Are music and maths interlinked?

conjurer1 · 05-02-2011, 08:10 AM

It is often said that those who are good at playing instruments are also good at mathematics but …
1- is it true the other way around too?
2- how any musicians here can vouch from personal experience?

Dynamic Threads · 05-02-2011, 04:44 PM

I personally see alot of similarities between music and math. And in my own experiences, I eccel at the both of them. That is, when I actually apply myself to them. I understand them both but am lazy when it comes to actually studying their discourse. I see music numerically, which makes notation tedious and I see math grammatically, that is, in wods and phrases as opposed to numbers and equations. I find beauty in them both and execute them in a literal but obscure and casual fasion.

MusicMan · 05-02-2011, 06:46 PM

Growing up, I always did really well in math. I was born a problem solver, so learning all phases of math was something I enjoyed. Then I got into music and found a natural affinity for it as well. But then in high school I took an AP Music Theory course and it was like a beautiful puzzle coming apart and being shown all the pieces. And learning how to put that puzzle back together, and design your own musical puzzles, was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything.

12aging13ull · 09-18-2011, 09:44 PM

judging by the fact music is just made of vibrating frequencies of the air, we can say it is interlinked. all can be calculated

aronidisilias · 09-20-2011, 01:18 AM

Iannis Xenakis was an original, one of the first to jumble math, music and architecture in a pot.search for him

smudgedude · 09-21-2011, 06:01 AM

i've heard of that as well, but i don't know if i'd say there's a definite link between skill in music and in mathematics.

i would think those with a literary skill set might make more sense, but who knows.

MusicMan · 09-21-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smudgedude

i've heard of that as well, but i don't know if i'd say there's a definite link between skill in music and in mathematics.

i would think those with a literary skill set might make more sense, but who knows.

That's a good point, that presents a new example of the classic "Speed/skill/complexity versus expression/feel" debate. I imagine a mathematician would be more like Yngwie Malmsteen whereas a poet or literary type would be more of a David Gilmour, if both were taught guitar. But then again, knowing the math behind music does improve composition ability, at least in most cases.

jwt7000 · 09-22-2011, 01:00 AM

I was good at mathematics before getting good at playing the piano when I was in middle school through to high school.

smudgedude · 09-22-2011, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MusicMan

That's a good point, that presents a new example of the classic "Speed/skill/complexity versus expression/feel" debate. I imagine a mathematician would be more like Yngwie Malmsteen whereas a poet or literary type would be more of a David Gilmour, if both were taught guitar. But then again, knowing the math behind music does improve composition ability, at least in most cases.

i could see that, yeah. like a mathematician is all about knowing the processes and how they intertwine with each other, same with scales.

05-02-2011, 04:44 PM	#2
Dynamic Threads Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Western New York Posts: 268 Thanks: 12 Thanked 40 Times in 28 Posts Rep Power: 37	I personally see alot of similarities between music and math. And in my own experiences, I eccel at the both of them. That is, when I actually apply myself to them. I understand them both but am lazy when it comes to actually studying their discourse. I see music numerically, which makes notation tedious and I see math grammatically, that is, in wods and phrases as opposed to numbers and equations. I find beauty in them both and execute them in a literal but obscure and casual fasion. __________________ Dynamic Threads On SoundCloud Dynamic Threads music on Last FM; Free MP3s Y'all Dynamic Threads on Myspace

05-02-2011, 06:46 PM	#3
MusicMan "Without music, life would be a mistake." - Friedrich Nietzsche Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Inside your head Posts: 8,213 Thanks: 586 Thanked 555 Times in 476 Posts Rep Power: 500	Growing up, I always did really well in math. I was born a problem solver, so learning all phases of math was something I enjoyed. Then I got into music and found a natural affinity for it as well. But then in high school I took an AP Music Theory course and it was like a beautiful puzzle coming apart and being shown all the pieces. And learning how to put that puzzle back together, and design your own musical puzzles, was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. __________________ Rules! A definite must-read The Music Showcase is the best place to share your music here, you can even embed Youtube videos. Send me a PM if you need any help with anything.

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05-02-2011, 08:10 AM	#1
conjurer1 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 11 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Rep Power: 15	It is often said that those who are good at playing instruments are also good at mathematics but … 1- is it true the other way around too? 2- how any musicians here can vouch from personal experience?

09-18-2011, 09:44 PM	#4
12aging13ull Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Rep Power: 9	judging by the fact music is just made of vibrating frequencies of the air, we can say it is interlinked. all can be calculated

09-20-2011, 01:18 AM	#5
aronidisilias Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 9	Iannis Xenakis was an original, one of the first to jumble math, music and architecture in a pot.search for him

09-21-2011, 06:01 AM	#6
smudgedude Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 41 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Rep Power: 10	i've heard of that as well, but i don't know if i'd say there's a definite link between skill in music and in mathematics. i would think those with a literary skill set might make more sense, but who knows.

09-22-2011, 01:00 AM	#8
jwt7000 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 9	I was good at mathematics before getting good at playing the piano when I was in middle school through to high school.

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