Music: An Appreciation by Roger Kamien is one of the world's most widely used and respected introductory textbooks on Western music. Since its first publication in 1976, it has introduced millions of students and music enthusiasts to the art of listening, helping readers understand how music works through engaging explanations, guided listening exercises, and historical context. Rather than requiring prior musical training, the book teaches readers how to actively listen to and appreciate music by exploring melody, rhythm, harmony, texture, form, and musical expression. It remains a standard textbook in colleges and universities worldwide.

The book traces the evolution of Western music from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Twentieth-Century periods, while also introducing jazz, American musical theatre, rock, world music, and non-Western traditions. Richly illustrated with photographs, musical examples, listening guides, composer biographies, and timelines, it examines the lives and works of composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, Richard Wagner, Claude Debussy, Igor Stravinsky, and many others. Modern editions also include digital listening resources and streaming playlists, making it one of the most comprehensive introductions to music appreciation available.