Exploring Music and Mathematics with Alan Stewart

Brady Haran interviews Alan Stewart, a musician known for his work on Numberphile videos. They discuss Alan's unique approach to music, including his self-taught background and perfect pitch. Alan explains how he incorporates mathematical concepts like the Fibonacci sequence and Pi into his compositions. The video also covers Alan's process for creating music inspired by the film Good Will Hunting and his independent project on the Dragon Curve. Throughout, Alan shares insights into his creative process and the joy of seeing his music used in educational videos.

What condition affects Alan Stewart's ability to read music?

• Cataracts

• Band keratopathy

• Glaucoma

• Macular degeneration

What was Alan Stewart's first collaboration with Brady Haran?

• A song for Sixty Symbols

• Music for a Rubik's cube video

• Music for a Dragon Curve animation

• A theme for Good Will Hunting

How does Alan Stewart incorporate the Fibonacci sequence into his music?

• By using Fibonacci numbers to determine the tempo

• By mapping Fibonacci numbers onto a musical scale

• By using Fibonacci numbers to choose instruments

• By arranging notes in Fibonacci order

What is the tempo of the Fibonacci bagpipes music?

• 100 beats per minute

• 72 beats per minute

• 89 beats per minute

• 60 beats per minute

What unique approach did Alan Stewart take for the Pi March music?

• Using a chromatic scale for pi

• Using a pentatonic scale for pi

• Using a minor scale for pi

• Using a major scale for pi

How did Alan Stewart determine the tempo for the Pi March music?

• By using pi multiplied by 100

• By using pi multiplied by 33.3 recurring

• By using pi multiplied by 10

• By using pi multiplied by 50

What inspired Alan Stewart's music for the Good Will Hunting video?

• The original movie soundtrack

• A classical music piece

• A popular rock song

• A jazz composition

What musical concept did Alan Stewart use in the Dragon Curve music?

• The Circle of Fifths

• The Golden Ratio

• The Harmonic Series

• The Pentatonic Scale

What is Alan Stewart's favorite type of music to compose?

• Fast-paced and energetic music

• Complex and dissonant music

• Sad and melancholic music

• Happy and upbeat music

What is the main content of Alan Stewart's YouTube channel?

• Vlogs about his daily life

• Interviews with musicians

• Tutorials on music theory

• Piano music compositions