Melody of Functions and Graphs: Improving Senior Secondary Mathematics Students’ Understanding of the Function Concept by Active Integration of Mathematics and Music

Abstract

This paper describes a study involving the active integration of mathematics and music applied to the process of senior secondary students' understanding of the function concept. The study has used the frame of the post-positivist paradigm, quasi-experimental research design, multiple research methods, experimentaland control-groups, pre-tests and post-tests. The study has considered nine author-developed analogies between mathematics and music as tools to improve students' understanding of the function concept. The findings suggest that this type of active integration of mathematics and music makes a statistically significant difference in students' understanding of function.

Music and Mathematics: The Effect of Matching Musical Meters with Geometric Shapes on 6th Graders’ Learning Outcomes

“…enhances the mathematic skills of the individuals. Accordingly the relationships between mathematics and music have been researched broadly, and research has suggested that music can enhance students' academic outcomes in mathematics (An et al, 2016;Evans, 2009;Harris, 2005;Nisbet, 1998;Rauscher, 2003;Schumacher et al, 2006;Still and Bobis, 2005;Spychiger, 2001;Vaughn, 2000;Nagy et al, 2020).…”

“…Arithmetic and geometry were considered to be in the theoretical mathematics sub major and astronomy and music were considered to be in the applied mathematics sub major. Now days mathematics and music are described as universal languages and two ways of expressing patterns of human rational thoughts and emotional feelings (Nagy et al, 2020). These two universal languages are interrelated, as Papadopoulos (2002) states mathematics and music are similarly expressed through the use of representational language and symbolic notations (Papadopoulos, 2002).…”