The Essential Listening to Music (with Digital Music Downloads) is a comprehensive guide authored by Craig Wright, second edition, published by Cengage Learning. This streamlined and succinct 304-page book aims to inspire a lifelong appreciation of music through outstanding listening pedagogy combined with cutting-edge digital resources. Scholar and master-teacher Craig Wright discusses musical examples from each historical period within their social context, offering insights into both the construction and the historical and cultural significance of pieces.

Enhance your understanding and listening skills with a wide range of resources included in this edition. Online Listening Exercises are available for most pieces covered in the book, along with streaming music and computer-enhanced Active Listening Guides. Additionally, you can download the music directly to a digital library, making it easy to revisit and study compositions anytime.

The second edition is fully integrated with MindTap, providing an ultimate personal learning experience across your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. MindTap features engaging new animations by Stephen Malinowski, individual YouTube players, instant audio for most examples in the book, and more, ensuring a dynamic and interactive learning journey. The ISBN-10 of this edition is 1285856791, while its ISBN-13 is 978-1285856797.