Compose music from mathematical patterns

Creativity

Write and perform short pieces of music built on mathematical rules, such as sequences, symmetries or ratios, and present them in a concert or recording.

Where the maths comes in

Ratios of frequencies, sequences and transformations (inversion, retrograde) as musical tools.

Which CAS strand it fits

Creativity: The arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking.

Your CAS coordinator decides how an experience counts at your school. Strand summaries are provisional (our words, being checked).

How to run it

Explore how ratios and transformations appear in music.
Set yourself a rule and compose with it.
Revise the pieces after feedback from a music teacher.
Perform or record them.

How to evidence it

Drafts and scores
Recordings
Feedback from listeners or a teacher

Date everything and keep it in your school's CAS portfolio as you go. More on what counts as evidence.

Reflection prompts

Questions to think about, not answers to copy. Write your reflections in your own words, in whatever form your school accepts.

When did the rule help, and when did you break it?
What did a musician's feedback show you?
How did performing feel compared with composing?

Learning outcomes this often gives a chance to show

Challenge and new skills. What could you not do at the start that you can do now? Which moment felt most uncomfortable, and what did you do next?
Strengths and growth. Which part of this did you find easiest, and why do you think that is? What would someone who watched you say you need to work on?
Commitment and perseverance. When did you feel like stopping, and what kept you going? What does your record of sessions or meetings show about how regularly you took part?

Whether you meet an outcome depends on what you actually do and reflect on, not on the idea. Outcome labels are our short summaries, being checked.

Safety and ethics

Credit any existing music you quote or adapt.

Agree every plan with your CAS coordinator first. Safety and ethics for maths CAS.

Sketch curves and patterns first in the free online grapher.