Math & Music Theory

Music is sound organized by humans; audible statement that mirrors a way of life or a way of thinking; a language spoken directly, without translation, between people who understand. In this class we studied liberal arts, and how it uses general intellectual development rather than opposed training, to develop a musical analysis of music such as “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez”. To develop an analysis, we group the organization of music into five musical elements rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, and form, and we find some type of organization or order in these pieces like pulse and background instruments to help identify these elements.

One of our first assignments this semester was to explain the history and story behind the number one, and how this related to music. We did this through research of ancient mathematicians and the ratios that made music enjoyable to listen to. This was the first topic that introduced us to the relationship between humanism, science and technology. Throughout this course, we have studied numbers, poems and a significant amount of music, all of which have helped us to gain a better understanding of the relationship between humanism and science.

Music is not simply a sound that we find pleasing. It is the culmination of notes, chords, rhythms, melodies, harmonies, voices, and instruments. Rhythm, melody, and harmony are the rudimentary elements of music. Rhythm is the most vital element of music. It is the beat and is arguable the reason that a song is initially appealing. I find it interesting that although the deaf cannot hear music they can feel a beat. Melody is the tune of a song and the part that is most recognizable. Melodies are made up of a succession of pitches, whose highness or lowness can dictate the overall mood of the piece. The harmony of a piece of music is designed to support and enhance the melody. The harmony is present to add depth to a piece of music. When I was part of the high school choir I was an alto; although the harmony was more difficult to learn, it was, as my choir director would put it, the “gravy” of the piece, meaning that even though the melody could stand easily by itself, the harmony adds an element far more

I believe my mathematical studies are complemented by my third A level - music. I hear and see music in numbers, and my approach to playing or singing is similar to the mindset I use in maths.

According to Laurence O’Donnell, “Music is thought to link all of the emotional, spiritual, and physical elements of the universe.” This proves that music is more than a simple class teaching random notes. It is a common denominator

Elementary schools and high schools across the U.S. have lately suffered from financial strain. Because of this, budget cuts have to be made and music programs often suffer before sports and academics. Although some people believe that music is not a key component in preparing for employment and higher education, yet several others express otherwise, who say music has been shown to stimulate other parts of a student’s mind that can help them excel. Statistics have shown that the correlation between music class and other academia is not only positive for students, but also can improve future scholastic abilities, and thus should not be cut from schools. Through the evaluation of various sources

| Because every piece of music moves through time, every piece of music has some type of rhythm.

(Sheftel 2002) Music does involve a higher level of thinking even though it doesn’t seem like it. Listening to music uses the right hemisphere. When a student starts reading music and learning the rhythm and pattern of notes they are using the left hemisphere, which is also used in math. (Dickinson 1993) In one college class the Professor played a series of notes and then explained to the students that it was a mathematical progression. “Even at a college level, he said music appreciation classes, and instrument instruction would increase student's ability to learn.” (Sheftel 2002)

A Mathematician’ Lament by Paul Lockhart, demonstrates a musician has woken up from a nightmare and his dream was about how the community is being forced to have music education. It brings many theories and analysis in the “language of music”, which makes the educators to be more curios to listen or play music. This leads to more advance topics to train students in the primary and secondary school, as it creates more opportunities to improve in school. As Lockhart, said “Most of them couldn’t care less about how important music is in today’s world; I guess there are just music people and non-music people”; as the musician realizes that the society will never remove a beautiful art form, just like mathematics. But, today in our culture, doesn’t let the students to have a curiosity

The study of music has turned into something where it is much more than banging on something and making a noise, possibly keeping a beat. Music Theory can teach us the inner depths of music. Including notes, octaves, clefs, and key signatures. These are also called rudiments. A composer reads music theory and applies it to their music.

In conclusion, music has always had a relationship with music. A composer must take in to account all the instruments when writing a symphony. The only logical reasoning to suggest this is math. How else would he know when to have the bass come in and the violins to carry a note? The composer must figure out the timing of each beat, timing is everything. Music often repeats patterns, same as math. One could also suggest that a dancer uses math when choreographing dance

Famous music composer, Ludwig van Beethoven once rightly quoted “Music is a higher revelation than philosophy”. Indeed, music has higher magnitude than just being a mere form of entertainment- it plays a significant role in our society be it politics or religion or even academics. So important is music’s value that it has been recorded throughout history of mankind in numerous ancient writings including the sacred Hindu scripture, Veda. Thus it is no surprise that even today the value and contribution of music has not declined but on the contrary, risen.

Thesis: Music is a unique form of sound powerful enough to manipulate mood, feelings, and cognition.

Ever since c. 17th century, musical compositions have manipulated the standard aspects of music, which include rhythm and melody. More importantly, many musical compositions have incorporated complex math within, for examples again, melodies and rhythms that create a uniqueness that has yet to be perfectly matched by other composers. One other key aspect of music in general, harmony, is where a fairly complex mathematical formula is involved: the harmonic mean. Because harmony is a major component of music, it is no surprise that this harmonic mean can be applied to nearly all types of music. Basically, a harmonic mean-as it applies to music-~is any possible division between an original note and the octave of that note that produces a different note.

Music Theory can be understood as chiefly the study of the structure of music. With the idea of both written and oral notation, it may be understood through recognized systems of indication, and used as systems of memorizing and transmitting the theories themselves. Western music theory is significant for its quantity and range whilst those of non-Western traditions are also notable in possessing major works of theoretical oration and literature.