Math & Music Session

Suggested Activity Duration: 60-75 min.

OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES
Outcomes:
Fractions, waves, resonance, frequency, volume (dB), etc.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will:
Explore the math and science in music and try playing various instruments
LEARNING RESOURCES CONSULTED
Resource #1: Website: https://mrbscienceofmusic.weebly.com/
MATERIALS AND SETUP
Projector
Instruments: piano, cello, euphonium, snare drums, trumpet, flute, and saxophone
PROCEDURE
Introduction (6 min.) Assessments
1. Intro Video
Cymatics:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=Q
3oItpVa9fs

Body (50-65 min.) Assessments

2. Cello Demonstration (5 min.)
Tuning
o Frequency interference and harmonics
o Discuss harmonics
Talk about waves and frequency
Discuss rhythms and fractions

3. Piano Demonstration (5 min.)

Have the students gather around the piano
Talk about octaves and intervals
Talk about natural resonance

4. Bill Nye Video (20 min.)

Watch the Bill Nye video on the science of music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlRV0-pj3Gg
5. Musical Experimentation and Exploration (20-35 min.)
For the rest of the time, I will let the students have some
unstructured music time
They may play around with the different instruments that
are availableI want them to be careful with the
instruments
o This means no goofing around with them

Conclusion (6 min.) Assessments

6. What Did We Learn?
Have everybody clean up and gather in a circle to talk about
what we learned

REFLECTION
The students seemed to be interested in the two video clips. We had little discussions about the math
and science behind music, and then from about 9 until 10, I let the students just play around with the
instruments. At first, they were hesitant to try them, but after a few minutes and with some
encouragement, they started to try them. They had a lot of fun! One student, however, did not want
to try anything. She was nervous about it. I dont know why exactly, but she did say that she doesnt
know how to play them. Maybe she was afraid to make a mistake. I tried to encourage her and help
her feel more comfortable, but she only wanted to play her own clarinet.