Mathematics and MusicMathematics and Music

- Jacky Hoare HMP Gartree- Jacky Hoare HMP Gartree

Motivation to learn – music touches almost everyone on an emotional level

A chance to use our mathematics in a creative way

•

Pythagoras noted:Pythagoras noted:

• There is geometry in the humming of the strings... there is music in the spacing of the spheres.

Musical note valuesMusical note values

Some examplesSome examples

The definitive websiteThe definitive website

• www.philtulga.com

ActivityActivityMatching RhythmsMatching Rhythms

• Tap out the rhythms supplied.• Write your own 2-bar rhythm. keeping to

the time signature and get your partner to tap it out.

• Write out the rhythm to a well known tune and see whether others can guess the tune.

• Using bars of music supplied match each bar to the correct time signature

Other possible activitiesOther possible activities• Students create their own 2 bar

rhythms and record their efforts• Challenge others to write down a

rhythm (tapped or clapped)

Further workFurther work• Use of rests and dotted notes will

extend the complexity and range of fractions

• Given a set of ‘musical fractions’, arrange into a creative rhythm

• Ask the group to try to write down the rhythm to a popular hit song

The Water Bottle XylophoneThe Water Bottle Xylophone

The Scale of C MajorThe Scale of C Major

Activity: Write your own Activity: Write your own counterpointcounterpoint

1. Write the melody backwards and play it with the original melody. 2. Write the melody upside-down and play it with the original.

Choose C or G as your starting note, and whenever the melody goes up make your part go down the same distance, and vice versa.

3. Play the melody as a round. 4. Write the melody twice as fast-use eighth notes wherever there

are quarters and quarters wherever there are halves.

Over to you………..Over to you………..• Do you think you could adapt/extend

any of these ideas to suit your own learners?

• Additionally, there are rich links between harmonics, science, maths and music that are fully exploited by Phil Tulga

Increasing autonomy and Increasing autonomy and confidenceconfidence

• This activity uses a selection of NRich problems

• Choose a problem• Work in small groups to investigate• Make a poster to display your work• Nominate someone in your group to

describe your thinking

EvaluationEvaluationHow did you feel?How might your students feel?Is being stuck OK?How long is OK?Would time be an issue?Engagement issues?How would you assess learning?