
They will say “music,” not realizing that on so many levels, they are one and the same. Ask a kid if they would rather do math or music. Kids love the bubbly stuff that is music, and the piano can be the vehicle that gets them directly involved with the math in music. They do not resist music and the piano if presented properly. Kids resist vegetables in the same way they resist math. Try a song with numbers on our online pianoįor example, when a child sees the chord symbol: Dm (D Minor) they are required to decipher the first letter as a group of keys having a certain mathematical basis, placed at only one type of location of the keyboard.īut Dm, as above, requires in addition the deciphering of the second letter, the small m, which then requires the lowering of the middle key of the chord (can you find the middle key in all this calculation?) You may have noticed the similarity, in concept, of Dm and, say, a mathematical equation such as A/B –2 = ? (my apologies to the math buffs.) Many Kids Hate Math The relationship between math and the piano, and music theory in general, becomes even more elegant and complex the further one goes into music theory.Īt simple levels that a child can reach, many of the concepts of beginning keyboard harmony prepare a child for the concepts of algebra.

Simple counting, pattern recognition, left/right, up/down are all explored the instant a child touches a group of piano keys. ( Possible answers include: in counting the beat, in calculating the tempo, writing rhymes, in digital music programs, etc.) Ask. Muzology is a major innovation in math education. Ask students where they think mathematics might be used in music. And if one begins with only the white keys, it is easy to begin navigating and building habits. Start using Muzology with your child today Muzology Increases Learning and Engagement. Thus the layout of the piano keyboard is inherently friendly to the child. Try that on a violin!įor children, this means that they may begin making music as soon as their index finger can remember a few patterns. Teacher Draws a Large Circle on the White Board and Writes the. Unlike the violin or guitar, or almost any orchestral instrument, every note is laid out in a row in front of you. Check Out Slap Happy Music Math - A Wacky Review Game for Reinforcing Rhythm Values. The piano has many attractions for a small child.

If you force it, you may as well be asking them if they want more homework or vegetables. If you can interest the child in the piano in a friendly way, the learning will start. When introduced properly, playing the piano can be a very positive force in a young child’s life.

Rhythm in music is a simple mathematical device in which time is divided into units and then presented in a dizzying variety of combinations and patterns.
