Here at last is a listener's guide to the hidden meanings of western classical music, expressed in accessible, jargon-free language and drawing on universal listening experiences and skills. The Way of Music is six booklets in one volume; it is a study guide in attention training, listening skills, and music appreciation for students, teachers, and the general reader. Each book is complete in itself, to be read and used as part of a multilayered database of musical meaning. Alternating aphorism and explanation, Books 1 and 2 inquire into hearing and communication processes using the example of a barking dog, while Books 3 and 4 extend the range of inquiry into the acoustics and performance of ethnic and classical music. Book 5 offers a substantial survey of over 100 examples of recorded music, providing a history of western music and culture, and incorporating discussion and assignment topics. The final book presents the range of class, gender, and cultural perspectives found in 101 ad