An apparatus for synchronized digital sheet music display and audio playback comprises an electronic appliance. The apparatus includes an audio output for playing an audio recording of a piece of music and a display for displaying the piece of music in notation form, including a first portion thereof and comprising elements representing discrete segments of the piece of music that may be identified, displayed, and highlighted. The apparatus further comprises software for controllably playing the recording of and displaying the piece of music, highlighting a second portion of the piece of music within and advancing through the first, and synchronizing the highlighted second portion with the audio played from the audio output. The software further supports an electronic book format, displaying and playing book contents containing both written language and music notation. Audio playback includes both music and a voice reading the language.