Music lesson system with local training terminal and remote supervisory station

• US 6,211,451 B1
• Filed: 01/26/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Hirose, Tomoyuki, Hara, Masaki, Tohgi, Yutaka, Iyatomi, Akane
• Primary Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Application Number:
  US09/238,645
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 84/470 R, 84/477 R, 84/478, 434/322, 434/323, 434/335, 434/336, 434/346, 434/350-352, 434/362, 434/365, 434/379
• US Class Current: 84/470.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/04 with sound emitters
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication

Abstract

A music apparatus is communicable with a supervisory computer through a network for remotely training a user in matching with a skill level. In the music apparatus, an instrument is manually operable by the user for generating a performance. A monitor displays a lesson score in matching with the skill level so that the user is prompted to render the displayed lesson score by operating the instrument for generating a sample performance. A processor compares event data representative of the sample performance with note data representative of the lesson score to locally execute a quantitative evaluation of the sample performance. A transmitter transmits the event data representative of the sample performance to the supervisory computer through the network so that the supervisory computer can work to remotely provide a qualitative evaluation of the sample performance according to the event data to thereby arrange instruction data. The qualitative evaluation is different from the quantitative evaluation and is locally unavailable. A receiver receives the instruction data from the supervisory computer through the network to pass the instruction data to the processor. The processor operates based on either of the local quantitative evaluation and the remote qualitative evaluation represented by the received instruction data for modifying the lesson score effective to improve the skill level of the user.

Claims

1. A music lesson system comprising a trainer terminal and at least one trainee terminal, which is communicable with the trainer terminal through a network,

the trainee terminal comprising an instrument device that is manually operable by a trainee to generate a sample performance, a processor device that provisionally prepares a test piece in the at least one trainee'"'"'s terminal, compares the test piece with the sample performance to determine differences therebetween to detect a training level of the trainee, and formulates a curriculum corresponding to the training level, and a display device that is controlled by the processor device to display a lesson score according to the curriculum so that the lesson score can be rendered by operating the instrument device to generate the sample performance,

the trainer terminal comprising a receiver device that receives data representative of the sample performance from the trainee terminal through the network, a processor device that is operated by a trainer to evaluate the sample performance according to the received data so as to arrange advice information, which could not be arranged by the trainee terminal, and a transmitter device that transmits back the advice information to the trainee terminal,

wherein the trainee terminal, upon receiving the advice information from the trainer terminal through the network, controls the display device to display an exercise part of the lesson score and a comment on the exercise part based on the advice information, thereby prompting the trainee to play the exercise part according to the comment.

2. A local training apparatus communicable with a training center through a network, comprising:

an instrument device that is manually operable by a trainee to generate a sample performance;

a processor device that provisionally prepares a test piece in a trainee'"'"'s terminal, compares the test piece with the sample performance to determine differences therebetween to detect a training level of the trainee, and formulates a curriculum corresponding to the training level;

a display device that is controlled by the processor device to display a lesson score according to the curriculum so that the lesson score can be rendered by operating the instrument device to generate the sample performance;

a transmitter device that transmits data representative of the sample performance to the training center through the network so that the training center evaluates the sample performance according to the data to arrange advice information, which could not be arranged by the local training apparatus; and

a receiver device that receives the advice information from the training center through the network;

wherein the processor device operates upon receiving the advice information for controlling the display device to display an exercise part of the lesson score and a comment on the exercise part based on the advice information, thereby prompting the trainee to play the exercise part according to the comment.

3. The local training apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processor device compares the data representative of the sample performance generated by the instrument device with data representative of the lesson score displayed on the display device, and operates if a difference between the sample performance and the lesson score exceeds a musically acceptable degree for arranging an exercise part of the lesson score such that the exercise part is rhythmically emphasized to facilitate practicing of the instrument device.

4. The local training apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a sound source device that is controlled by the processor device according to the advice information for generating a model performance corresponding to the exercise part of the lesson score such that the model performance is modified according to the comment to audibly teach the trainee.

5. A central training apparatus communicable through a network with a local training apparatus having an instrument device manually operable by a trainee to generate a sample performance, a processor device for provisionally preparing a test piece in a trainee'"'"'s terminal, comparing the test piece with the sample performance to determine differences therebetween to detect a training level of the trainee, and formulating a curriculum corresponding to the training level, and a display device controlled by the processor device to display a lesson score according to the curriculum so that the lesson score can be rendered by operating the instrument device to generate the sample performance, the central training apparatus comprising:

a receiver device that receives data representative of the sample performance from the local training apparatus through the network;

a processor device that is operated by a trainer to evaluate the sample performance according to the received data so as to arrange advice information, which could not be arranged by the local training apparatus; and

a transmitter device that transmits back the advice information to the local training apparatus, thereby enabling the local training apparatus to display an exercise part of the lesson score and a comment on the exercise part for prompting the trainee to play the exercise part according to the comment.

