GB2468494A

GB2468494A - Educational music keyboard with coloured illuminated keys corresponding to coloured musical score

Info

Publication number: GB2468494A
Application number: GB0904093A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Emily Rotter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-10
Filing date: 2009-03-10
Publication date: 2010-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-10
Also published as: GB0904093D0; GB2468494B; WO2010103314A1

Abstract

A method of reading and playing musical notation 28 comprises a plurality of adjustable light emitting elements 36, each associated with a different white key 30 on a keyboard 14, so that each key is designated by a different colour emitted by the respective light emitting element 36. A plurality of separate musical notation sheets 28 are also provided: a first musical notation sheet (60) displays notes having colours which correspond to the colours of the light emitting elements 36, while a second said musical notation (62) displays notes having reduced amount of those colours. The illumination of the light emitting elements 36 when using the second musical notation (62) is at a lower level than the illumination of the light emitting elements 36 when using the first musical notation 60. Each light emitting element 36 may comprise four LEDs, where the level of illumination is reduced by turning one or more LED off.

Description

Improvements in or relating to reading and playing musical notation The present invention relates to a method of reading and playing musical notation, keyboard apparatus for such a method, and a series of musical notation for such a method.

The beneficial influence of music on a child's development has long been recognised.

However, teaching a child, especially a very young child or infant, to read and play musical notation is difficult and requires enormous patience. Without varying sensory stimulation, the child can quickly lose interest. Furthermore, it becomes increasingly difficult if one person is trying to teach more than one such child.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of reading and playing musical notation comprising the steps of a) associating a light emitting element with each key on a diatonic scale of a keyboard, each note being designated by a different colour outputable by the respective light emitting element, and each light emitting element being adjustably illuminable; b) providing a plurality of separate musical notations, a first said musical notation displaying notes having colours which correspond to the colours of the light emitting elements associated with the respective keys of the keyboard, and a second said musical notation displaying notes having reduced amounts of said colours which correspond to the colours of the light emitting elements associated with the respective keys of the keyboard; and c) reducing the illumination of the light emitting elements when using the said second musical notation in comparison to the said first musical notation.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 9, inclusive.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided keyboard apparatus for a method in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprising a keyboard having a plurality of keys corresponding to at least a diatonic scale, and a light emitting element which is associated with each key of the diatonic scale and which has a different colour, each light emitting element being adjustably illuminable.

Preferable and/or optional features of the second aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 12 to 22, inclusive.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a series of musical notations for a method in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, a first one of the musical notations having notes including a first amount of colour, each said note within at least a diatonic scale having a different specific colour, and a second one of the musical notations having notes including a second amount of colour which is less than the said first amount of colour, the same notes of the first and second musical notations having the same said colour.

Preferable and/or optional features of the third aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 25 to 27, inclusive.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of keyboard apparatus, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the keyboard apparatus with an outer housing in phantom so as to show light emitting elements; and Figures 3a to 3e show a progression of a series of musical notation and an in use keyboard of the keyboard apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown one embodiment of keyboard apparatus 10, in this case being electronic, which comprises an outer housing 12, a keyboard 14 having a plurality of depressible piano-style keys 16 with a common pivot axis, a controller 18 with a user interface 20 on or in an upper exterior surface of the outer housing 12 and adjacent to the keyboard 14, two spaced speakers 22 which are mounted in or on the outer housing 12 and which are connected to a sound circuit provided within the outer housing 12, the keys 16 of the keyboard 14 being connected to an input of the sound circuit, and a notation support 24 for holding manuscript 26 with musical notation 28.

The keys 16 of the keyboard 14 define a chromatic musical scale of sharps, flats and naturals. As with a piano, primary white keys 30 define a diatonic scale, and secondary back-set raised black keys 32 provide sharps and flats. In this case, the keyboard 14 starts with a primary white key 30 for note A and finishes with a primary white key 30 for note C. An alphabetical letter 34 of each note associated with each primary white key 30 is provided adjacent to its front edge. Although not shown, the alphabetical letter 34 of each note associated with each secondary black key 32 may also be provided at a similar position.

The keyboard 14 provides two full octaves. However, the keyboard 14 can start and finish with any note, and may define one octave or more than two octaves. Additionally, the secondary back-set raised black keys 32 may be dispensed with as necessity dictates.

