Impact of Carnatic music training on the mathematical ability of children

ABSTRACT

Studies in the field of music and transfer of learning have established a correlation between music learning and achievement in subjects such as Mathematics. An experimental study was conducted to understand the impact of Carnatic music training on mathematical ability in early formative education. Students aged 5 years 6 months to 8 years 6 months were assessed for their mathematical ability using a pre- and post-test in experimental and control groups. Music intervention in the form of basic Carnatic music lessons was provided to the experimental group along with the standard educational curriculum unlike the control group that just received the standard curriculum. Results from the study revealed a statistically significant improvement in mathematical ability for the students in the experimental group in comparison to the control group. This study indicates the educational implications of incorporating music into the school curriculum and its impact on cognitive abilities.

KEYWORDS:

• Early childhood
• Indian music
• carnatic music
• mathematical ability
• spatial reasoning

Acknowledgements

We thank the Principal and management of Kerala Education Society, Delhi for granting permission to conduct this study. We thank Raja Sankaran (Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi) for his review and inputs in the statistical analysis.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Vidya Raja

Dr. Vidya Raja is the currently the Director of Sangyan Music Academy, Bengaluru India. Formerly, she has served as Professor of music at the Department of Music, Alliance University, Bengaluru. She was a mathematics teacher at secondary schools for over a decade. She was awarded doctorate in Carnatic music from University of Delhi. Her research interests have been on music and cognition. She also is a Carnatic music vocalist, with performances at prestigious platforms.

Deepti Omchery Bhalla

Dr. Deepti Omchery Bhalla is a Senior Professor of Carnatic Music, Dean and Head at the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, University of Delhi, where she has been teaching since 1985. She is a leading exponent of Mohiniattam, a classical dance form from Kerala, India. She received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2007. She has published many research articles and books. She has performed extensively across prestigious platforms in India and abroad for both carnatic music and dance.