Music teaching device and method
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a visual representation of a pitch and a duration as a single icon, wherein the icon is displayed using an elongated shape having a length correlated with the duration, and where a vertical position of the icon correlates with the pitch;
a visual representation of a time frame; and
a visual feedback that automatically identifies when the pitch is played within the time frame for the duration;
wherein the visual feedback identifies when the pitch is played for the duration.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided that help users learn to play one or more instruments by employing simplified note recognition techniques, improved feedback, and a simplified keyboard tablature. In one aspect, users are encouraged to play specified notes within a specified time frame. The pitch and duration can be represented in any suitable manner, but are advantageously displayed together as a single icon (232A–232F). Preferably, the icon has an elongated shape in which the horizontal length correlates with duration of the note, and its vertical position on a display correlates with a pitch of the note. Notes can thus be represented by elongated lines, bars, ellipses, or even missiles or arrows. In another aspect, an improved musical tablature effectively clusters juxtaposed black keys (412A, 412C, 412E) and white keys (412B, 412D) on a display for easier visualization.
136 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a visual representation of a pitch and a duration as a single icon, wherein the icon is displayed using an elongated shape having a length correlated with the duration, and where a vertical position of the icon correlates with the pitch; a visual representation of a time frame; and a visual feedback that automatically identifies when the pitch is played within the time frame for the duration;
wherein the visual feedback identifies when the pitch is played for the duration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 32)
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26. A method of operating a device comprising:
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depicting a plurality of icons on an electronic display as part of a computer game, each of the icons representing a pitch/duration combination in a musical score and vertical position of each of the icons correlates with the corresponding pitch; providing a visual representation of a window of time; playing a musical instrument to produce tones corresponding to the plurality of pitch/duration combinations; and visually modifying a specific one of the plurality of icons as a function of whether the corresponding pitch is played for the corresponding duration while the specific icon is visually apparent within the window. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A musical tablature for a keyboard instrument comprising:
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a single graphic element that represents a cluster of at least 2 black keys and at least one intervening white key, and that represents individual notes relative to the cluster; and a second cluster representing at least 3 of the pluratity of black keys and at least 2 intervening of the pluratity of white keys.
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Specification