MUSIMATICS, A programme which was developed to use musical principles to teach mathematics, has been successfully applied in one school in Portmore, St. Catherine.
The programme was piloted at Belmont Park Primary School for eight weeks with students in grades four and five participating.
Hensley Pink, innovator of the programme, told The Gleaner in a recent interview, that its major goal was to demystify mathematics. Mr. Pink said there were some principles in mathematics that could be directly translated into music and vice versa and, "since children love music if they realise the relationship between mathematics and music they would have a better perception of mathematics."
KEY INSTRUMENT
The key instrument used in the programme is a keyboard fitted with headphones. The course was delivered by trained instructors, and practising musicians who are educators.
Edna Hibbert, principal of the school, said that the students found musimatics interesting. Mrs. Hibbert said one criterion for the programme was that students have a background knowledge in music. However, she said that this was not the case as the students learnt mathematics and music simultaneously.
Mr. Pink said that at the end of the programme, students were able to explain certain mathematical problems.
Some of the topics in mathematics that musimatics can address are simple equations, line graphs and step theory.
The programme is expected to be started in several other schools soon.
