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The Connection Between Music & Math

There have been several studies recently that confirm a connection between music and math. There seems to be a strong pattern between math, language, and music. Music is essentially a series of notes played in a pre-established pattern. Math works in a similar way. There is a finite number of ways that you can add, multiply, subtract, and divide numbers, the ultimate combination is still finite.

Music too works in a similar fashion and pattern. There is an endless variety of groupings between notes, but the number of notes and sounds that exist is finite. Music and math similar to each other owing to the similarity in patterns and combinations. The processing of data about music and maths by our brain is diverse when compared to any other data or inputs.

Babies are first attracted to speech when it sounds rhythmic and melodic. Parents instinctively know to talk to a baby in a tone that has melodic and bold sounding words throughout, rather than using a normal voice. You will probably notice that the baby pays more attention to you when you speak to them in a poetic, mathematical stride to them rather than when your words are mundane and spoken in a normal tone of voice.

Small children love to listen to music that with repetitive patterns to it. Perhaps this is because their brain is computing the music message in way that catches their interest and makes them think. Hopefully, as a result children learning different methods to think, they are more willing to learn and absorb.

Give a child anything in their hand and they start creating musical patterns and rhythms. Al the music they make has a definitive pattern and beat. Children have the unique capability to create patterns out of random sounds. How well they create music and how tuned they are establishes the mathematical powers of the child that evolve later in their adult lives.

As a child grows it's important to continue to have music as a part of their life. Studies show that children who are active in music, whether playing an instrument or listening to a wide variety of music, do better in math. This is because their brains have developed in such a way that they are able to discern patterns and repetition among the musical notes.

Math is essentially the following of known patterns to arrive at a conclusion. Once you know that formula to find the answer, such as the simple formula of addition or the more complex formula of determining the degrees of an angle, you'll be able to use that pattern to get that answer.

The connection between music and math works both ways: those children who do well in math class are also extremely successful when it comes to playing an instrument and reading musical notes. The combination of both these skills can lead to better overall performance in school.

Making music an integral part of our lives right from birth places us on the fast track and gives us an advantage that can not be disputed. Increasingly, studies have confirmed the relationship between music and math and the benefits that accrue.

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Nigel Joneston is the owner and operator of For Very Good Music, a fantastic resource for information about music, For more articles on music why not visit: www.fvgmusic.com/articles

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