The Math and Science of Music: A Snapshot

Long before Pythagoras divided a string in ancient Greece to observe vibrations and calculate pitch frequencies, we were curious about the phenomenon of music. And we are still exploring its mysteries – physicists compare the workings of the universe to the complex interaction of an orchestra! From acoustic science to the structure of scales, modes, harmonies, and rhythms, music and math are constant working companions. This presentation clarifies for the non-musician some mathematical patterns and foundational principles on which music is based: resonance, harmony, sympathetic vibrations, overtones, timbre, and the fascinating interplay of nature and physics when it comes to sound.

Janice Jarrett, a jazz singer, published lyricist, and arranger, is also an educator and journalist with a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology, a M.A. in world music and a B.A. in voice and composition. She has taught and performed across the country and abroad and she currently runs her own music studio in Tucson, while continuing to perform jazz with Tucson’s best. Jarrett also writes, with pieces published in the Arizona Daily Star, the Tucson Weekly and the Phoenix New Times.