JAMB 2026/2027 Recommended Textbooks for Music

Music as a UTME subject goes beyond knowing songs, instruments, or rhythms it requires understanding theory, structure, and the cultural foundations that shape musical expression. If you want to score high in the subject, you will need to practice and study with the JAMB 2026/2027 recommended textbooks for Music.

These textbooks serve as the best resources since the match the syllabus directly. The further break down the basics, explain advanced ideas clearly, and help you interpret the types of questions JAMB sets yearly. So, without wasting much time, let’s proceed already to disclosing them here for you.

List of JAMB Recommended Music Textbooks 2026

S/N	Book Title	Author(s)	Brief Description
1	Foundation of Nigerian Traditional Music	Akpabot, S. E.	Explores the basics of Nigerian traditional music, including rhythms, cultural contexts, and indigenous musical structures.
2	Rudiments and Theory of Music	Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music	Covers foundational music theory: notation, scales, intervals, and chords, ideal for UTME theory preparation.
3	The Form of Music	Cole, W.	Explains structural forms such as binary, ternary, rondo, and sonata forms. Useful for understanding musical composition.
4	Nigerian Musical Instruments	Echezona, W. W. C.	A detailed study of Nigerian instruments, their classifications, cultural uses, and performance techniques.
5	Choir Training and Choral Conducting for Africans	Ekwueme, L.	Breaks down choral organization, voice training, conducting techniques, and rehearsal methods tailored to African choirs.
6	An ABC of Music	Holst, I.	Introduces music fundamentals in simple terms, covering notation, rhythm, melody, and harmony.
7	Instruments of the Orchestra	Hosier	Focuses on orchestral instruments, their roles, timbre, and families within the orchestra.
8	Elements of Music	Hunt, R.	Offers a clear explanation of the main elements of music such as rhythm, pitch, harmony, and texture.
9	Music for Secondary Schools Vol. I & II	Inanga, A.	A two-volume series aligned with the secondary school curriculum covering African music, theory, and history.
10	Music: An Appreciation	Kamien, R.	A global overview of music appreciation, western music history, and listening skills.
11	The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music	Kennedy, M.	A dictionary-style reference containing musical terms, biographies, and definitions.
12	Elementary Harmony Book 2	Kitson, C. H.	Covers harmony rules, four-part writing, chord progressions, and modulation.
13	Hausa Performing Arts and Music	Kofoworola, Z. O. & Lateef, Y.	Examines Hausa music, dance traditions, performers, and cultural significance.
14	A Concise History of Music	Lovelock, W.	Presents a brief history of Western music from the medieval era to the modern period.
15	The Rudiments of Music	Lovelock, W.	A comprehensive foundation text on notation, scales, key signatures, and time signatures.
16	The Enjoyment of Music	Machlis, J.	Offers insights into music appreciation, forms, genres, and historical development.
17	Folksongs for Schools	Mensah, A. A.	A collection of African folk songs suitable for school use with cultural and musical explanations.
18	The Oxford Harmony Vol. I	Morris, R. O.	Provides classical harmony training with practical exercises for beginners and intermediate learners.
19	African Music	Nketia, J. H.	A scholarly text on African music theory, instruments, performance, and history.
20	Teach Yourself Music	Palmer, K.	A self-study guide covering the basics of reading, writing, and understanding music.
21	Basic Music: A Basic Theory Text	Reed, H. O.	Focuses on essential music theory, including notation, dynamics, and scales.
22	The Guide to Music Theory	Taylor, E.	A structured guide covering advanced theory topics useful for higher-level music understanding.
23	Graded Music Course for Schools Books I–III	Warburton, A. O.	A graded series covering music theory and practical skills from beginner to intermediate levels.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are these JAMB-recommended textbooks compulsory?

A: They’re not compulsory, but they are the exact books JAMB uses to design Music syllabus topics, making them the best for accurate preparation.

Q: Which textbook is best for beginners in Music theory?

A: An ABC of Music and The Rudiments of Music provide simple, easy-to-understand explanations for new learners.

Q: Do I need all the books on the list to pass Music in UTME?

A: No. Most candidates combine 2–4 core books such as Rudiments and Theory of Music, An ABC of Music, and Music for Secondary Schools.

Q: Which book explains African/traditional music best?

A: African Music by Nketia and Foundation of Nigerian Traditional Music by Akpabot are excellent options.

Q: Where can I study harmony for JAMB Music?

A: Books like Elementary Harmony (Kitson) and The Oxford Harmony (Morris) are perfect for harmony and chord progression study.

Q: Does JAMB set questions on musical instruments?

A: Yes. Books such as Nigerian Musical Instruments and Instruments of the Orchestra cover everything needed.

Q: Can I use online summaries instead of textbooks?

A: Summaries help, but they cannot replace the detailed explanations in the recommended textbooks.

Q: Which book is best for understanding musical forms?

A: Cole’s The Form of Music clearly explains the structures and patterns frequently tested in UTME.