ERIC Number: EJ1051624
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1056-3997
EISSN: N/A
High School Students' Perceptions of the Relationship between Music and Math
Cranmore, Jeff; Tunks, Jeanne
Mid-Western Educational Researcher, v27 n1 p51-69 2015
While there is little doubt that engaging in musical or mathematical activities stimulates brain activity at high levels and that increased student involvement fosters a greater learning environment, questions remain about whether musical ability and mathematics performance are related. This study took a qualitative approach that allowed 24 high school students to share their direct experiences with music and mathematics, as well as their perceptions of how the two fields are related. Participants were divided into four groups based on school music participation and level of mathematic achievement. Using a multiple intelligence lens, this study addressed the following question: How do students perceive the fields of music and mathematics relating to each other? Interestingly, most of the students saw math as a foundation for musical ability, which suggest a different direction than most previous studies. The musical element of rhythm seemed to have the most mathematical connection. This implies several possibilities for educators, including encouraging students in both areas of study to recognize the connections between the two, if not particularly the influence of one over the other. Additionally, teachers in both fields may begin more collaborative efforts to support the learning in both content areas. Future studies include looking at the specific perceptions of students based on ethnicity, gender, and SES status, as well as exploring the motivation of students in both music and mathematics.
Descriptors: Mathematics Instruction, Mathematics Achievement, Music Activities, Multiple Intelligences, Correlation, Student Attitudes, Teacher Collaboration, Standardized Tests, High School Seniors, Scores, Racial Differences, White Students, Hispanic American Students, Interviews, Coding, Family Influence, Brain, Family Environment, Comparative Analysis
Mid-Western Educational Research Association. P.O. Box 34421, Chicago, IL 60634-0421. Tel: 419-372-7401; Fax: 419-372-2828; e-mail: mer@bgsu.edu; Web site: http://www.mwera.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A