the author describes it in the preface as 'a kind of vade-mecum for those students who start serious music study rather late, and then wnat to take an examiation'. It encompasses the syllabusses for the old CSE, GCE and royal schools of music grade V and more.

My view is it is the best text book of basic music and goes surprisingly far in melody, harmony, score reading and musical form. It then covers musical instruments and and flies through a heistsory of serious western music. Compact and well paced, with plenty of exercises, it is good for self study.