This is the market-leading text, and the author, William Duckworth, is an internationally-known, modern composer. The most difficult part of teaching this course is the need to allow for students' differing abilities. Duckworth addresses this by covering the fundamentals in 11, concise, main chapters followed by 11 enrichment appendices that supplement this basic material for the teacher or student who wants extended coverage. Students best learn fundamentals by using fundamentals, especially in creating their own music. One step at a time, with a practical focus on developing skills, Duckworth presents clear examples of music basics. Students get immediate feedback from written and aural exercises and then creatively apply their knowledge to musical problems arising in real, musical situations.