Musical teaching device and method using gloves and a virtual keyboard

• US 7,378,585 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rob Mcgregor
• Original Assignee: Rob Mcgregor
• Inventors: McGregor, Rob
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels; Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/288,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20060137511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 846/00, 844/70.R, 345/156
• US Class Current: 84/600
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/023 Electrically operated
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/06 Devices for exercising or strengthening fingers or arms; Devices for holding fingers or arms in a proper position for playing for teaching typing G09B13/00; exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles for physical training A63B21/00, A63B23/00

Abstract

A portable musical teaching interface system for purposes of providing the user with the skills necessary to play the piano. The interface system comprising a pair of gloves each having a plurality of finger sleeves adapted to receive the fingers of a user'"'"'s hands, a display means for providing a virtual representation of the user'"'"'s hands in relation to said virtual keyboard and a control means in communication with the finger sleeves to provide control signals that cause the finger sleeves to strike the proper keys on the virtual piano to a programmed sequence of movements which corresponds to a selected piece of music.

Claims

1. A piano teaching interface system for playing a virtual keyboard comprising:

a pair of gloves each having a plurality of finger sleeves adapted to receive the fingers of a user'"'"'s hands;

a controller in communication with said finger sleeves to provide control signals to said finger sleeves to cause the fingers of a user'"'"'s hand to strike a key on said virtual keyboard necessary to play a segment of said musical score, said controller in communication with at least one program containing commands coordinated with said musical score, wherein said control signals are generated by said controller;

an audio circuit connected to said controller for providing the proper sound for said segment of music being played; and

a display means in communication with said controller for providing a virtual representation of the user'"'"'s hands in relation to said virtual keyboard, thereby illustrating the proper positioning of the virtual hands on said virtual keyboard necessary to play said musical score.

2. A piano teaching interface as set forth in claim 1, comprising a frame in said finger sleeves, said frame adapted to move a finger to strike a key.

3. A piano teaching interface as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pair of gloves comprise a pair of sensor gloves including a plurality of flexible sensors located at various positions thereon, and said controller includes software that converts the data obtained from the sensor glove into a graphical hand on said display means which directly mimics the movements of the user'"'"'s physical hand.

4. A piano teaching interface as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display means includes a monitor.

5. A piano teaching interface as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display means includes stereoscopic goggles.

6. A method of teaching a user to play using a piano teaching interface system for playing a virtual keyboard comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an interface device comprising a pair of gloves each having a plurality of finger sleeves adapted to receive the fingers of a user'"'"'s hands, said finger sleeves in communication with a controller, said controller in communication with at least one program containing commands coordinated with a musical score, wherein said control signals are generated by said controller;

said controller in further communication with an audio circuit for providing the proper sound for said musical score, and a display means for providing a virtual representation of the user'"'"'s hands in relation to said virtual keyboard, said display means illustrating proper positioning of the virtual hands on said virtual keyboard necessary to play said musical score;

(b) initiating at least one said computer program which includes said at least one musical score;

(c) commanding said controller to send signals to said finger sleeves to cause the fingers of a user'"'"'s hand to strike at least one virtual key on said virtual keyboard necessary to play said musical score.

7. A method of teaching as set forth in claim 6, wherein said pair of gloves comprise a pair of sensor gloves including a plurality of flexible sensors located at various positions thereon, and said controller includes software that converts the data obtained from the sensor glove into a graphical hand on said display means which directly mimics the movements of the user'"'"'s physical hand.

8. A method of teaching as set forth in claim 6, wherein said display means includes a monitor.

9. A method of teaching as set forth in claim 6, wherein said display means includes stereoscopic goggles.

10. A method of teaching as set forth in claim 6, comprising a frame in said finger sleeves, said frame adapted to move a finger to strike a key.