The keyboard apparatus 10 further includes a plurality of light emitting elements 36.

Each light emitting element 36 is associated with a respective primary white key 30. In this case, each light emitting element 36 is provided below and in line with its respective primary white key 30, but it may be housed, at least in part, within each primary white key 30.

Each light emitting element 36 comprises four separate light emitting devices 38, conveniently in this case being LEDs for longevity and low power consumption. In this embodiment, the light emitting devices 38 are provided for each respective primary whitekey30.

To enable the transmission of light, at least each primary white key 30 is formed, at least in part, of light transmissible material. Preferably, the light transmissible material is translucent to diffuse emitted light and to disguise the light emitting devices 38 therebelow.

A further light emitting device can be provided below or adjacent to each associated alphabetical letter 34. In this case, the alphabetical letter 34 would also preferably include, at least in part, light transmissible material to enable light transmission therethrough.

Each light emitting element 36 of each primary white key 30 in the diatonic scale has its own unique specific colour which is different to those of the other light emitting elements 36 within that diatonic scale. As such, at least seven different colours are preferably utilised in this invention. The colours are then repeated for the same notes in the other octaves. Consequently, for example, the light emitting elements 36 for the keys 16 for all the A' notes may emit red light, whilst the light emitting elements 36 for the keys 16 for all the C' notes may emit yellow light. The colours of a rainbow may conveniently be used and may be in that order across the primary white keys 30 providing a further educational tool for a child.

Although light emitting elements 36 are not associated with the secondary black keys 32 in this embodiment, such light emitting elements 36 could be provided.

The controller 18 includes a control circuit which is provided within the outer housing 12. The light emitting elements 36 are connected to the control circuit. The user interface 20 of the controller 18 includes five notation-selection buttons 40, in this case denoted Book 1' to Book 5'. Depressing the Book 1' button 42 causes all five light emitting devices 38 of each light emitting element 36 to illuminate. As each consecutive button 40 is selected by the user, the light emitting devices 38 of each light emitting element 36 are extinguished in a stepwise manner, until the last Book 5' button 44 is pressed and all of the light emitting devices 38 of each light emitting element 36 are extinguished.

The controller 18 also includes a volume control 46, in this case being an increase button 48 and a decrease button 50. However, any other suitable control can be utilised, such as a potentiometer or slider. The volume control 46 is connected to the sound circuit for controlling a driver of the speakers 22. Each key 16 includes a switch 52 there beneath which outputs a note specific signal to the control circuit. This results in a note specific signal being outputted to the sound circuit which thus drives the speakers 22 to produce a tone corresponding to the keyed note.

The outer housing 12 also includes a battery compartment at a rear thereof for one or more, preferably rechargeable, batteries, and a handle 54 for carrying. A mains electricity adapter may also be included, and in this case the outer housing 12 includes a socket for receiving a jack of the adapter, An ON / OFF switch 56 energises the internal electronics, including the light emitting elements 36. A headphone socket 58 connected to the sound circuit is also preferably included.

As part of the keyboard apparatus 10, a series of musical notations 28 is provided. In this case, there are five musical notations 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 which are displayed on separate pages 70, and the pages 70 are, preferably ring, bound together. The notation support 24 may be a wire stand 72 which is pivotably hinged to the outer housing 12, and the pages 70 can be conveniently supported in an upstanding manner there against and/or folded there over. Beneficially, the outer housing 12 preferably includes a recess 74 for receiving the notation support 24 when folded down for storage.

The number of musical notations 28 corresponds to the number of notation-selection buttons 40, and each musical notation 28 corresponds to a specific one of the notation-selection buttons 40. For example, the Book 1' button 42 corresponds to the first musical notation 60, and so on.

Each musical notation 28 includes notes in the diatonic scale having a specific amount of colour. The colour of the displayed note matches that of the light emitting element 36 associated with the key 16 on the keyboard 14 for that note. For example, the light emitting elements 36 for the A' keys 30 on the keyboard 14 are red, and therefore the first four musical notations 60, 62, 64, 66 use red for the note A', thereby creating a visual link between the notation 28 and the keyboard 14.

The amount of colour used in each note in the musical notation 28 stepwisely decreases from the first musical notation 60 to the fifth musical notation 68. The fifth musical notation 68 uses standard notes which are all black and thus without or substantially without colour. In other words, in the fifth musical notation 68, the amount of colour is zero, or a uniform colour across all of the notes which is not utilised by the light emitting elements 36 is used.

