Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

To: tinyowl
music IS pure math looked at one way ... any hook in any song can be reduced to the math that torques your brain in the right way

I've heard that music is math, but that's not my experience.

I'm a magna cum laude graduate of Berklee College of Music.I LOVE music theory -- a real theory nerd. But I've always sucked at math. I'm dead in the water without a calculator even to do basic arithmatic.

As for programming, I've learned just enough HTML to post links and images on FR. But that's the extent of my "skill," which isn't saying much.

24 posted on 06/25/2016 7:43:06 PM PDT by Maceman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies ]


To: Maceman
I've heard that music is math, but that's not my experience.

I should clarify -> under the hood it's math. That is, you don't need to know math, just like in programming - you really don't need to know math. But as we know octaves are just double the frequency, and 5ths and 4ths and on and on are all simple proportions. ... and then music theory, while still ultimately math, does not require calculation.

If you were forced to learn to program, I almost guarantee you'd be good at it.

Maybe it's this: It's not the number crunching part of mathematics that contributes to trained mathematicians being good software guys ... it's the abstract pattern stuff. Probably the great insights in mathematics ... while ultimately derivable by 'crunching' ... were gained by toying with patterns - i.e. insight rather than rows of numbers.

Or, or course, I could have my head totally up my butt. That said, there are a ton of musicians in software, and they tend to be the ones who like to mess with and overlay patterns - not just theory, but rhythm too.

What did you wind up doing wi/your music? I still love it ... but never ever ever play for discipline - just hack at the electric piano - whatever I feel like - as part of most days.

28 posted on 06/25/2016 8:04:15 PM PDT by tinyowl (A equals A)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson