Everyone is familiar with the concept of music. Music is a collection of instruments played to produce a harmony of sound, but there is so much more to it than just that! The music incorporates a combination of many subjects you may be familiar with: math, language, history, reading, and science!
Math: You may not realize it, but most songs follow a formula! Songs are comprised of chords and scales, which are patterns of sounds. There are also symbols, such as treble or alto, which change the tune of the song. That is similar to how an addition sign may change an equation compared to a subtraction sign; both produce different answers. It is the same for music! The song may have the same chords but sound different because of the tune!
Try out some of your own formulas here: Chord Player
Language: Across the world, music is made in every language imaginable! That is because music is a language all on its own. Through the chords, scales, and notes, music is its dialect, which can be practiced regardless of a musician’s first language! While the lyrics can be in different vernaculars, the notes are the same. It is due to that that music can bring so many people from vastly different cultures together!
History: Music can incorporate history in so many ways! From medieval times music was form of story-telling. Bards used would sing of ancient battles or great kings, and music today still does! “I’m Henry VII, I am” by Herman’s Hermits is a jovial explanation of King Henry VII of England and his expanse of wives. Music can also act as a piece of history, such as a song reminding you of a specific year or era. Check out what was the most popular song from the year you were born and relive history here: Top Songs
Reading: Music is a language of itself, which needs to be read! To play music, you will sometimes need to read sheet music. Sheet music is the transcribed notes to a song or melody, comprised of notes and chords. Learning to read sheet music is often the first step to learning how to play an instrument.
Reading lyrics from songs helps you memorize the words and get a better understanding of its meaning! Do you remember the first song you learned?
Science: Science is such a large part of the music, and it is rarely recognized as such! Without science, you wouldn’t even be able to hear music. Science teaches us about frequencies and sound waves, while it is how we can listen to music. The reverberation from instruments creates the pleasant sounds we know as music today.