I can't put music onto my Iphone?

So my mum's just given me her Iphone and I've got a bunch of music on my laptop that I'd like to put onto it.
I connected it to the laptop via USB, but the laptop couldn't install it properly and the Iphone wasn't picking up the fact that it was connected.
And I tried sending the music to myself via mail, then I downloaded it, and I can't find it.

Try using iTunes.