Schools currently using Make Music Count: Paul D. West Middle. Woodland Middle, Hapeville Charter Middle, Career Academy, Main Street Academy, Fulton Leadership Academy, Tri-Cities High and Banneker High
Information: www.makemusiccount.org, 404-766-0510or info@future-foundation.com.
For some students, the mere mention of learning math concepts and/or learning to play the piano can conjure up feelings of intimidation. Marcus Blackwell Jr., founder and CEO of Make Music Count, has created a way for students to connect the dots between both to bring the big picture into view for kids who thought they hated math.
Make Music Count is a math curriculum designed to engage students in the learning process while making it fun. Blackwell teaches a variety of concepts from simple addition and subtraction to one- and two-step algebra. The answers unlock musical notes that correspond to popular songs kids hear on the radio.
Blackwell, a Morehouse College grad who majored in math, helps his students draw the line between studies and practical application of learning in an engaging way.
“Sometimes you need to see how something you’re learning can effectively put your mind to work,” Blackwell said. “Sometimes you need to see an alternative way to learn something that connects to you personally.”
His formula is simple: Each student is seated in front of a piano while Blackwell, a musician in his own right, plays the featured song of the day to show the students what to look forward to. He and his team teach students how to solve math problems by discovering the corresponding musical note and putting the puzzle together.
Students do not need to know music theory or how to play piano to be in the program. To get a visual of the concept, Blackwell encourages those interested to access the organization’s Twitter and Instagram accounts to view videos of the classes in action.
He launched the program in Cobb County just over a year ago and has since expanded his territory to include parts of Fulton County. This summer, Make Music Count began a partnership with the Future Foundation, an East Point-based non-profit founded by former NBA player Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Future Foundation promotes youth empowerment through educational programs and teaching healthy habits and life skills.
The program engages students in after school or enrichment programs. Blackwell notes that the curriculum is not designed to take over math classes, but to serve as extra help and get children to understand why math is so relevant.
“A lot of the time, that’s the part that’s missing,” Blackwell said. “Students want to know, ‘Why do we have to learn this? Why do we have to learn these concepts?’ [We are] giving students a reason to want to care about math.”
Through pre- and post-assessments, Blackwell said schools that offer his program have found increases in students’ math scores. While that is his ultimate goal, the end result is not just about getting a math answer but focusing on playing an instrument, which Blackwell believes is most exciting to the students and has changed their attitudes toward math.
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