The more I learn about music, the less and less true this is to me. The interval structure is "counting" but beyond that there is nothing similar. Even that doesnt hold much for the math argument because back in the day (as in, less than 200 years ago) they didnt even have names for all that, this label system is farly new. Back then people just heard the notes and knew what the note was; they didnt know what they heard was a "perfect fourth". Also the tests where people do better at math if they listen to classical is not a valid argument because people do better at ANY mind activity they are engaged in while listening to classical music. Which is mostly due to the complex harmonic structures going on, which gets the mind "warmed up". Tests showed that reading ability increased as well. Music knowledge just increases your entire minds ability, as does any new knowledge or system of knowledge (algebra, spanish, programming ect.).
If this were true it would make no sense that musical savants, with extreme mental disability (they have no capacity to learn even basic algebra) can hear a piece of music and play it flawlessly on the piano; having no previous musical training.
Compositionally I think it comes down to creativity and accumulated musical knowledge. I dont see a correlation between math and creativity.
the source for the tests and harmonic structure information is in the book "Music, the Brain, and Ecstacy" (he disproves the music/math bond). It also has various cases of music savants. Its a very intresting read.
[This message has been edited by Beyond Within (edited June 26, 2003).]
If this were true it would make no sense that musical savants, with extreme mental disability (they have no capacity to learn even basic algebra) can hear a piece of music and play it flawlessly on the piano; having no previous musical training.
Compositionally I think it comes down to creativity and accumulated musical knowledge. I dont see a correlation between math and creativity.
the source for the tests and harmonic structure information is in the book "Music, the Brain, and Ecstacy" (he disproves the music/math bond). It also has various cases of music savants. Its a very intresting read.
[This message has been edited by Beyond Within (edited June 26, 2003).]
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