Everyone, whether he knows it or not, has music in his life. "He" naturally means boys and girls, men and women, and even tiny babies. No one can avoid hearing music around him. But no matter what kind of music it is, to enjoy it to the fullest, he must know something about it: what music is, where it came from, how it developed, who helped make it grow, where it is going. The musical sounds a person hears may give him pleasure, but that enjoyment will be enormously increased when he knows exactly what it is that is so pleasing.

In THE FIRST BOOK OF MUSIC, Gertrude Norman tells much about music. She takes the reader from its primitive beginnings through the years until he sees clearly how he came to listen with such joy to the complicated tonalities of today. (If he doesn't understand the meaning of the word "tonalities" now, he will after reading this book.) He will also understand the basic concepts of musical theory, harmony, rhythms—all the terms which now seem so confusing.

Here are simple examples of notation, and easy pieces to pick out on the piano. The instruments of the symphony orchestra are described here, too. There are brief introductions to some of the great composers. And finally, there is a long list of good music on records—a basic record list for collectors.

This book is not only a music-lover's good companion, but a would-be music-lover's wise friend.

From inside the book