Book excerpt: A basic two year course book of 176 pages, it provides a comprehensive coverage of the work necessary to prepare for GCSE examinations. Essentially a practically based rather than an academic course, each chapter of Harmony, Melody and Composition reveals music from two sides at once: harmony and melody. All principles and examples are drawn directly from musical literature. At every stage the student is called upon to examine and think about the technical processes as they occur in a wide range of music. There are work pages related to each chapter and these contain assignments in analysis, writing, singing and playing. Harmony, Melody and Composition provides a systematic study beginning with basic principles.