What mental processes are involved in listening, interpreting and composing music? What is involved in "understanding" a piece of music? How do you acquire these skills? Questions like these form the basis of the cognitive psychology of music. The author raises these questions when analyzing the increase of research in this field. The topics addressed will interest psychologists as windows to the complex cognitive skills that only now begin to receive the attention that has been dedicated to skills such as language. They are also relevant for musicians who try to understand the psychological basis of their abilities. The author not only analyzes the existing research, but also takes a critical look at what has been done in the area, introducing themes such as composition and musical ability in non-literate cultures. He freely uses his own knowledge and experience as a musician, and as a psychologist, to provide a look that is both academic and accessible to any reader.