Magic happens when songs and learning are brought together. Music stirs emotion, which has a powerful effect on memory. Singing about math creates good feelings about the subject, and helps students internalize the vocabulary and the mathematical concepts at the same time." Harry Guffee
SONG LIST 1. Got Math? 2. Dance of the Pythagoreans 3. Positive Rational Numbers 4. Call me Mean (Im Just Average) 5. When in Rome (X Little Roman Numerals) 6. Prime or Composite 7. How the Googol Got Its Name 8. Good Things Happen (Signed Numbers) 9. Mixed Numbers 10. Count on Me
Each of the following songs serves as a lyrical and musical lesson in math.
1) GOT MATH? This rhythmic pop anthem reminds us that the math learned by students in school will one day be very valuable to them in any number of professions. 2) DANCE OF THE PYTHAGOREANS This upbeat epic ballad recounts the story of how Pythagoras, the ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician, may have discovered what is known throughout the world as the Pythagorean theorem. 3) POSITIVE RATIONAL NUMBERS Soul music meets rhythm and blues in this expository narrative about the relationship between decimals, fractions, and percents. Bring out your capes for this one! 4) CALL ME MEAN (I’m Just Average) Shuffle along with the plaintive tones of the resophonic guitar in this tune lamenting what it’s like to be called average – or just plain mean! 5) WHEN IN ROME (X Little Roman Numerals) The lilting melody of the flute (played by Richard Babcock) accompanies the explanation of how many centuries ago, in the days of the Roman Empire, letters of the alphabet were used as symbols for counting numbers. 6) PRIME OR COMPOSITE This three-chord blues tune teaches that “prime numbers only have two factors, composite numbers must have at least three.” Check out the howling electric guitar solo at the end! 7) HOW THE GOOGOL GOT ITS NAME Like the name itself, this unusual song applauds the achievements of a nine-year-old boy whose imaginative vocabulary changed the world of mathematics. 8) GOOD THINGS HAPPEN (Signed Numbers) This light-hearted and catchy tune explains the rules that are used in the multiplication and division of positive and negative numbers. 9) MIXED NUMBERS The counter-melody played on the clarinet (played by Richard Babcock) adds just the right touch to this big band arrangement explaining the procedures for the addition and subtraction, multiplication and division of mixed numbers. 10) COUNT ON ME Steel guitar embellishes this sweet song about an important component of mathematics and human relationships.
