Children achieve better results in mathematics when they study it together with music. This conclusion was reached by scientists who analyzed nearly 50 years of research on the relationship between these two disciplines.
Pythagoras Already Connected Music and Mathematics
The construction of musical instruments is based on mathematical principles established by Pythagoras. The ancient Greek mathematician is known not only for his theorem about right triangles but also as one of the first music theorists.
Pythagoras laid the mathematical foundation for the modern Western octave system and the interval between two notes. It is known that he and his followers, the Pythagoreans, considered mathematics a science that reveals the laws of the universe’s beauty, with music being part of it.
It is believed that Pythagoras became interested in the relationship between mathematics and music when he heard different notes produced by hammer strikes on an anvil in a blacksmith’s workshop. To reproduce and study this phenomenon, Pythagoras used the lyre and the monochord—a musical instrument he developed.
Monochord
The scientist discovered that pressing the string of the lyre exactly in the middle produces the same note but at a higher frequency. This musical interval, where the frequency ratio between the sounds is 1:2, is known as an octave.
This principle can be clearly demonstrated by a simple experiment with bottles. Blowing across the neck of a bottle produces a sound similar to a flute note. Filling the bottle halfway with water and repeating the experiment produces the same note an octave higher. Adding different amounts of water changes the ratio of air to liquid, creating different pitches.
As Skyhooks guitarist Red Symons notes, chords on a guitar are “just mathematical arrays.” Based on this, music can be integrated into math lessons for children, for example, by clapping hands in various rhythms while learning counting and fractions.
Researchers claim that such musical exercises help reduce fear or anxiety associated with learning complex arithmetic and make math classes more enjoyable for students. According to *Cosmosmagazine*, results from a recent meta-analysis show that children who use music to learn math are more motivated and value arithmetic more highly.
The Influence of Music on Learning Mathematics
Previous studies showed a correlation between students who had a good knowledge of music basics and those who achieved success in mathematics. However, the benefits of using musical activities in teaching math were less clear.
Dr. Aicha Akin from Turkey analyzed 55 studies published between 1975 and 2022. Nearly 78,000 students participated, ranging from preschool to university age. Participants with musical education took math tests, and their results were compared to those without music education.
The meta-analysis included three types of musical intervention: regular music lessons with singing and clapping, learning to play musical instruments, and music lessons integrated into math. In all cases, students who took music lessons demonstrated better math performance.
The best results were observed among those who participated in integrated music-math lessons.
Among these students, 73% showed significantly better results than those who did not have music lessons. Additionally, 69% of students who learned to play instruments and 58% who took regular music lessons improved their math knowledge compared to those without musical intervention.
The relatively small number of studies made it impossible to examine other factors in the meta-analysis, such as socioeconomic status and duration of musical activities. However, this study emphasizes the significant impact integrated music education can have on children learning math. According to Dr. Akin, encouraging math and music teachers to plan lessons together may help reduce students’ anxiety about math tasks and contribute to improved achievement.