Machine and method for teaching music and piano

Abstract

A system for teaching music with input and output devices, musical representations presented on vertically and horizontally oriented musical staffs, output responsive to selective application of input data, confirmation of propriety of input choice, and scrolling presentation of sequential musical representations constituting music. A method to develop a positive association of correct learning input to music representation presented and a negative association of improper response, to music presented in a scrolling manner along a center bar for timing visual change in musical representation upon input. Musical representations such as notes, lines and bars may be presented and the user is required to make choices through input devices to correctly identify or play the musical representation. The system and method use both visual and audio responses to input and uses color and graphical associations between the staff and notes to teach intervals and music.

1 . A system for teaching music comprising:
 a visual display of at least one vertically oriented music staff having at least one staff line where said staff is oriented with higher pitched notes positioned to the right;   representation of notes of music on said visual display in positions on said staff; and   visual feedback information on said visual display that correctly describes staff position of music tones corresponding to a plurality of depressed keys on a keyboard.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  where said feedback information is presented in real time. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  where keyboard keys are designated with stickers corresponding to the lines on a staff. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1  where said representations of notes and said visual information are generated by a program in a computing device in response to user input. 
     
     
         5 . A system for teaching music comprising:
 a representation of at least one music staff through a visual display having at least one staff line;   scrolled musical representations through a visual display means whereby images of notes along said staff lines move with relatively constant speed;   a visual representation of a position point along said staff that designates a time bar; and   presentation of selected musical representations along said time bar corresponding to the notes that are to be played.   
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 5  where visual information on a time bar correctly describes staff position of music tones corresponding with a plurality of depressed keys on a keyboard. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 5  where said musical representations are presented in real time. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 5  where said scroll is stopped if incorrect input on a keyboard corresponding with said musical representations on said time bar is pressed. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 5  where the time duration of the musical representations on said time bar is represented by changing appearance of said representations. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 5  where said representations are generated by a pre-determined program in a computing device. 
     
     
         11 . The system as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising a keyboard for input by the user. 
     
     
         12 . A method for teaching music comprising the steps of:
 presenting a plurality of pictures to a user through a visual display interconnected to a computing device;   designating for each of said pictures a pre-determined word, whereby each word is phonetically associated with a note name on the Solfeggio scale; and   associating said pictures with said note name.   
     
     
         13 . A process for teaching music as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said pictures are associated with a corresponding position on a musical instrument interconnected through said computing device to said display. 
     
     
         14 . A process for teaching music as claimed in  claim 12  where said pictures are used as part of a musical representation of the notes on a musical piece. 
     
     
         15 . A process for teaching music comprising the steps of:
 presenting a user a graphical representation of lines and spaces from a musical staff on a visual display;   visually presenting said lines and spaces in generally equal width, thereby associating said lines and spaces with the proper musical intervals of a musical scale through an interconnection between a computing device and said display; and   presenting musical representations along said lines and spaces and selectively providing visual output in response to user input corresponding to choices made by said user.   
     
     
         16 . A process for teaching music as claimed in  claim 15  where said input is through a keyboard. 
     
     
         17 . A process of teaching music comprising the steps of:
 presenting two musical staffs, having lines and spaces, on a visual display through a computing device;   designating for each musical staff a different visual presentation for the lines of that particular staff; and   providing visual information on said display which describes position of music tones corresponding with a plurality of depressed keys on a keyboard.   
     
     
         18 . A process of teaching music as claimed in  claim 17  further comprising the step of providing a graphical association on a keyboard to said lines using the same visual presentation for each respective staff 
     
     
         19 . The process of teaching music as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said association is through application of stickers on said keyboard using said visual presentation corresponding with said staff lines. 
     
     
         20 . A process of teaching music comprising the steps of:
 presenting a musical staff, having lines and spaces, on a visual display;   designating a different visual presentation for the notes that fall on the lines from the visual presentation for the notes that fall on the spaces of said staff.   
     
     
         21 . A process of teaching music as claimed in  claim 20  further comprising the step of applying stickers to said keyboard that correspond to said visual presentation for keys that correspond to the proper notes on the lines and spaces. 
     
     
         22 . A method for teaching music comprising the steps of:
 presenting a user through a visual display a pre-determined series of musical representations;   permitting user input corresponding to the playing of a sequence of musical notes in response to said representations;   presenting said user on a visual display with said representations on a vertically oriented staff; and   changing said display to a horizontal musical staff showing the same musical representations.   
     
     
         23 . The method of teaching music as claimed in  claim 22  further comprising the step of changing said musical representations from a pictogram to traditional musical notation.