Method of singing instruction

• US 6,546,229 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roger Love, Scott Alberts
• Original Assignee: Roger Love, Scott Alberts
• Inventors: Alberts, Scott, Love, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks, Derris H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US09/721,196
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 434/307.A, 434/309, 434/433, 434/308-321, 381/62, 844/70.R, 446/397, 446/258
• US Class Current: 434/308
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

The invention is a method of teaching an individual how to correctly sing a song by using visual display that is displayed to the individual synchronously with the playing of the audio portion of the song. A plurality of visual cues included in the visual display guides the individual in following the musical tones in the song that is played along with the display of the visual cues. The visual display can be made available for use in a variety of ways such as on CDs, on the Internet, and the like. Alternatively, the visual display can be published in a printed publication for use with an audio recording of the song.

Claims

1. A method of teaching an individual who does not have the knowledge of reading sheet music how to correctly sing a song having discernible audio and physical characteristics and including an instrumental portion and a vocal portion having discontinuities, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a first audio recording of the song comprising a vocal and an instrumental portion;

(b) producing from the first audio recording, a written record of the vocal portion thereof;

(c) partitioning said written record into a string of discrete phrase segments to form a partitioned record;

(d) inserting pause segments into said partitioned record to produce a modified partitioned record, each said pause segment corresponding to a discontinuity in the vocal portion of the song;

(e) producing a visual display by adding visual cues to said modified partitioned record to indicate to the individual the correct way to vocalize the written record;

said visual cues corresponding to selected discernible audio characteristics of the song;

(f) producing from the first audio recording a second audio recording comprising an instrumental portion; and

(g) playing the first audio recording of the song while simultaneously and synchronously displaying to the individual said visual display.

2. The method of teaching as defined in claim 1 in which said visual cues include capitalizing a selected discrete phrase segment to indicate to the individual that said capitalized discrete phrase segment is to be loudly vocalized.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 in which said visual cues comprise a visual guide symbol that indicates to the individual that a breath is to be taken.

4. The method of teaching as defined in claim 1 in which said visual cues comprise a visual guide symbol associated with a selected discrete phrase segment to indicate to the individual that said discrete phrase segment is to be vocalized with vibrato.

5. The method of teaching a s defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of modifying said modified partitioned record by providing a position locating indicator to identify on the visual display the discrete visual segment that is being heard by the individual during the playing of said first audio recording of the song.

6. The method of teaching as defined in claim 1 including the further step of producing a final visual display by modifying said modified partitioned record to display selected discrete phrase segments in a selected one of a top tier, a bottom tier, and a middle tier, said top tier displaying discrete visual segments categorized as high vocal notes, said bottom tier displaying discrete visual segments categorized as low vocal notes, and said middle tier displaying discrete visual segments categorized as middle vocal notes.

7. A graphical method of teaching an individual who does not have the knowledge of reading sheet music how to correctly sing a song having discernible audio characteristics and including an instrumental portion and a vocal portion having discontinuities, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a first audio recording of the song comprising a vocal and instrumental portion;

(b) producing from the first audio recording, a written record of the vocal portion thereof;

(c) partitioning said written record into a string of discrete time and phrase segments to form a partitioned record the discrete visual segments thereof corresponding to the discernible audio characteristics of the song;

(d) producing a visual display by adding visual cues to said written record to indicate to the individual the correct way to vocalize each said discrete phase segment, said visual cues corresponding to selected discernible audio characteristics of the song and comprising;

(i) a capitalized discrete phrase segment indicating to the individual that said capitalized discrete phrase segment is to be more loudly vocalized;

(ii) a visual guide symbol associated with a selected discrete phrase segment to indicate to the individual that said discrete phrase segment is to be vocalized with vibrato; and

(iii) a visual guide symbol indicating to the individual that a breath is to be taken; and

(e) playing the first audio recording of the song while simultaneously and synchronously displaying to the individual said visual display.

8. The method of teaching as defined in claim 7 further comprising the step of modifying said partitioned record by providing a position locating indicator to identify on the visual display the discrete visual segment that is being heard by the individual during the playing of said first audio recording of the song.

9. The method of teaching as defined in claim 8 including the further step of producing a final visual display by modifying said partitioned record to display selected discrete phrase segments in a selected one of a top tier, a bottom tier, and a middle tier, said top tier displaying discrete visual segments categorized as high vocal notes, said bottom tier displaying discrete visual segments categorized as low vocal notes, and said middle tier displaying discrete visual segments categorized as middle vocal notes.

10. The method of teaching as defined in claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

(a) producing from said first audio recording of the song a second audio recording of the song that includes only the instrumental portion; and

(b) playing said second audio recording simultaneously and synchronously with displaying to the individual said final visual display.

11. A graphical method of teaching an individual having no ability to read sheet music how to correctly sing a song having discernible audio characteristics and including an instrumental portion and a vocal portion having discontinuities, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a first audio recording of the song comprising a vocal and an instrumental portion;

(b) producing from the first audio recording, a written record of the vocal portion thereof;

(c) partitioning said written record into a string of discrete time and phrase segments to form a partitioned record the discrete visual segments thereof corresponding to the discernible audio characteristics of the song;

(d) inserting pause segments into said partitioned record to produce a modified partitioned record, each said pause segment corresponding to a discontinuity in the vocal portion of the song;

(e) producing a visual display by adding visual cues to said written record to indicate to the individual the correct way to vocalize each said discrete phase segment, said visual cues corresponding to selected discernible audio characteristics of the song and comprising;

(i) a capitalized discrete phrase segment indicating to the individual that said capitalized discrete phrase segment is to be more loudly vocalized;

(ii) a visual guide symbol associated with a selected discrete phrase segment to indicate to the individual that said discrete phrase segment is to be vocalized with vibrato; and

(iii) a visual guide symbol indicating to the individual that a breath is to be taken; and

(f) producing a final visual display by modifying said partitioned record to display selected discrete phrase segments in a selected one of a top tier, a bottom tier, and a middle tier, said top tier displaying discrete visual segments categorized as head voice notes, said bottom tier displaying discrete visual segments categorized as chest voice notes, and said middle tier displaying discrete visual segments categorized as middle voice notes;

(g) playing the first audio recording of the song while simultaneously and synchronously displaying to the individual said visual display; and

(h) producing from said first audio recording of the song a second audio recording of the song that includes only the instrumental portion; and

(i) playing said second audio recording simultaneously and synchronously with displaying to the individual said final visual display.

12. The method of teaching as defined in claim 11 further comprising the step of modifying said partitioned record by providing a position locating indicator to identify on the visual display the discrete visual segment that is being heard by the individual during the playing of said first audio recording of the song.