rocks the Costume Contest)
- Level H – C Position, stacked notes (Who Slobbered on my Songbook, Sledward’s Ice and Easy Songbook)
- Late Primer (WunderKeys Primer Book Three)
- Level I – C Position, hands-together stepping (Ludwig van Bites-Often Needs a Friend)
- Level J – C Position, hands-together stepping and skipping (Rainbow Salad Songbook, Rooster’s Barnyard Songbook)
- Level K – C Position, beginner LH accompaniment, quarter rests (Flight is Not My Forte, Comet’s Freezing Cold Carols)
- Level 1A (WunderKeys Elementary 1A)
- Level L – Level I-J-K concepts + staccato and legato (Make Some Noise for High Jump Jackson)
- Level M – Treble C Position, mid-piece hand movements (Scally Wagtail Sails into Treble)
- Level N – Harmonic intervals of a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th (Robots Can’t Rumba, Jolly Old St. Nicholas Needs a Brand New Sleigh)
- Level 1B (WunderKeys Elementary 1B)
- Level O – Level L-M-N concepts + sharps and flats (Muttzart and Ratmoninoff in Eine Kleine Feline)
- Level P – Level L-M-N-O concepts + eighth notes (Muttzart and Ratmoninoff in the Hole of the Backyard King)
- Level Q – G Position, low G Position, accidentals, eighth notes (Muttzart and Ratmoninoff in Pup and Circumstance)
Next, let’s talk about all of the unique features of these books and what you’ll find inside. And then, I’ll share my own little personal guide on which book to use with which student at what time.
What’s Inside the Very Useful Piano Library books?
No matter which level you order, you’ll find the same format for all books in the Very Useful Piano Library.
The format of each book goes something like this…
Warm-Ups
Each book begins with two pages of warm-ups.
These warm-ups are one-line mini-songs designed to hone in on a technical feat for the hand or hands. For example, one warm-up may help students remember how to play steps in their left hand, and then the next warm-up would then have them playing parallel steps with their hands together.
I have students come back to these pages as their warm-ups for the duration of working through the book. To make things more fun (and save time in lessons), I have them:
Roll a single die.
If they roll a 1, they play the first warm-up. If they roll a 2, they play the second warm-up. Etc.
If they roll a 6, they pick their favorite.
The Magic is in the Story
Next, students will find two songs in a row that introduce the main character and the beginning of the story.
Each of these books tells a story with a moral progressively throughout the book through the images, titles, and lyrics.
In the case of the Rainbow Salad Songbook, Level J, the story goes like this:
- A unicorn spends his days watching TV and eating junk food.
- He has lost all of his rainbow colors!
- One by one, his animal friends visit him and have him try different fruits and vegetables.
- And one by one, his colors return!
The Songs: One Hand Position, Cute Lyrics
Each book in the Very Useful Piano Library uses only One Hand Position, meaning students are really focusing on mastering a specific set of notes on the staff.
Each book contains 8 SONGS in all. Seven songs are two-page solos (as shown above), and one final song is presented with a teacher duet.
Although the songs use a limited number of notes (being in one position), they are not boring!
So, how do these songs sound good and keep students engaged?
There are a few factors that make the songs fun and engaging:
- The songs continue the STORYLINE.
- The songs have cute LYRICS.
- The songs use familiar TUNES, such as classical themes or folk melodies (not every song, but some).
- The songs include what I call musical SURPRISES–little gimmicky extras that students love to add in. This could be playing the highest or lowest C on the piano to end a song, or moving the hands one octave, or a glissando, or stomping the feet. Just little easy-to-execute technical feats that make the songs fun to play.
Theory Pages Included
Each book in the Very Useful Piano Library includes theory pages scattered throughout the book.
You’ll find theory pages where students…
- Identify notes
- Draw notes
- Tap rhythms
- Sight-read
- and Color By Note to create a picture
Practice Tracker & Completion Certificate
And at the end, you’ll find a story-themed practice tracker to match elements from the book’s storyline, as well as a certificate of completion.
My Very Useful Piano Library Guide
And now, as promised, the free guide to help you know which of the Very Useful Piano Library books to order!
So, if you’re using the WunderKeys Primer or Elementary books, this guide will help you know exactly which micro-level of the VUPL will give your student exactly the review or challenge they need to master their current level!
And, when you’re ready to order, a FULL LIST OF ALL BOOKS WITH LINKS can be found below for your convenience.
All Books in the Very Useful Piano Library
Level A
Level B
Level C
Level D
Level E
Level F
- The Cat, the Mermaid, and the Soaking Wet Songbook
- Amadeus Platypus is One of a Kind
- Fa La La Late for Christmas (Christmas)
Level G
- I Dig Piano
- One Smart Cookie’s Tasty Tunes
- Mummy Rocks the Costume Contest (Halloween)
- The Flight of the Christmas Tree (Christmas)
Level H
Level I
Level J
Level K
Level L
Level M
Level N
Level O
Level P
Level Q
Level X (Intermediate)
- The Cinderella Solos (C major/A minor)
- The Skyward Solos (G major/E minor)
- The Scarlet Solos (F major/D minor)
My Supplemental Songbooks: Piano Skill Set
And if you’re searching for fun and engaging supplemental books for your piano students, be sure to check out my full line of books (a work in progress).
Piano Skill Set books are designed to complement WunderKeys method books or any other series you use with your students.
There are currently four types of books in the series (hopefully expanding in the future):
- Writing Books (theory workbooks)
- Technique Books
- Songbooks
- Practice Record Books
