Music is all around us, everywhere.  Today, we have easier access to a greater variety of types and styles of music than ever before in history.  We are surrounded by so much music that it is easy to take it for granted, to hear it but not really listen to it, to be affected by it but not know why, to enjoy it but not know how it came to be. The e-book you are reading offers you an opportunity to learn about what music is and how it works, where it has come from, and the endless possibilities for musical expression. A successful and thoughtful exploration of music in this way will mean that you will begin to hear — and listen to — music in a different way.  You will become aware of the sounds that you are hearing and you will recognize and understand how the sounds affect the behaviors and emotions of everyone.  We hope that the approach presented in this e-book is helpful and enjoyable, and that it helps you become a new kind of music listener.