Summer SAVY, Session 4 Day 5, “Math & Music” (7th-8th)
It’s hard to believe our week together has already ended! Today was our final day in Math and Music, and it was packed with creativity, collaboration, and a whole lot of fun.
We started the morning diving into matrices, and how they can be used to organize and solve systems of equations. We talked about matrix addition and subtraction, scalar multiplication, and matrix multiplication. We also explored substitution and elimination as tools for solving equations in different ways. It was amazing to see how quickly students picked up on these methods, especially as we started connecting them back to patterns and logic we’ve been building throughout the week. Solving equations simultaneously can seem quite difficult, but now they have a few different ways to tackle them!
Then came one of the most exciting moments: Mr. Sam performed the completed song that we helped him write! Hearing the final version was such a full-circle moment, especially because we all got to sing along. The smiles in the room said it all. Watching students hear their own words in a real, original song was something special. Big shoutout to Mr. Sam for sharing that with us!
We spent the rest of our day putting the finishing touches on our own musical compositions and performances. Every group had a chance to share what they created, and it was so fun to hear the different styles and personalities come through. Some pieces leaned into rhythm, others played with melody and form, but all of them showed just how much thought, teamwork, and math went into the music.
I would encourage you to ask these reflection questions of your students to get a good feel of what math went into their compositions:
- Where did you start when composing your piece? Did you start with a rhythm or pattern, or did you instead choose to start with lyrics or a motif? Do you think that means you are more musically or mathematically inclined?
- What math was featured in your piece? Did you include something new you learned or a basic concept you were already familiar with? Did you learn something new from others’ performances?
- Did you use the problem-solving skills you developed throughout math classes in school to help you in your music compositions this week? How is problem-solving different between math and music?
- Do you think musicians need to understand math? Do mathematicians need to understand music? Why or why not?
This week, we explored patterns, symmetry, rhythm, fractions, songwriting, and systems of equations, and explored how math and music are related to each other. We’re so proud of the creativity and growth these students showed every day. We hope they leave SAVY seeing the world through a new lens: one where math and music connect in ways that are both beautiful and powerful. I hope that they continue to make these cross-curricular connections and grow as mathematicians and musicians!
Thank you for an unforgettable week!
Ms. Kendall
