The Essential Listening to Music (with Audio CD and Music CourseMate with eBook Printed Access Card)
I really enjoyed the fresh approach. There is much more in this text that current students can relate to. . . . The overall tone of the writing is right on the money, and perfect for today's students."Yes, the writing is extremely clear and it is at the appropriate level. I found myself reading all of the text (even when I only expected to skim some passages). The material is presented in an interesting and up-to-date manner, especially, with references to modern pop composers.... I particularly liked the biographical materials on the composers. The information reflects current scholarship and it is accurate. I also liked the material on . . . society, which shed light on the period and helps students understand the social and cultural issues surrounding the composer and his works."I am very fond of the musical examples and the references to YouTube. This is an increasingly important tool for teaching if used well, and I think the incorporation here is well done. I am considering online instruction for this course, and I think this material is well suited to spark discussion and interest. . . . The brevity, with good musical examples, looks like it would fit well into a semester's coverage."This text is a chronological journey through music history that is significantly shorter in length than most, hence the title, focusing on the most important composers and genres from each era without an overload of unnecessary terms or concepts. Therefore, it is a better fit for non-majors taking their first music course, as it introduces musical terms and guidelines of how to listen to Classical music.