-teach the notation of music to those who have never known it before
-serve as a systematic reminder for those who once knew how to read music but have forgotten most of it
-serve as a practical classroom text book in the rudiments of music
-serve as a helpful reference book for the student in music appreciation and related courses

This book Will Not

-teach you to sing like Tebaldi
-make you a wizard at the piano or any other instrument
-turn you into an Irving Berlin or a Beethoven

But it will teach Anyone--even the tone-deaf--to read melodies and pick them out on the piano.