Counting, colors, choruses and kids have been combined by two Ohio University professors researching if music can be an effective tool for teaching mathematical concepts to children.
Husband and wife duo Eugene and Kamile Geist have collaborated for the past several years on a study that uses music to help children identify mathematical patterns.
The focus of their research is not only to teach music and math together, but also to use music as a tool to stimulate a child's brain during any activity, said the Geists, who met and married because of their research collaboration.
The idea to combine music and math came from one of Eugene's previous research projects, which analyzed math skills in young children at Head Start programs. Eugene, an associate professor in early childhood education, noted that students used music in their math activities. At that point, Kamile, an assistant professor in music therapy, was brought in as a music expert to help coordinate a study combining the two subjects.
It makes it easier for (children) to do things when music is involved
but we couldn't find any real research that had been done on it so we decided to move forward with this research agenda Eugene said.
During the summer of 2007, the Geists worked with preschool classes at OU's Child Development Center.
The center, which serves Athens-area children, is associated with OU's school of Human and Consumer Sciences. Many of its students are children of OU students, faculty and staff. The center offers classes for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
While at the center, the Geists paired rhythmic songs with activities that utilized colors, patterns and counting.
After some of these sessions, teachers at the center noticed the children were repeating the music and math activities on the playground.
Sue Gallagher, a master teacher at the Child Development Center, taught one of the classes with which the Geists worked and recalled an activity that utilized a song about ducks to teach children about counting - a song she still uses with her students almost three years later.
It was exciting to be a part of their research
Gallagher said. They gave us materials that we use to this day.
Michelle Price, an assistant professor in retail merchandising at OU, said her seven-year-old son, Nevin, was at the center during this time.
The biggest effect she noticed after this study was Nevin's comprehension of patterns, Price said.
He still does it today
years later
Price said. If he saw something that was repeated
like on a store shelf
he'd go
'That's a pattern.'
Price added that Nevin is taking piano lessons and notices patterns in the music's beats.
The goal of the program was helping kids want to learn, said Cathy Waller, director of the Child Development Center, who added the program was successful.
Kamile is amazing (with) the way she can introduce mutual concepts and music outside the box
Waller said. Some of the songs that (the children) learned with Kamile were their favorite songs.
The Geists applied for an $800,000 National Health & Human Services grant to continue the research but did not receive it. They are looking at several other grants and said that regardless of funding, they intend to continue their research this fall.
This project idea is very valued and very sought after
Kamile said. We're hoping to get started again.
