Music appreciation is the introductory study of various aspects of music, including its history, structure, instruments and styles.
Although music appreciation classes should look at all major categories of music — i.e., classical, popular and traditional or ethnic — emphasis is often placed on classical music. This is largely because of the long and important role that it has played in the development of music in Western civilization, including in the development of popular music. Another reason is that many students' exposure to music has often been limited mostly, or even entirely, to popular music.
Exposing students to a wider range of music can help them enjoy more types of music, but it can also help them understand more about the forms of music with which they are already familiar. In some cases it can also stimulate students to become involved in music performance or even music composition.
Additionally, many educators feel that learning about music both can provide some psychological benefits (such as promoting the development of critical thinking skills and increasing creativity) and constitutes an important part of a well-rounded education.