Ways of Knowing at the iTunes Book Store: https://books.apple.com/us/book/ways-of-knowing/id626780348

Or I can send you a PDF.

In the early 1980s, students from Spanish Harlem, Harlem, the Bronx, and Queens participated in a groundbreaking, foundation-supported initiative funded by the Carnegie Foundation, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the Ford Foundation. The program—MIDI–Music–Mathematics–Science: Ways of Knowing (MIDIMAST)—explored the deep cognitive connections between music, mathematics, and science.

Students entered the program with no prior musical training. Through a rigorous immersion, they learned to compose contemporary music at a professional level. More importantly—and as a central objective of the program—they acquired advanced concepts in mathematics and science that far exceeded standard expectations for their grade levels. School principals were astonished by the rapid and dramatic gains in mathematics and science test performance. As a result, a citywide initiative was launched, bringing 275 New York City mathematics and science teachers into direct training with the MIDIMAST methodology.

Independent assessments conducted across New York City schools confirmed statistically significant improvements in mathematics and science scores after only weeks of immersion. Distinguished scientists involved from the program’s inception included Seymour Papert, author of Mindstorms and Professor at MIT, alongside Marvin Minsky, widely regarded as the “Father of Artificial Intelligence.”

Buoyed by these results, MIDIMAST expanded into large-scale professional development courses, training hundreds of New York City mathematics and science teachers to leverage music as a powerful vehicle for teaching abstract and complex concepts shared across music, mathematics, and science.

This Teacher-Based Curriculum Guide embodies precisely the depth of knowledge and interdisciplinary perspective music educators need in their professional toolkit—especially when collaborating with administrators or colleagues who may underestimate the profound cognitive power and relevance of music. The concepts explored, the research presented, and the case studies documented collectively affirm music’s essential role in every child’s intellectual and creative development. Whether fully implemented or simply studied, this text expands the reader’s understanding of the rich and enduring intersection of music, mathematics, science—and beyond.

Enjoy & Godspeed,
Stephen Melillo, Composer