Music – Accessories – Teaching devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-01
2001-09-04
Witkowski, Stanley J. (Department: 2837)
Music
Accessories
Teaching devices
C084S47900R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06284961
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to music reading aids and more particularly pertains to a new system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instrument for aiding a pupil in learning to play an instrument such as a piano.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One of the most difficult aspects of learning to play an instrument is being able to make the connection between the notes on the sheet music and the keys to be pressed by the fingers of the music student. The notes are represented on staffs comprised of parallel lines that have little visual correlation to the keys of the instrument for the beginner, and for players of all levels, as will become evident as the invention is described below.
Adding to this aforementioned difficulty is the use of different keys, which call for various combinations of sharps and flats, which alter the relationship between the notes indicated on the sheet music and the keys that are to be pressed on the instrument. The key signature, which indicates which notes are to be affected by sharps and flats, is commonly located at the far left of the treble and bass clefs on the grand staff and is thus isolated from the notes on the staffs. Adding still further difficulty to the reading of the sheet music is the presence of key changes within a piece of music. Accidentals, which are sharps, flats, naturals, double sharps, and double flats written next to notes that are not part of the key signature, also alter the key to be pressed by the student and can make the reading of sheet music more difficult.
The student reading sheet music is thus faced with the possibility of the 12 tones on an octave of keys on the instrument being represented in as many as 35 different ways on the sheet music. (This is because accidentals may be used to write each note differently—see
FIG. 3.
) The typical approach for teaching students is to initially isolate the student from certain keys, and music pieces in general, which include many accidentals. This limits the repertoire of the student until the student becomes more advanced, and does not eliminate the need to learn the sharps and flats associated with the various keys.
Another problem associated with the reading of sheet music is reading the notes on ledger lines which are notes which are written above the treble clef and below the bass clef. These can become difficult to read especially when there are a lot of them. The notes on ledger lines can also have accidentals next to them which can make them even more difficult to read. Many accidentals and a lot of notes on ledger lines are major reasons why musicians refer to certain pieces of music as “a mess”.
The use of music reading aids is known in the prior art. However, the known devices and systems tend to ignore the hardship placed on the student by the presence of complex keys and accidentals in the sheet music.
In these respects the system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instrument, according to the present invention, substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of aiding a pupil in learning to play an instrument such as a piano by a much more efficient means of reading sheet music.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of music reading aids now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instrument wherein the same can be utilized for aiding a pupil in learning to play an instrument such as a piano.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instrument apparatus and method which has many Of the advantages Of the music reading aids mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instrument which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art music reading aids, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instrument and includes musical notations marked on a surface. The musical notations comprise a plurality of musical notes, with each of the twelve musical tones having a color. The color of each of the musical notes corresponds to a color assigned to a particular key to be pressed on the musical instrument. Also included is a plurality of stickers for coupling to the keys of a piano or similar musical instrument. Each sticker has a unique color corresponding to the color of one of the keys of the musical instrument.
To preserve the concept of music theory, the present invention allows sheet music to be written the same way it is now, with key signatures and accidentals; the primary difference is instead of having black notes, each note would be assigned one of twelve colors which are represented by the twelve tones, and as you change octaves, the colors repeat themselves.
In the system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instrument, the color-coded notes would make it easier for advanced players to read difficult pieces of music with multiple key changes and many accidentals. By adding the colors to the notes, the connections that need to be made in the mind of the musician to distinguish which tones the notes on the sheet music represent, would be made automatically. This is a highly significant primary aspect of the invention, and other aspects of the invention contribute to this primary aspect.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instrument apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the music reading aids mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instrument which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art music reading aids, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instrument which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instru
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