Music composition device

Abstract

A system and method for coordinated music composition and display among musicians is presented. The system and method enables a conductor, composer or band leader to interactively edit one or more score parts of a composition using a pen-based interface, mouse, alphanumeric keyboard, or a musical keyboard. Hand-written music editing, which is entered with the pen-based interface, may be flexibly converted to a digital music notation format. Connected to the composer station are one or more musician stations that may be arranged as an orchestra. The musical score parts may be selectively transmitted to one or more musician stations by the composer. Thus, an operator of the conductor station can flexibly write and edit music score parts and transmit the parts to musicians over the network. The system and method can also be used to conduct the orchestra in rehearsals or performances.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a network of computerized devices each containing programming for displaying music on a display device, the computerized devices being used by each of a plurality of players in an orchestra under direction of a conductor, a method for facilitating leading of the orchestra, the method comprising: 
 registering an identity of an instrument in use by each player and the corresponding computerized device being used by the player;    receiving at a computerized device in use by the conductor a change to a musical arrangement represented in a handwritten format, the conductor's computerized device comprising means for converting changes from handwritten format to electronic music type format;    allowing the conductor to select whether the change is to be sent to all players in the orchestra or only to one or more players using an instrument impacted by the change;    if the conductor selects to send the change only to the player or players using an instrument impacted by the change, determining which instrument or instruments are impacted by the change and identifying the corresponding computerized device or devices registered for that instrument;    allowing the conductor to select whether the change should be converted to electronic music type format before transmission to the one or more players; and    transmitting the change to one or more players in accordance with the conductor's selections.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving the conductor's change comprises receiving the change through a touch screen display device.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving the conductor's changes comprises receiving the changes through a digitizer and electronic stylus.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising displaying the changes in the received handwritten format on the conductor's computerized device.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising displaying the changes in the received handwritten format on the player's computerized devices to which the changes are transmitted.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , comprising converting the changes from the received handwritten format to an electronic format for display on each player's computerized devices.  
     
     
         7 . A graphical user interface system for a musical composition and orchestration system, the method comprising: 
 means for allowing a conductor to electronically input a change to a musical score displayed on a display device in a handwritten format;    means for allowing the conductor to select whether an input change is to be transmitted to all of a plurality of players in an orchestra or only to those one or more players playing an instrument affected by the change;    means for determining which one or more players are affected by the input change;    means for allowing the conductor to select whether to convert the handwritten change to a music type format prior to transmission of the change to the player or players; and    means for transmitting the change to the player or players in accordance with the conductor's selections.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , comprising a musical keyboard operatively coupled to a computer keyboard.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a computer input keyboard;    a musical keyboard movably coupled to the computer input keyboard; and    means for connecting the computer input keyboard and musical keyboard to a computerized device.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the computer input keyboard comprises two parallel tracks each extending along one side of the input keyboard and wherein the parallel tracks comprises means for sliding within the tracks between a first, fully extended position exposing the musical keyboard and a second, retracted position within the computer input keyboard.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the computer input keyboard comprises one or more hinges attached to the keyboard wherein the hinges comprise means for folding the musical keyboard and the computer keyboard between a first, folded open position for the musical keyboard and a second, position folded on top of the computer input keyboard.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the musical keyboard comprises 
 a central keyboard segment;    two side keyboard segments;    the two side keyboard segments attached to the central keyboard segment with two hinges, which run parallel with the keys of the musical keyboards, and which comprise means for folding the keyboard two side segments on top of the central keyboard segment;    whereby the keyboard in the folded position is more narrow than when open.