The Musical Four Operations approach was created by Dee Chiu, founder of Charis Music.

It proposes four ways of processing musical information.
 

Addition (+) - More notes, more information

Adding musical information through greater density or repetition without changing the role of each musical element.
 

Subtraction (–) - Fewer notes, different information

Creating space by reducing musical density, allowing new relationships to emerge.
 

Multiplication (×) - Same notes, more information

Giving musical elements multiple functions without adding more material.
 

Division (÷) - Limited notes, clearer information

Organising musical information so that every element has a clear and essential role.

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The Musical Four Operations can be applied to composition, performance, analysis, and music education, providing a practical framework for understanding and organising musical information.

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Publications

Chiu, Dee. "Avoiding the Addition Trap." Music Teacher, 2026 July issue.