聽英語學音樂】為音樂專業用系列叢書，在考慮專業內容同時，儘量照顧語言上由淺入深循序漸進。
《聽英語學音樂 3：音樂史》共含課文20篇，所有課文均根據國外相關的原文書籍、雜誌和辭典改編而成。內容包括音樂史、樂器史等，總詞彙數多達10,563個。
課文後附有單詞表，注有國際音標（IPA）；同時還附有課文注解及問答題，需要提高寫作能力的學習者，可將問答題改爲作文題，模仿課文書寫短文。學習者可以根據時間和自己的英語程度，靈活運用本書，如獨立使用或連貫使用各篇課文等；在研讀這本《3：音樂史》的同時，還可以搭配閱讀其他三本系列作（《1：樂理篇》、《2：曲式篇》及《4：作曲家》），如此一來，學習者對英語能力與音樂知識雙方面的掌握，將能更加全面與精進。
請注意以下兩點：
1. 單詞後的〔法〕表示法語，〔德〕表示德語，〔義〕表示義大利語，〔拉〕表示拉丁語。
2. 其他語種的單詞注音基本上按英語國際音標注音。
【聽英語學音樂】內容與音樂專業知識緊密結合，是極爲實用的優秀教材與自學工具。配合有聲 CD，不僅適合音樂專業學生和音樂工作者使用，也方便一般愛樂者雙管齊下，邊學習英語邊吸收正確音樂知識。
藉由本教材，學習者能夠很快具備閱讀英文音樂書籍的能力，以流利英語與國際友人進行學術性交談，並且充分理解用英語講授的音樂專業課程。
◎ 北京外國語大學教授 許國璋
◎ 音樂理論家‧教育家 趙 渢
◎ 紐約市立大學音樂藝術博士 王真儀 ── 聯合推薦
〔山東師範大學外語系–資深英語教學名家〕狄辰華／倪若男 ■編著
〔英國皇家音樂學院檢定考試–台灣考場翻譯〕王真儀 ■審訂‧錄音
[01] THE HISTORY OF INSTRUMENTS (1)
樂器的歷史（一）
Musical instruments are known to have existed in Europe over 2,500 years ago. The earliest examples were simple rhythmic instruments used to emphasize man's own rhythmic instruments of clapping hands and stamping feet. Many wind instruments, too, have a very long history. Bone, stone, wood, clay, and later metal were all used for making ancient instruments, which were generally employed in signaling and ritual. The development of higher civilization in the Middle East and Europe led to the evolution of more sophisticated instruments used for entertainment purposes. Contemporary literary and visual sources, together with surviving examples, prove the existence of a wide variety of instruments, and it is known that the ancient Greeks and Romans in particular regarded their makers and performers with the highest esteem.〔……下略〕
[02] THE HISTORY OF INSTRUMENTS (2)
樂器的歷史（二）
In contrast with the Middle Ages, the Renaissance was a period of intense musical activity in Europe. The most significant of the many musical developments in the years 1450 to 1650 was the rise in the importance of the instrumental music. Beginning with the replacement of one or more of the melodic lines in a vocal piece, composers went on to write truly independent parts for instruments. A wealth of music was specially written for consorts ─ small groups of instruments such as recorders and viols ─ and also for keyboards such as the harpsichord and organ. The rise of opera around 1600 in Italy was an important influence on the development of the instrumental music. Orchestras were assembled to accompany the singers, and composers first began to exploit the specific tone colors of individual instruments.〔……下略〕
[02] The History of Instruments (2)／樂器的歷史（二） 〔2:58〕
[03] The History of Instruments (3)／樂器的歷史（三） 〔2:53〕
[04] Keyboard and Percussion Instruments／鍵盤與打擊樂器 〔3:27〕
[05] Brass and Woodwind Instruments／銅管與木管樂器 〔4:47〕
[06] String Instruments／弦樂器 〔4:24〕
[07] The Ancient Music／古代音樂 〔3:11〕
[08] The Medieval Music (1)／中世紀音樂（一） 〔2:45〕
[09] The Medieval Music (2)／中世紀音樂（二） 〔3:44〕
[10] The Renaissance Music／文藝復興音樂 〔3:33〕
[12] The Baroque Music (2)／巴洛克音樂（二） 〔3:14〕
[13] The Classical Music／古典時期音樂 〔5:04〕
[14] The Romantic Music (1)／浪漫時期音樂（一） 〔3:44〕
[15] The Romantic Music (2)／浪漫時期音樂（二） 〔2:59〕
[16] The 20th Century Music (1)／二十世紀音樂（一） 〔4:21〕
[17] The 20th Century Music (2)／二十世紀音樂（二） 〔3:29〕
[18] The 20th Century Music (3)／二十世紀音樂（三） 〔4:05〕
[19] The Electronic Music／電子音樂 〔3:59〕
[20] The "Musicalism"／音樂學派 〔4:14〕
