JAMB Recommended Textbooks for Music 2027/2028

Music is more than singing or playing an instrument. It includes music theory, notation, rhythm, harmony, musical instruments, traditional music, African music, and music history. The right books can make Music easier to understand and help you prepare better for the examination. That is why the JAMB Recommended Textbooks for Music are useful study materials.

In this guide, I will show you the complete list of the Recommended Textbooks for Music 2027/2028. You will also see books that cover music theory, Nigerian traditional music, African music, musical instruments, choir training, harmony, and the history of music.

Some of these books are made for students in secondary schools, while others explain specific areas of Music in more detail. You do not need to read every book at the same time. The best approach is to choose the books that match the topic you are studying and use them regularly.

JAMB Recommended Textbooks for Music 2027/2028

Complete List of Recommended Textbooks for Music

The table below contains the complete list of the JAMB Recommended Textbooks for Music 2027/2028.

S/N	Recommended Textbook
1	Akpabot, S. E. (1986). Foundation of Nigerian Traditional Music. Ibadan: Spectrum.
2	Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (1958). Rudiments and Theory of Music. London.
3	Cole, W. (1969). The Form of Music. London: The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
4	Echezona, W. W. C. (1981). Nigerian Musical Instruments. Enugu: Apollo Publishing Ltd.
5	Ekwueme, L. (1993). Choir Training and Choral Conducting for Africans. Lagos: Lenaus Advertising and Publishing Company.
6	Holst, I. (1963). An ABC of Music. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
7	Hosier (1961). Instruments of the Orchestra. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
8	Hunt, R. (1960). Elements of Music.
9	Inanga, A. (1993). Music for Secondary Schools, Volumes I and II. Ibadan: Spectrum.
10	Kamien, R. (1990). Music: An Appreciation. London: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company.
11	Kennedy, M. (1985). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music, 3rd Edition. London: Oxford University Press.
12	Kitson, C. H. (1978). Elementary Harmony, Book 2. London: Oxford University Press.
13	Kofoworola, Z. O. and Lateef, Y. (1987). Hausa Performing Arts and Music. Lagos: Nigeria Magazine.
14	Lovelock, W. (1953). A Concise History of Music. London: Bell and Hyman.
15	Lovelock, W. (1996). The Rudiments of Music. London: G. Bell and Sons Limited.
16	Machlis, J. (1977). The Enjoyment of Music. New York: W. W. Norton.
17	Mensah, A. A. (Undated). Folksongs for Schools. Accra.
18	Morris, R. O. (1974). The Oxford Harmony, Volume I. London: Oxford University Press.
19	Nketia, J. H. (1974). African Music. New York: W. W. Norton Company.
20	Palmer, K. (1965). Teach Yourself Music. London: The English University Press Limited.
21	Reed, H. O. (1954). Basic Music: A Basic Theory Text. New York: N. Y. Mills Music Inc.
22	Taylor, E. (1989). The Guide to Music Theory. London: The Associated Board of the Royal School of Music.
23	Warburton, A. O. (1955). Graded Music Course for Schools, Books I–III. London: Longman.

Why You Should Read These Music Textbooks

The books on this list cover different parts of Music. Some focus on basic music theory and notation, while others explain harmony, musical instruments, traditional music, African music, choir training, and music history.

Reading more than one recommended textbook can give you a wider understanding of Music. For example, one book may help you understand notes and rhythm, while another may explain Nigerian musical instruments or African traditional music.

Imagine you are studying Nigerian traditional music. Reading about the subject in a textbook gives you the basic information, but learning about the instruments used in Nigerian communities can make the topic easier to remember.

You can also connect what you read with music you hear around you. Listen to traditional songs, church music, school performances, or other forms of music and try to identify the instruments, rhythm, or musical features you have studied.

Music becomes easier when you connect the theory in your books with the music you hear and practise.

Read Also: Music JAMB Syllabus 2026/2027 Download PDF

How to Study With the JAMB Recommended Textbooks for Music

Reading the JAMB Recommended Textbooks for Music is a good start, but you also need a simple study method. Music has both theory and practical ideas, so reading alone may not be enough. You should read, practise, listen, and revise regularly.

The thing is, you do not need to study every book from the first page to the last. Choose the book that matches the topic you are studying and use other books when you need another explanation.

Start With Music Theory and Rudiments

Begin with basic Music topics such as musical notes, staff notation, clefs, scales, intervals, rhythm, time signatures, and other basic terms.

Books such as Rudiments and Theory of Music, An ABC of Music, The Rudiments of Music, and The Guide to Music Theory can help you understand these areas.

Do not rush into difficult Music topics before you understand the basics.

For example, if you are learning about scales, practise writing them and identifying their notes. If you are learning about rhythm, practise counting the beats. Reading the explanation is useful, but doing the exercise yourself helps you remember it better.

Keep a notebook for important Music terms and examples. Draw musical symbols and write their meanings beside them. Review these notes regularly.

Learn Musical Instruments and African Music

The recommended list also contains books about Nigerian and African music. These include Foundation of Nigerian Traditional Music, Nigerian Musical Instruments, and African Music.

When studying musical instruments, do not only memorise their names. Try to learn what they look like, how they are played, the type of sound they produce, and where they are commonly used.

Pictures, real examples, and careful listening can make musical instruments easier to remember.

You can also learn more about Nigerian traditional music by listening to different traditional performances. Try to identify the instruments and musical styles you hear. This can help you connect what you read in your textbook with real music.

Practise Music Questions and Theory

After reading a topic, practise questions on that topic. Do not simply read the answers. Try to solve the questions yourself first.

For example, if you have studied notation, practise identifying notes and symbols. If you have studied harmony, work through harmony exercises. If you have studied musical instruments, test yourself by trying to identify them from pictures or descriptions.

Regular practice helps you discover what you understand and what you still need to study.

You can also practise with past JAMB Music questions. This gives you an idea of the type of questions you may meet and helps you become more comfortable with answering them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

The JAMB Recommended Textbooks for Music 2027/2028 provide useful materials for learning music theory, harmony, musical instruments, African music, Nigerian traditional music, choir training, and music history.

Do not depend only on reading. Practise music theory, write musical symbols, listen to different types of music, learn about instruments, and revise what you have studied.

Take one topic at a time and keep practising. The more you practise Music, the easier it becomes to understand and remember.

If this guide helped you find the Recommended Textbooks for Music, leave a comment below and share it with another student who may need the list.