This book takes you from the very beginning to the fullness of understanding and skill in being able to read and interpret
written music for whatever instrument or vocal range you are interested in
performing. The author teaches you how to read pitches (sharps, flats, and naturals) in all clefs and keys. He covers rhythms and time signatures (the book has a CD included with it, which illustrate the
various rhythms auditorily), including syncopation and rests.
The book covers the signs and sectional repeats and codas, and the symbols which denote these changes as one plays through the music itself, giving actual examples. It covers expression marks, both general, and instrument specific, markings; keys and key signatures; major and minor (and other) scales, and modes; musical intervals; triads, arpeggios and seventh, as well as other, chords.
There are further sections on harmony; major scale progressions; advanced chord progressions (including substitutions, cadences,
voice leading, smooth bass and minor chord progressions, as well as their
inversions, in modern and classical notation). Then there are sections on modes and modal scales; transposing instruments, and musical shorthand (lead sheets, chord charts, etc.)
Finally, in the appendices, there are scale and chord reference charts, ranges of common instruments, solutions to exercises and a thorough index. There is an accompanying CD, so that one can HEAR as well as see and read the examples in the book. It is easy to read, well-printed, and challenging for nearly everyone, yet easy to comprehend--a rare combination.