According to a comprehensive review spanning 50 years, integration of math and music enhances test scores.

Recent analysis of nearly 50 years of research reveals that incorporating music into math lessons improves children’s performance in math. Music can make math more enjoyable and engaging, helping to alleviate fear and anxiety. In an article published in Educational Studies, the authors describe how music can enhance motivation and appreciation for math.

Techniques for integrating music into math lessons vary, such as incorporating clapping to teach rhythm and fractions or using math concepts to design musical instruments. Previous studies have shown a correlation between musical aptitude and math skills, but the impact of teaching music on math performance has been unclear.

To investigate further, Dr. Ayça Akın, a researcher from Antalya Belek University, conducted a meta-analysis of 55 studies involving nearly 78,000 students from kindergarten to university. Three types of musical interventions were examined: standardized music interventions (traditional music lessons involving singing, listening, and composing), instrumental musical interventions (individual or group lessons on playing instruments), and music-math integrated interventions.

The results showed that incorporating music, whether in standalone music lessons or as part of math classes, led to greater improvement in math performance over time. Integrated lessons had the most significant impact, with approximately 73% of students who had integrated lessons outperforming those without any musical intervention. Students who learned to play instruments (69% improvement) and those who had standard music lessons (58% improvement) also showed notable progress compared to those without musical interventions.

The findings suggest that music is particularly helpful for learning arithmetic and has a greater effect on younger students and those learning basic mathematical concepts. Math and music share similarities in terms of the use of symbols and symmetry, as well as the requirement for abstract thinking and quantitative reasoning. Core concepts in music, such as fractions and ratios, align with fundamental math principles, making music a natural tool for teaching math.

Integrated lessons provide additional opportunities for students to make connections between math and music, facilitating a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. Furthermore, these integrated lessons may be more enjoyable for students, helping to alleviate math-related anxiety.

While the analysis has limitations due to the relatively small number of studies available, the overall conclusion is that incorporating music into math instruction, especially through integrated lessons, can have a significant impact on student achievement. Dr. Akin suggests that collaboration between math and music teachers could further enhance students’ math performance and alleviate anxiety.

 

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