Using unique, interactive Listening Activities and focusing equally on American and European, popular and classical music styles, this text helps students learn how to listen to music—any kind of music—more actively, and to articulate their observations clearly and persuasively. An absence of musical notation, an accessible writing style, an abundance of stimulating visuals, and in-depth coverage of each style easily draw those with no musical background into the rich and varied world of music they are likely to encounter both in and out of concert halls.