Maths and science are all about spotting patterns and putting them together to form structures. It sounds pretty like music to me and when you look at how top level mathematicians and scientists actually work, the similarities become more and more apparent. Patterns and structures make good science and good music. You will have you own areas of work that you like to study with your pupils, but here are some examples to get the imagination going.

Maths

Bell-ringing is based entirely on number sequences and transformations of these sequences. Try out making your own patterns using a set of chime bars. You might be able to make some patterns that you all recognise.

The idea can be extended to other musical areas. Arrange notes together in clusters, play with the dynamics, play patterns backwards, forwards and sideways. Followed to its logical conclusion, this idea becomes serialism which was one of the most important techniques in classical music throughout the 20 th century. Listen to music by composers such as Berg and Boulez to hear how it can work.

Physics

The universe is a pretty interesting place from the big bang to the formation of galaxies. From black holes to dark matter. Fantastic photography and film footage is available from the Hubble telescope and any number of other sources.

Jessie's Fund's own Soundtracks project has its roots in working with a film showing how the universe has developed. For the pupils that don't understand the whole concept, the visual stimuli alone are so remarkable that they are invaluable as a source of inspiration. The entire universe as a multi-sensory room!

Chemistry

Atoms and molecules are such perfect structures. Make them into music. Again, many of your pupils may not grab hold of the full significance of these structures and how they are the building blocks of all that surround us but as patterns they could not be better.

Biology

Biology has at its heart one vital molecule known as the building block of life: DNA. DNA is formed by long chains of 4 components (known in shorthand as C, G, A and T) which always appear in pairs. The long strands spiral together to form a double helix. While the sequences in the codes are determined by heredity, a selection of switches within the codes are turned on and off by environmental factors.

That is music in a nutshell. Everything is individual. Structure and random elements combine to make every being and every performance slightly different. Combine biology with drama and music to make music for characters who are determined by their genetic make up. Good science and good music all the way.