Interactive game providing instruction in musical notation and in learning an instrument

Abstract

A musical keyboard is connected to a computer. The computer implements a graphical user interface for teaching users to play the musical instrument. A computer readable music file, such as a MIDI file, is used to drive the creation of game objects that travel from a point of origination along a path toward a key of a virtual keyboard. In one form, when a user presses a key of the musical keyboard within a certain time window of arrival of the game object at the corresponding key of the virtual keyboard, the user is awarded with an audio presentation, a visual presentation and/or with game points. In a more structured learning mode, the game can be played with selectable, progressively more difficult challenges that the user masters on the road to proficiency.

1 . Apparatus for providing musical instruction comprising:
 a. a computing element;   b. a display connected to the computing element;   c. a musical keyboard connected to the computing element; and   d. software for execution on said computing element linking a virtual keyboard displayed on said display when the software is executed on the computing element with actions by a user of said musical keyboard as part of a game.   
   
   
       2 . Apparatus of  claim 1  in which the software translates notes of a representation of a musical piece into game objects on said display. 
   
   
       3 . Apparatus of  claim 2  in which the software comprises an interpreter for converting a representation of a musical piece into commands for generating game objects. 
   
   
       4 . Apparatus of  claim 3  in which commands for generating game objects drive a game object generator. 
   
   
       5 . Apparatus of  claim 4  in which the game object generator is associated with a library of game objects. 
   
   
       6 . Apparatus of  claim 4  in which the game object generator is associated with a set of parameters for setting properties of game objects. 
   
   
       7 . Apparatus of  claim 2  in which the game objects move with time from an initial launch position on the display toward keys of the virtual keyboard which correspond to musical notes of the musical piece. 
   
   
       8 . Apparatus of  claim 7  in which game objects move along pre-defined trajectories. 
   
   
       9 . A method of using a computer comprising the step of:
 linking a musical keyboard connected to the computer with the action of game objects displayed on a display of the computer with respect to a virtual keyboard displayed on said display.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  in which game objects are generated for notes of a musical piece stored in a computer readable format. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  in which the musical piece of one of a library of musical pieces stored on said computer. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  in which the computer readable format is MIDI. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  in which a user receives a reward in the form of at least one of an audio playback, a video or graphical animation display or an award of points. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  in which the reward is granted when a user depresses a key of the musical keyboard within a time window spanning an instant when a game object intersects with the corresponding key of a virtual keyboard. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  in which at least one profile of user information is stored on said computer for each of a plurality of users. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  in which the profile information may include a set of starting options. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  in which the set of starting options may be selected from the group consisting of: screen orientation mode, annotation on/off, fingering information on/off, freeze frame on/off; objects, notation, theme, color, tracks, instruments for tracks, accompanyment, tracks to be merged, tracks to be deleted, split hands for tracks, transpose selected tracks, output port, metronome on/off, practice challenge selection, tempo select, background, measure, object guides on/off, statistics overlay, keyboard size, number of beats or measures on screen at once, starting key, gradual tempo adjustment, gradual hit window closing, random color dropping, transform object into musical notation, loop song, lyrics on/off, autosave song on/off; and volume. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  in which a plurality of methods are available for selection by a user, each method comprising at least one song and a plurality of levels of difficulty for each song. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  in which each level of difficulty comprises a plurality of songs and one or more challenges designed to advance skills in a respective area of competence. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  in which the challenges are selected from the group consisting of: a tempo challenge; a rhythmic precision challenge, a primary beats challenge, an off-beats challenge, a color drop out challenge, a note duration challenge, a rotation challenge, a visibility challenge, and a loudness challenge.