In the first musical notation 60, the notes are fully displayed using the colour of the respective light emitting element 36. In the second to the fourth musical notations 62, 64, 66, a, preferably black, outline 76 is introduced around the coloured note, and a thickness of the black outline 76 stepwisely increases from the second to the fourth musical notations 62, 64, 66.

Preferably, the music described or represented by each musical notation 28 is the same.

The music may be a melody or simply an exercise. It is feasible that harmonies may be described or represented.

In use and with particular reference to Figures 3a to 3e, the user powers the keyboard apparatus 10 on and selects the first musical notation 60, here entitled Book 1'. The corresponding first notation-selection button 42, here also denoted Book 1', is depressed, resulting in all of the light emitting devices 38 of all of the light emitting elements 36 being illuminated. The user then associates the colours of the notes in the first musical notation 28 with the keys 30 of corresponding colours on the keyboard 14, allowing the piece of music to be played. The alphabetical letters 34 in front of or on each key reinforce the tone and note being played.

The user then progresses onto the second musical notation 62, entitled Book 2' in Figure 3b, wherein the written notes utilise a reduced amount of the colour. The notation-selection button 78, denoted Book 2', is selected causing one of the light emitting devices 38 in each light emitting element 36 to extinguish. As such, the illumination of each key 30 with that colour is reduced. Again, the user plays the piece of music by matching the colours of the notes with the colours of the keys 30.

Similarly, the user then progresses onto the third musical notation 64, entitled Book 3' in Figure 3c. Each written note utilises a further reduced amount of its colour. The notation-selection button 80, denoted Book 3', is selected causing another light emitting device 38 in each light emitting element 36 to extinguish. The illumination of each key 30 with that colour is further reduced. The user plays the piece of music by again matching the colours of the notes with the colours of the keys 30.

The user then progresses onto the fourth musical notation 66, entitled Book 4' in Figure 3d. The written notes utilise yet further reduced amounts of their colours. The notation-selection button 82, denoted Book 4', is selected causing a third one of the light emitting devices 38 in each light emitting element 36 to extinguish. The illumination of each key 30 with that colour is still further reduced. Again, the user plays the piece of music by matching the colours of the notes with the colours of the keys 30.

Finally, the user progresses onto the fifth musical notation 44, entitled Book 5' in Figure 3 e. All the written notes have a common uniform colour or appearance, which for example is black. The notation-selection button 44, denoted Book 5', is selected causing the last light emitting device 38 in each light emitting element 36 to extinguish.

Therefore, each key 30 is no longer illuminated with that colour, and provides the appearance of a typical traditional keyboard key, in this case being white. The user should now be able to play the piece of music without needing to associate or match colours.

To aid the user, a further alphabetical letter 84 of the tone may be provided on or adjacent to each note throughout the musical notations 28. The letter 84 may be printed in the designated colour used by the light emitting element 36 for that tone. This then allows the user to colour match the alphabetical letters 84 on the musical notations 28 with the alphabetical letters 34 on or adjacent to the keys 30 of the keyboard 14.

The light emitting devices 38 of the light emitting elements may extinguish uniformly in one direction, for example, in a direction from the pivot axis to the proximal front edge of each key 30. However, extinguishing may be in the opposite direction, or randomised.

The manner of extinguishing may be selectable by the user via the user interface.

Although two speakers are suggested, a single speaker or more than two speakers may be utilised.

Although the light emitting elements are integrally provided as one-piece with the keyboard, it is envisaged that the light emitting elements can be a cover or skin which is retrospectively applied to each or a selection of keys of an existing keyboard. In this case, the outer housing and speakers can be dispensed with, but the controller would still be required to provide for the selectively adjustable illumination along with the plurality of musical notation.

The number of musical notations can be varied dependent on necessity. Preferably, the number of notation-selection buttons would also be varied to match, and similarly the number of light emitting devices of each light emitting element would also be varied to match.

Although each light emitting element includes a plurality of separate identical light emitting devices, a single light emitting device having a selectively adjustable intensity and/or being adjustably illuminable along its longitudinal extent can be considered.

The illumination of each light emitting element is reduced uniformly as progression through the musical notations occurs. However, a non-uniform reduction in illumination may be considered.

