Music and math have been closely connected since ancient times. It was the Greek philosopher Pythagoras who first expressed musical scales in terms of numerical fractions. Pythagoras is often credited with saying that math is everywhere and in all things. According to legend, he was walking by a blacksmith shop when he noticed the different tones the hammers made. Intrigued, he had a hunch he could use math to explain the tonal differences.
That was in the 5^th century B.C. Music and math have been intertwined ever since.
And in a personal way, music and math have always been intertwined for me. I am what you could call a voracious listener. I seek out music in the same way that some people seek books. My tastes are wide-ranging and always growing and sometimes I can’t get enough. In one sitting I can find myself listening to Mozart then Jay-Z and then Phish. I don’t know how to write music or how to play it but I do know how to use it to make myself more productive. Whether it’s an investment analysis or a piece of tax strategy I’m puzzling out, music can improve my concentration and can drive my work along. If math is everywhere and in all things, you’ll definitely find it in my office. And more often than not, it will be intertwining with my music.