Method and system for assessing a musical performance

• US 8,367,921 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Starplayit Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Starplayit Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Evans, David, Ruciak, Benjamin, Thorpe, William
• Primary Examiner(s): UHLIR, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US11/568,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,927 Days
• Field of Search: 84600-607, 84609-614, 84622-625, 84634-638, 84649-654, 84659-661, 84666-669, 844/70.R, 844/77.R, 434/307.A, 434/307.R
• US Class Current: 84/609
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for assessing a performance of a musical composition in relation to a model performance of the same composition. In particular, as even a model performance does not follow a score of a composition precisely, the present invention initially correlates the model performance to a score of the performed composition. This allows for an accurate assessment of the timing of the assessable performance, relative to the timing of the model performance. The invention is of particular use where the assessable performance is performed along with the model performance, but the two performances are remote from each other.

Claims

1. A method for assessing an assessable performance of a played part of a musical composition by a musician, comprising:

receiving audio input of a model performance of one or more parts of the musical composition;

receiving input of computer-readable score data separately from said receiving audio input of the model performance;

correlating the model performance, the model performance and the assessable performance being performed by different musicians, with a corresponding position of the score data of at least the played part of the musical composition, such that when the assessable performance is played in time with the model performance, the assessable performance is favorably assessed, even when at least part of the model performance is not played in tempo with a tempo prescribed by the score;

receiving input of the assessable performance;

determining, from the score data, one or more expected characteristics of the assessable performance based on the corresponding position of the score data, for the played part; and

comparing at least one of the one or more expected characteristics to corresponding characteristics of the input of the assessable performance to make an assessment of the assessable performance.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an output of the model performance to the musician as the assessable performance is performed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein further comprising:

receiving a visual input of the model performance, and providing visual output of the model performance to the musician as the assessable performance is performed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the assessment comprises an assessment regarding a timing of the assessable performance relative to the model performance.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the assessment.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the assessment is displayed to the musician.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the model performance and the assessable performance are remote from each other in time or space.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the model performance and the assessable performance are remote from each other in space.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the model performance and the assessable performance occur together in real-time.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the input of the model performance is received via a network of computers.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, with the audio input of the model performance, a position input that identifies the corresponding position of the score.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the position input comprises beat markers for beats of the musical composition.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the beat markers are encoded within the audio input of the model performance.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the position input comprises beat markers for each beat of the musical composition.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing feedback to the musician of how their playing could be improved, based on the assessment.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the feedback is provided in an audio, a text or a graphical format.

17. A computer readable medium, encoded with data representing a computer program, that when executed by a computer programmable device is used to direct the programmable device to perform the method of claim 1.

18. A computer program element comprising a computer readable medium having encoded data thereon representing a computer program code that when executed by the computer program element makes a programmable device execute the method of claim 1.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the timing of the model performance varies, at least in part, from the score data.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the score data to the musician, as sheetmusic, for the musician to follow while performing the assessable performance.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio input of the model performance is received from a media file.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the media file is a pre-recorded media file of the model performance.

23. A system for assessing an assessable performance of a played part of a musical composition by a musician, comprising:

a first receiver that receives an input of the assessable performance;

a second receiver that receives an audio input of a model performance of the musical composition;

a third receiver that receives input of computer-readable score data separately from said receiving audio input of the model performance;

a correlator that correlates the model performance, the model performance and the assessable performance being performed by different musicians, with a corresponding position of the score data of at least a played part of the musical composition, such that when the assessable performance is played in time with the model performance, the assessable performance is favorably assessed, even when at least part of the model performance is not played in tempo with a tempo prescribed by the score, using the input received by the second receiver;

a predictor that determines, from the score data, at least one expected characteristic of the assessable performance, based on the corresponding position of the score data, for the played part; and

a comparer that compares at least one characteristic of the input of the assessable performance to corresponding expected characteristics to make an assessment of the assessable performance.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising an analyzer that analyzes the assessment to provide feedback on how the musician'"'"'s playing can be improved.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising a display apparatus that displays at least one of:

the assessment; and

an output of the model performance, from the audio input received by the second receiver.

26. The system of claim 24, further comprising a display apparatus that displays at least one of:

the assessment;

the feedback; and

an output of the model performance, from the audio input received by the second receiver.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the display apparatus enables an audio output and a video display.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the timing of the model performance varies from the score.