Effects Of Music Therapy In Solving Math Problems: Basis For Developing Solving With Music (Solmus) Program

Abstract

This study examined the effect of mood calming music in math problem solving.Experimental research design was used in the study among 32 Grade 11 students who are “at-risk” in General Mathematics. The experimental group (N = 16) listened to mood calming music while they are solving math problems in a conducive well-lighted and ventilated environment; meanwhile, the control group (N = 16) were given the same room condition without treatment. Ten-item math problems equivalent to 40 points were given to the participants to solve in one-hour period. The results revealed that the test scores in the Mathematics problem solving for the control and experimental groups are 14.31 (SD = 2.24), and 17.31 (SD = 3.96), respectively. Using Independent Sample t-test, the result showed that the difference between the two means is significant (t = 2.64, df = 30, p = .013). Learning difficulty in math can be enhanced by incorporating music to increase test scores. Thus, this study would serve as a basis for developing the SolMus program.