Piano instructional apparatus

• US 6,407,324 B1
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert P. Hulcher
• Original Assignee: Robert P. Hulcher
• Inventors: Hulcher, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/734,322
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 844/64.A, 844/64.R, 844/70.R, 844/77.R, 844/78
• US Class Current: 84/478
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/08 Practice keyboards for teaching typing G09B13/02

Abstract

What is provided is a piano instructional apparatus including a frame positionable on the keyboard of a piano, the frame transversely slidable along the keyboard for going from key of C to other keys; two rows having a plurality of LEDs, positioned along the frame, over each note, so as to provide red LEDs on the lower row to strike the key with the left hand and green LEDs on the upper row to strike the key with the right hand, when a particular LED is lit. There is further provided a hand select means which allows a person to use a single hand during practicing certain notes. There is further provided encryption of certain tunes within the unit so that a person may call up a certain tune and follow the notes through the lighting of the LEDs, at either an automatic mode of their own selected tempo or a note by note advance using the provided foot switch. There may be included a metronome for following the beats in the tune selected.

Claims

1. An improved piano instructional apparatus, comprising:

a. a frame positionable on an upper surface the keyboard of a piano;

b. a first lower row of red LEDs on the face of the frame;

c. a second upper row of green LEDs on the face of the frame;

each of the LEDs in the first and second rows positioned over a piano key;

d. means for activating a particular LED in a particular row when that note should be played either by the left or by the right hand of the player; and

e. means for allowing the apparatus to be positioned on notes other than middle C by moving the apparatus along an upper surface of the keyboard.

2. The apparatus in claim 1, further comprising means for encrypting a plurality of songs in a memory of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus in claim 1, further comprising means to select either left or right hand LEDs to be lighted during the playing of a song.

4. The apparatus in claim 1, further comprising means for selecting the tempo and measure of the song being played.

5. The apparatus in claim 1, further comprising means to allow the apparatus to play songs at the automatically programmed tempo, or to select a manual tempo.

6. An improved piano instructional apparatus, comprising:

a. a frame slidably positionable on an upper surface of the keyboard of a piano;

b. a first lower row of red LEDs on the face of the frame;

c. a second upper row of green LEDs on the face of the frame;

each of the LEDs in the first and second rows positioned over a piano key;

d. means for activating a particular LED in a particular row when that note should be played by either the left or right hand of the player, with the red LED indicating playing with the left hand, and green LED indicating a note to be played with the right hand; and

e. means to allow the apparatus to play songs at the automatically programmed tempo, or to select a manual tempo.

7. The apparatus in claim 6, further comprising means for encrypting a plurality of songs in a memory of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus in claim 6, further comprising means to select either left or right hand LEDs to be lighted during the playing of a song.

9. The apparatus in claim 6, further comprising means for selecting the tempo and measure of the song being played.

10. The apparatus in claim 6, further comprising means to allow the apparatus to play songs at the automatically programmed tempo, or to select a manual tempo.

11. An improved piano instructional apparatus, comprising:

a. a frame positionable on an upper surface of the keyboard of a piano, so that the apparatus may be positioned on notes other than middle “

C”

by sliding the apparatus along the upper surface of the keyboard;

b. a first lower row of red LEDs on the face of the frame;

c. a second upper row of green LEDs on the face of the frame;

each of the LEDs in the first and second rows positioned over a piano key;

d. means for activating a particular LED in a particular row when that note should be played either by the left or by the right hand of the player.