You would be surprised to discover that music and mathematics share many similarities. However, children rarely notice. They're too busy making music.
Music Is Full of Patterns
Music is full of:
♪ Sequences
♪ Repetition
♪ Symmetry
♪ Proportions
♪ Organization
These are also important mathematical thinking skills.
Rhythm Uses Simple Fractions
Without opening a math workbook, children learn relationships between:
♪ Whole notes
♪ Half notes
♪ Quarter notes
♪ Eighth notes etc
The easiest and most intuitive way to experience fractions physically is by clapping, counting, and moving.
Music Makes Abstract Ideas Concrete
Instead of seeing numbers on paper, children hear and feel relationships. For many students, this makes abstract concepts easier to understand.
But Music Isn't a Math Lesson
The goal isn't teaching arithmetic. The goal is making music. The mathematical thinking develops naturally as a by-product of musical learning. Children stay engaged because they're focused on creating something beautiful.
Theory Helps Connect the Dots
Music theory helps children recognize:
♪ Rhythmic organization,
♪ Repeating structures,
♪ Proportional relationships,
♪ Logical patterns.
These are valuable thinking skills in many areas of life.
Music isn't valuable because it secretly teaches math. It's valuable because it teaches children to recognize patterns, solve problems, and think creatively — skills that are used to support mathematics as well.