A step-by-step process links listening, note-taking, composing, and revising in order to make a college level music writing assignment a more instructive and fulfilling exercise. In order to help them focus on the music, students are given a chart in which they divide the piece of music they are listening to into events, and then match these events with the composer's description of the piece, instruments they hear, and their own descriptions. Descriptions are later translated into technical music vocabulary. As a second step, students use this chart to organize a descriptive essay around a thesis of their choice. These initial essays are not graded, but comments are made. Before students write a final version of the essay, the class reviews the concept of an organizing thesis and discusses lead paragraphs. Following the essay exercise, students complete a questionnaire evaluating the music essay exercise. Student responses have indicated a greater understanding of the music and increased satisfaction with music appreciation classroom exercises than with other classroom strategies. (LP)