The musical notation can be provided in any suitable form, such as all on one page of manuscript or on separate pages. If on separate pages, the pages may be bound or loose-leaf.

It is thus possible to provide a method of reading and playing musical notation by colour association. The method also provides a progression of reducing colour to encourage the user to read standard or substantially standard musical notation and play a keyboard with a substantially standard appearance.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A method of reading and playing musical notation comprising the steps of a) associating a light emitting element with each key on a diatonic scale of a keyboard, each note being designated by a different colour outputable by the respective light emitting element, and each light emitting element being adjustably illuminable; b) providing a plurality of separate musical notations, a first said musical notation displaying notes having colours which correspond to the colours of the light emitting elements associated with the respective keys of the keyboard, and a second said musical notation displaying notes having reduced amounts of said colours which correspond to the colours of the light emitting elements associated with the respective keys of the keyboard; and c) reducing the illumination of the light emitting elements when using the said second musical notation in comparison to the said first musical notation.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each light emitting element includes a plurality of separate light emitting devices, one said light emitting device being extinguished in step c) when moving from the said first musical notation to the said second musical notation.
3. A method as claimed in claimed in claim 2, wherein four separate said light emitting devices are provided for each key.
4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein five pieces of said separate musical notations are provided in step b).
5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in step a), each key is illuminable by its respective light emitting element.
6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in step a), an alphabetical letter corresponding to the note of each said key is provided, the letter being illuminable by the respective light emitting element, and in step c) the letter being the last portion to be illuminated by the light emitting element as the illumination is reduced.
7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in step c), the illumination of the light emitting elements is reduced stepwisely.
8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in step c), the illumination of the light emitting elements is reduced uniformly.
9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in step a), the light emitting element is associated with each said key of the diatonic scale on each octave across the keyboard.
10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in step a), the light emitting element is associated with each key on a chromatic scale of a keyboard.
11. Keyboard apparatus for a method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the apparatus comprising a keyboard having a plurality of keys corresponding to at least a diatonic scale, and a light emitting element which is associated with each key of the diatonic scale and which has a different colour, each light emitting element being adjustably illuminable.
12. Keyboard apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the light emitting elements are in or below the respective keys.
13. Keyboard apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein each said key includes light transmissible material.
14. Keyboard apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein each light emitting element includes at least three separate light emitting devices.
15. Keyboard apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein each light emitting device of the light emitting element is spaced in a longitudinal direction of the key from an adjacent light emitting device.
16. Keyboard apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, further comprising an alphabetical letter on or adjacent to each key of the diatonic scale corresponding to the note of the key, the letter being illuminable by the light emitting element.
17. Keyboard apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, further comprising a user controller for selectively adjusting an illumination of the light emitting elements.
18. Keyboard apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 17, further comprising a keyboard housing for supporting the keyboard, the housing including a notation support for supporting musical notation.
19. Keyboard apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 18, further comprising a plurality of separate musical notations, a first one of the musical notations having notes including a first amount of colour, each said note within at least the said diatonic scale having a different specific colour, and a second one of the musical notations having notes including a second amount of colour which is less than the said first amount of colour, the same notes of the first and second musical notations having the same said colour.
20. Keyboard apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein third to fifth ones of the musical notations have notes including third to fifth amounts of colour which are less than the said second amount of colour, the same notes of the first to fifth musical notations having the same said colour, and the amounts of colour from the first musical notation to the fifth musical notation stepwisely reducing.
21. Keyboard apparatus as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the musical notations describe the same music.
22. Keyboard apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the musical notations are bound together.
23. Keyboard apparatus for a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
24. A series of musical notations for a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, a first one of the musical notations having notes including a first amount of colour, each said note within at least a diatonic scale having a different specific colour, and a second one of the musical notations having notes including a second amount of colour which is less than the said first amount of colour, the same notes of the first and second musical notations having the same said colour.
25. A series of musical notations as claimed in claim 24, further comprising third to fifth musical notations having notes including third to fifth amounts of colour which are less than the said second amount of colour, the same notes of the first to fifth musical notations having the same said colour, and the amounts of colour from the first musical notation to the fifth musical notation stepwisely reducing.
26. A series of musical notations as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25, wherein each musical notation represents the same music.
27. A series of musical notations as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the musical notations are bound together.
28. A series of musical notations for a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.