Benefits of Music in Math Lessons

Music and math can go together like two peas in a pod. Both are fun parts of education, so why not incorporate them with each other? One study has shown music’s positive impacts on mathematical skills, especially spatial-temporal skills. Other research reports the effects of music on multiple subjects, including math. There are many benefits to using music in your math lessons. Here are a few to note:

• Music is engaging and encourages whole-class participation.
  • Music has an inviting nature that can reach your timid students or those who don’t particularly like math or have anxiety about it. Since the focus of their classmates is on the music and not directed at them, music can allow them to feel more comfortable joining in with their peers. It is always great to watch students enjoy themselves while learning. 

• Music research has found that it enhances memory by stimulating multiple portions of the brain, leading to easier recall of mathematical concepts, text, and skills. 
  • How often do you have a song stuck in your mind? Music impacts our memory, especially catchy tunes, and repetitive lyrics or rhythms. Search out songs to incorporate into your math lesson that students can easily recall. For students who need extra help memorizing math facts, music is especially beneficial as a tool to use with them. 

• Music helps to develop and increase gross motor skills. 
  • A growing body of evidence shows that math performance can be improved with motor-enriched learning activities such as clapping, stomping, and other rhythmic movements. This is an opportunity to copy, extend, and create patterns. Dance and other actions use gross motor skills in a fun, creative way. 

• Music increases blood flow to brain regions that generate and control emotions. 
  • This is especially beneficial for your students who struggle with emotional regulation. Upbeat songs can increase energy to get ready to learn, while calm, soothing songs can help with better focus. In this way, music can help ease any math anxiety students may experience.

• Music can be used to reinforce a variety of math skills, such as:
  • Number patterns for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
  • Positional language
  • Measurement 
  • Place value
  • Math vocabulary
  • Order of operations
  • Comparing sizes, fractions, etc

• Music related to math skills can be used as a “brain break” in the midst of a lesson, allowing students to move around and still practice their math skills. 
  • If you are concerned about how to fit everything into your allotted lesson time, add the skill practice in the form of a song. This makes it fun for the students and still accomplishes some of the lesson objectives. 

Be sure to check out our ORIGO Pre-K Stepping Stones which include Big Poster Books and Poster Books songs. These songs are sure to keep your students engaged with rich language, vibrant pictures, and unique music!