A computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a music playing program executed by a music playing apparatus for playing music by reproducing music data containing information pertinent to pitches of notes which the music is composed of and reproduction timing information, wherein the music playing program causes a computer in the music playing apparatus to execute: a non-sounding reproduction start step (S11, S71) of starting non-sounding reproduction processing in which the music data is reproduced in a non-sounding manner, wherein the non-sounding reproduction processing is a process in which the music data is reproduced with a volume of o; a note information storing step (S12, S18, S72, S78) of sequentially storing, in a note information storage region, note information pertinent to notes reproduced in the non-sounding manner each time each of the notes which the music is composed of is reproduced in the non-sounding manner during the non-sounding reproduction processing; a sounding reproduction start step (S17, S95) of starting sounding reproduction processing, in which the music data is reproduced in a sounding manner after the non-sounding reproduction processing has been started, such that sounding reproduction is performed in parallel with non-sounding reproduction; a note information utilizing step (S19, S79) of performing, during the sounding reproduction processing, information processing which utilizes the note information stored in the note information storage region, and a reproduction speed control step (S11, S71) of temporarily making a speed at which the music is reproduced in the non-sounding reproduction processing faster than a speed at which the music is reproduced in the sounding reproduction processing, wherein the speed at which the music is reproduced in the non-sounding reproduction processing is made faster than the speed at which the music is reproduced in the sounding reproduction processing in a time period from when the non-sounding reproduction processing is started to when the sounding reproduction processing is started, and the speed at which the music is reproduced in the non-sounding reproduction processing is made the same as the speed at which the music is reproduced in the sounding reproduction processing after the sounding reproduction processing has been started. a non-sounding reproduction start step (S11, S71) of starting non-sounding reproduction processing in which the music data is reproduced in a non-sounding manner, wherein the non-sounding reproduction processing is a process in which the music data is reproduced with a volume of o; a note information storing step (S12, S18, S72, S78) of sequentially storing, in a note information storage region, note information pertinent to notes reproduced in the non-sounding manner each time each of the notes which the music is composed of is reproduced in the non-sounding manner during the non-sounding reproduction processing; a sounding reproduction start step (S17, S95) of starting sounding reproduction processing, in which the music data is reproduced in a sounding manner after the non-sounding reproduction processing has been started, such that sounding reproduction is performed in parallel with non-sounding reproduction; a note information utilizing step (S19, S79) of performing, during the sounding reproduction processing, information processing which utilizes the note information stored in the note information storage region, and a reproduction speed control step (S11, S71) of temporarily making a speed at which the music is reproduced in the non-sounding reproduction processing faster than a speed at which the music is reproduced in the sounding reproduction processing, wherein the speed at which the music is reproduced in the non-sounding reproduction processing is made faster than the speed at which the music is reproduced in the sounding reproduction processing in a time period from when the non-sounding reproduction processing is started to when the sounding reproduction processing is started, and the speed at which the music is reproduced in the non-sounding reproduction processing is made the same as the speed at which the music is reproduced in the sounding reproduction processing after the sounding reproduction processing has been started.