Music instruction apparatus

• US 6,175,069 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marie Longacre
• Original Assignee: Marie Longacre
• Inventors: Longacre, Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/474,425
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 844/70.R, 844/76, 846/00
• US Class Current: 84/476
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/002 Electrically operated systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/004 Non-electrically operated systems

Abstract

A music instruction apparatus. The apparatus includes a support frame (13), a plurality of blocks (22) in rotating connection with the support frame. The blocks are organized in an array pattern of thirteen rows (101-113) and eight columns (121-128). Each of the blocks has a first side (30) that includes indicia representative of a music note (32). When the blocks are oriented such that the first sides of each block are viewable, each row displays music notes that correspond to a major music scale. A subset of the blocks in each row have a second side (34) that include indicia (36) representative of music notes that are a half step in tone away from the first note on the corresponding block. By rotating a selection of blocks to their second sides, the music notes of a minor scale which corresponds to the major scale can be displayed. Each block also has blank side (51). By rotating a selection of the blocks to the blank side, the music notes that correspond to a chord can be displayed. By changing the blocks to display different scales and chords, the apparatus enables a student to interactively practice constructing chords and scales.

Claims

1. A music instruction apparatus comprising:

a display device, wherein the display device includes a plurality of music note selectors, wherein each music note selector is operative to display indicia representative of a first music note, wherein at least one selector is a two-way selector, wherein the two-way selector is operative to display indicia representative of a second music note responsive to a first selector change note action by a user, wherein the second music note is a half step away in tone from the first music note.

2. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one selector is a three-way selector, wherein the three-way selector is operative to display indicia representative of a higher music note responsive to a second change note action by the user, and wherein the three-way selector is further operative to display a lower music note responsive to a third change note action, wherein the higher music note is a half step in tone above the first music note of the three-way selector, and wherein the lower music note is a half step lower in tone from the first music note of the three-way selector.

3. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second music note is a half step lower in tone than the first music note on the two-way selector, wherein when the first music note indicia are displayed for each selector, the music notes being displayed correspond to a major music scale, wherein when the second music note indicia is displayed for the two-way selector, the displayed music notes correspond to a minor music scale.

4. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device includes a support frame, wherein each selector is a block in rotating connection with the support frame, wherein the first selector change note action corresponds to the user rotating the block.

5. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a computer and an input device in operative connection with the computer, wherein the display device is in operative connection with the computer, wherein the computer is operative to display a user interface with the display device, wherein the selectors are user interface objects of the user interface, wherein the first selector change note action corresponds to a user input from the input device.

6. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a sound output device, wherein the computer is operative to output tones with the sound output device that corresponds to the displayed music note indicia.

7. A music instruction apparatus comprising:

a support frame; and

a plurality of blocks in rotating connection with the support frame, wherein each block includes indicia representative of at least one music note, wherein at least one of the blocks is a multiple note block, wherein the multiple note block includes indicia representative of at least two music notes that are a half step apart in tone, wherein each music note on the multiple note block is selectively viewable.

8. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an indicia display board in operative connection with the support frame, wherein the indicia display board is operative to display indicia representative of a music staff.

9. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least one set of eight blocks is in rotating connection with the support frame, wherein portions of the music note indicia on the set of eight blocks corresponds to at least one music scale.

10. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the set includes at least one multiple note block, wherein the multiple note block includes indicia representative of a first music note and a second music note, wherein indicia representative of a major scale is viewable when the multiple note block is oriented in a position where the indicia representative of the first music note is viewable, wherein indicia representative of a minor scale is viewable when the multiple note block is oriented in a position where the indicia representative of the second music note is viewable.

11. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each set of eight blocks includes five multiple note blocks, wherein indicia representative of the first notes of the multiple note blocks share a common first color scheme, wherein indicia representative of the second notes of the multiple note blocks share a second common color scheme.

12. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 11, wherein one of the five multiple note blocks includes indicia representative of a third music note, wherein the second note is a half step below the first note in tone, wherein the third note is a half step above the first note in tone.

13. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each block includes a blank portion, wherein the blank portion does not include indicia representative of music notes, wherein indicia representative of a music chord is viewable when at least three of the eight blocks are oriented in positions where the blank portion is viewable.

14. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein thirteen of the sets of eight blocks are in pivoting connection with the support frame, wherein the indicia on each set corresponds to one of the thirteen major diatonic music scales.

15. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the blocks are positioned in an array pattern, wherein the array pattern includes thirteen rows and eight columns, wherein each row corresponds to a different music scale.

16. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the support frame includes a plurality of key signature labels, wherein each key signature label is located adjacent each row, wherein each key signature label includes indicia representative of the key signature of the corresponding major scale for the row.

17. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the support frame includes a plurality of column labels, wherein at least one column label is located adjacent each column, wherein each column label includes indicia representative of a number, wherein each column is consecutively labeled one through eight.

18. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 15, wherein all of the blocks in the second, third, fifth, sixth, and seventh columns are multiple note blocks, wherein the blocks in the fifth column include indicia representative of three music notes.

19. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of rods in supporting connection with the support frame, wherein each block is in rotating connection with one of the rods.

20. The music instruction apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each block has the shape of a cube, wherein each block includes four sides that are selectively viewable, wherein at least one side includes indicia representative of a single music note, wherein at least one side does not include indicia representative of a single music note.