Math and Music: The Connection

Math is in everything

Yesterday I got an email from a rather angry blog reader saying that 'music has no mathematical qualities as music doesn't follow any rules like math does' in regards to my previous post on classical music. The guy/girl has a point in that music doesn't follow any strict 'rules', but everything has a connection to math its just that we don't see it. And math and music have a rather definite connection through to the rhythm's and tones and in the design of the instruments. And this is for both acoustic and electronic instruments.




How to convert Music to Math

Converting sheet music to math means reducing the notes, pitches and chords in the music to their numerical value on the diatonic scale. Now if you don't play an instrument or know how to read sheet music this may be hard for you to understand, but if you learn how to and practise converting sheet music into math then you'll eventually get it.




1. Find out what Octave the music is in.

2. Write out the names of the notes on a piece of paper such as on piano, G-B-A-C.

3. Put the number of the Octave next to the number so for instance; G3-B3-A3-C3
(these notes are in the third Octave so I put the number three next to them).
4. Write a number below each of the letter and number combo to indicate how long  that note will be held out. Like this;

Or..... You could just put into ratio's like this dude did with the number 1.618 (the Golden Ratio)

How does Classical music enhance brain activity?

The Joy of Classical music

I love classical music. Being I nerd, I don't have a choice, otherwise I am no longer allowed in the nerd circle at school. And its not like I'll be welcome to any other cliche's in the school yard. Anyway,other day, one of my non-nerd friends asked ''does Classical music actually make you, like, cleverer?'' (Her word's not mine)

I don't know as all studies conducted on this subject all seem to contradict each other. But if it were to
enhance brain activity and make you ''cleverer'' so to speak, then I imagine it would be because of the following reason. So Jenna, my buddy, this is answering your question ;)


In classical music the instruments do not always play at the same time and at the same note. And it is this pattern of stimuli that requires the brain to logically process this different note playing at different times stuff. And the brain loves it! Without stimulation the brain tissue would die even if you were to preserve it with the nutrition and temperature, which is why when people are locked in an empty room without social stimulation they go slightly crazy. (Which is what my family does to me quite often) :/

And because classical music is a harmony of  beautiful, and genius mathematical precision when the brain detects this it consequently stimulates both hemispheres of the brain and causes to begin to fire in sequence of the particular piece you are listening to.

Damn if the neurons begin to fire to the sequence of the music your listening to, imagine how fast there firing when your listening to this!