Playing Music

Summary

Areas of Science

Pure Mathematics

Difficulty

Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Credits

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Abstract

Music has many mathematical elements in it: rhythm, pitch, scale, frequency, interval, and ratio. There are many ways to turn these elements into a science fair project. You can investigate how the scale is based upon a special type of number sequence called a Harmonic Series. Another scale used by Bach, called the "Well-Tempered-Scale" or the "Equal-Tempered-Scale", is based upon a series. How are these mathematical series and ratios related to notes, chords, intervals, and octaves? You can show how these concepts are applied to generating discreet notes and pitches with different instruments. You can also investigate rhythm and time in music: can you find a way to represent your favorite rhythms numerically?

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Careers

If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers:

Mathematician

Career Profile

Mathematicians are part of an ancient tradition of searching for patterns, conjecturing, and figuring out truths based on rigorous deduction. Some mathematicians focus on purely theoretical problems, with no obvious or immediate applications, except to advance our understanding of mathematics, while others focus on applied mathematics, where they try to solve problems in economics, business, science, physics, or engineering. Read more

Sound Engineering Technician

Career Profile

Any time you hear music at a concert, a live speech, the police sirens in a TV show, or the six o'clock news you're hearing the work of a sound engineering technician. Sound engineering technicians operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in recording studios, sporting arenas, theater productions, or movie and video productions. Read more

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MLA Style

Science Buddies Staff. "Playing Music." Science Buddies, 20 Nov. 2020, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Math_p034/pure-mathematics/playing-music. Accessed 22 May 2022.

APA Style

Science Buddies Staff. (2020, November 20). Playing Music. Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/Math_p034/pure-mathematics/playing-music

Last edit date: 2020-11-20

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