California Middle School Mathematics Concepts and Skills: Course 1

Ask students to name some of the mathematical ideas or skills that they think musicians might need to know. Accept answers, and ask them to look for more as they watch Futures Channel Movie #4001, “Drumming in Fractions”. In subsequent discussion, elicit or point out some of these math applications:

Identifying fractions
Comparing fractions (e.g., how many eighth notes does it take to make a quarter note)

Do activity #2 in the Movie Guide with students (you will first want to review the relative values of notes, as described on the first and second pages of the guide). This will help you to assess student’s prior knowledge of fractions, and their “fraction sense”.