What is the link between Maths and Music?

Being good at both of these, I have often been asked about the link, and initially, I thought that it was because of the logical structure of the notation, the technical execution of music, and the mathematical nature of rhythm, harmony and consonance/dissonance.

More recently, I realised that this similarity is of minor significance; more significant is the fact that both maths and music are cerebral activities, requiring inner focus; practising a musical instrument and studying maths are both inner activities, performed alone. Activities in groups also occur, but can only be practised amongst groups with a high degree of technical competence, like a secret code.

Finally, I realised that both are activities which can occupy the mind, away from any external stresses that may be troubling the person; they can provide an escape from a stressful situation, at school for instance.

The differences between Maths and Music remain clear - Music has an emotional resonance, maths does not, although maths does have a pure beauty, which cannot be parallelled in music; music has a strong connection with rhythm, particularly physical rhythm (dance); music has the aspect of timbre which, especially with singing, has a direct emotional significance.

A Few (N)autistic Jokes....

OK, see what you think of these...

Father and Son at a party, talking with another guy. Guy to Father: "how long have you known your friend here?" - "Oh, several decades now." - "And where did you meet?" - "In hospital".

See, if you don't ask, you won't know. Assume nothing.

Why Small Talk?

I have often read Aspies wondering what small talk is for. Perhaps I used to be one of your number. But as my associations with other humans (NT or not) increases, I am coming to recognise that small talk has real uses.

Essentially, it prolongs social interaction, thereby allowing other subjects and topics to come up in the conversation. It may well be that both parties then realise that there is a topic that is important, or shared - or both.

I could liken it to Evolution. There are many blind alleys, but that does not matter, life does on, more alleys are created and sooner or later one is created that is interesting and long-lived.

So it does not matter if you, the Aspie, cannot see where the conversation is going. It is ambling around. Continue and you may stumble on something that you hadn't thought of. Or someone else may arrive, and push the conversation on a bit further.

And so on. Enjoy yourselves!