Rhythm Is Math

Math math math. Maybe you love it. Maybe you don't. Either way, if you're an educator, you can be sure that math is a significant player in your academic world. For music teachers, this is a good thing because as we all know so well, math is already integral to music. And since math education now has more attention in general, it's a perfect opportunity to remind, if not teach, that music and math are connected.

The song "Rhythm Is Math" was written as part of the musical Music Class (featured in its entirety in the first three issues of Volume 20), but is definitely a stand-alone piece as well. Be sure to tell your classroom (math) teachers you have this cross curricular tool at the ready. Maybe even work out a few extensions with their help. In what ways do music and math connect? Can students cite specific examples? This could be as simple or complex as you wish to make it.

The approach to the song was to keep it basic. That way, even younger students can learn and sing it, hopefully understanding the connection better. The meter is a nice, solid, quarter note-based 4/4; not too fast, not too slow. The funky horn band and pulsing rhythm section on the Performance/Accompaniment recording inspire toe tapping, if not outright movement. We've suggested that students can clap on beats 2 and 4 from the beginning, which we think would be a nice punctuation to the tune and the subject. If they do clap, have them listen to the set-up in drums prior to the first bar to help get started.