Comments on: Dichotomy? http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/07/20/dichotomy/ The Official Site of Jonathan Biss Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:34:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: John H. Smith http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/07/20/dichotomy/#comment-6 John H. Smith Sat, 21 Jul 2007 18:26:43 +0000 http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/07/20/dichotomy/#comment-6 I remember a field trip that UES took to IU one day, where some professors were showing us a device where marbles went down a binary tree, and collected according to a (more or less) bell shaped curve at the bottom. The professors asked, "why is this distribution concentrated at the center?" and you answered, "because there are more paths to the center than to the sides." They said, "we better keep an eye on you." You must have been in fourth grade at the time! True you did not become a professional mathematician like D, but from my memory you had the talent for it. As an elementary school student, were you not intrigued enough by the connection between mathematical and musical ability to do a brief research project on it? I am thankful that you chose music as a career. I am listening to your Schumann Recital cd now, and it's fantastic. I look forward to listening to more of your discography as it develops, and wish you all the best in your career. I remember a field trip that UES took to IU one day, where some professors were showing us a device where marbles went down a binary tree, and collected according to a (more or less) bell shaped curve at the bottom. The professors asked, “why is this distribution concentrated at the center?” and you answered, “because there are more paths to the center than to the sides.” They said, “we better keep an eye on you.” You must have been in fourth grade at the time! True you did not become a professional mathematician like D, but from my memory you had the talent for it. As an elementary school student, were you not intrigued enough by the connection between mathematical and musical ability to do a brief research project on it? I am thankful that you chose music as a career. I am listening to your Schumann Recital cd now, and it’s fantastic. I look forward to listening to more of your discography as it develops, and wish you all the best in your career.

]]> By: Jonathan http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/07/20/dichotomy/#comment-7 Jonathan Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:09:31 +0000 http://jonathanbiss.com/home/2007/07/20/dichotomy/#comment-7 You know, for years I've complained that my brother is musically talented, while I'm a mathematical dunce. Now, I'm having to supress a strong urge to gloat! Seriously though, I never did any research about the math-music connection, but not because I don't think it's an interesting subject - I just don't think I'm the person for it. Whenever someone tries to explain one or another of music's mathematical properties, I find myself thinking it would be incredibly interesting if the wheels in my head weren't turning so furiously in an effort to just keep up... Thanks for the well-wishes, and the same to you. You know, for years I’ve complained that my brother is musically talented, while I’m a mathematical dunce. Now, I’m having to supress a strong urge to gloat!

Seriously though, I never did any research about the math-music connection, but not because I don’t think it’s an interesting subject - I just don’t think I’m the person for it. Whenever someone tries to explain one or another of music’s mathematical properties, I find myself thinking it would be incredibly interesting if the wheels in my head weren’t turning so furiously in an effort to just keep up…

Thanks for the well-wishes, and the same to you.

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