6. A music apparatus communicable with a supervisory computer through a network for remotely training a user in matching with a skill level, comprising:

instrument means manually operable by the user for generating a performance;

processor means for provisionally preparing a test piece in a user'"'"'s terminal, comparing the test piece with the performance generated by the instrument means to determine differences therebetween to detect a training level of the user and formulating a curriculum corresponding to the training level of the user;

display means for displaying a lesson score in matching with the skill level of the user according to the curriculum so that the user is prompted to render the displayed lesson score by operating the instrument means for generating a sample performance;

wherein said processor means compares event data representative of the sample performance with note data representative of the lesson score to locally execute a quantitative evaluation of the sample performance;

transmitter means for transmitting the event data representative of the sample performance to the supervisory computer through the network so that the supervisory computer can work to remotely provide a qualitative evaluation of the sample performance according to the event data to thereby arrange instruction data, the qualitative evaluation being different from the quantitative evaluation and being locally unavailable; and

receiver means for receiving the instruction data from the supervisory computer through the network to pass the instruction data to the processor means;

wherein the processor means operates based on either of the local quantitative evaluation and the remote qualitative evaluation represented by the received instruction data for modifying the lesson score effective to improve the skill level of the user.

7. The music apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor means includes means operative based on the instruction data for controlling the display means to display an exercise part of the lesson score and a comment on the exercise part, thereby prompting the user to play the exercise part according to the comment.

8. The music apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising sound source means controlled by the processor means according to the instruction data for generating a model performance corresponding to the exercise part of the lesson score such that the model performance is modified according to the comment to audibly teach the user.

9. The music apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor means includes means operative when the quantitative evaluation indicates that a difference between the sample performance and the lesson score exceeds a musically acceptable degree for arranging an exercise part of the lesson score such that the exercise part is rhythmically emphasized to facilitate operation of the instrument means.

10. The music apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor means comprises means for executing the quantitative evaluation in terms of at least one of a rhythm, a pitch and a volume of the sample performance while the qualitative evaluation is executed in terms of a total rendition of the sample performance.

11. The music apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor means includes means for analyzing an initial performance generated by the user to determine the skill level of the user, and means for formulating the lesson score in matching with the skill level.

12. A method of using a music apparatus having a display and an instrument manually operable by a user for generating a performance and being communicable with a supervisory computer through a network for remotely training the user in matching with a skill level, the method comprising the steps of:

provisionally preparing a test piece in a user'"'"'s terminal;

comparing the test piece with a performance generated by the instrument to determine differences therebetween in order to detect a training level of the user;

formulating a curriculum corresponding to the training level of the user;

displaying a lesson score on the display in matching with the skill level of the user according to the curriculum so that the user is prompted to render the displayed lesson score by operating the instrument for generating a sample performance;

comparing event data representative of the sample performance with note data representative of the lesson score to execute a quantitative evaluation of the sample performance;

transmitting the event data representative of the sample performance to the supervisory computer through the network so that the supervisory computer can work to provide a qualitative evaluation of the sample performance according to the event data to thereby arrange instruction data, the qualitative being different from the quantitative evaluation and being unavailable by the music apparatus;

receiving the instruction data from the supervisory computer through the network; and

modifying the lesson score in order to improve the skill level of the user based on either of the quantitative evaluation and the qualitative evaluation represented by the received instruction data.

13. A machine readable medium for use in a music apparatus having a CPU, a display and an instrument manually operable by a user to generate a performance and being communicable with a supervisory computer through a network for remotely training the user in matching with a skill level, the medium containing a program executable by the CPU for causing the music apparatus to perform the method comprising the steps of:

provisionally preparing a test piece in a user'"'"'s terminal;

comparing the test piece with a performance generated by the instrument to determine differences therebetween in order to detect a training level of the user;

formulating a curriculum corresponding to the training level of the user;

displaying a lesson score on the display in matching with the skill level of the user according to the curriculum so that the user is prompted to render the displayed lesson score by operating the instrument for generating a sample performance;

comparing event data representative of the sample performance with note data representative of the lesson score to execute a quantitative evaluation of the sample performance;

transmitting the event data representative of the sample performance to the supervisory computer through the network so that the supervisory computer can work to provide a qualitative evaluation of the sample performance according to the event data to thereby arrange instruction data, the qualitative evaluation being different from the quantitative evaluation and being unavailable by the music apparatus;

receiving the instruction data from the supervisory computer through the network; and

modifying the lesson score in order to improve the skill level of the user based on either of the quantitative evaluation and the qualitative evaluation represented by the received instruction data.