CA2062634A1 - Device for teaching music - Google Patents
Device for teaching musicInfo
- Publication number
- CA2062634A1 CA2062634A1 CA 2062634 CA2062634A CA2062634A1 CA 2062634 A1 CA2062634 A1 CA 2062634A1 CA 2062634 CA2062634 CA 2062634 CA 2062634 A CA2062634 A CA 2062634A CA 2062634 A1 CA2062634 A1 CA 2062634A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pattern
- music
- staffboard
- scale
- major
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Landscapes
- Auxiliary Devices For Music (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract A simple teaching kit for use by music teachers and students at any level to illustrate the theory of music.
The kit comprises representations of the treble and bass clefs and two octave sections of a piano keyboard in combination with a plurality of transparent overlays upon which the student selectively affixes a plurality of coloured stickers representing any selected scale, tonal pattern or chord pattern in any selected key.
The kit comprises representations of the treble and bass clefs and two octave sections of a piano keyboard in combination with a plurality of transparent overlays upon which the student selectively affixes a plurality of coloured stickers representing any selected scale, tonal pattern or chord pattern in any selected key.
Description
_vice for Teachinq Music Fleld of I _e_tion This invention relates to an apparatus for aiding the teaching of music theory and more particularly to a simple apparatus to assist music teachers to teach pupils from the basic to the advanced level.
Bacl<~round of Invention The mus;cal alphabet is conventionally written as C,D, E,F,G,A,B,C and the notes represented thereby from C to C
are termed an "octave". This octave pattern is repeated in a number of different "keys" or "scales", depending upon the p;tch or frequency of the acoustical vibration. The lowest note or first note names the "key". The 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the scale may be played together to form a"chord".
This pattern is also repeated in all of the keys. In Western music there are two familiar modas of music known as the major (Ionian) and the minor (Aeolian) modes from which major and m1nor scales may,be derived. Each mode comprises a series of scales known as diatonic scalesj one of which is the scale of C major. Each scale comprises a series of seven steps rising from one note or key to its octave such as the C to C octave of the C major scale referred to above. The step or interval between the notes in a scale is either a tone or a semitone apart. Each mode of music has its own characteristic sequence of tone/semitone steps between successive notes o~ its scales.
..
Another way to describe the relationships of note pitch is the tone/semitone relationship. An octave has 12 semitones. Two semitones make a tone. A semitone is the interval between every note on a piano, black to white to black or white to white where there is no black. The arrangement of these semitones combined with the tones determines whether the scale constitutes either a major or minor mode. All maJor scales can be built using the Tonal Pattern for C major below.
The major mode can be characterized thus (for C major):
T T ST T T T ST Tonal Pattern / \/ \ / \/ \/ \ :
C D E F G A B C Note Names 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 Fingering Rt. Hand All minor scales can be built using the Tonal Pattern --for A minor below.
The minor mode can be characterized thus (for A minor):
T ST T T ST T~ST ST Tonal Pattern / \ / \/ \ / \
A B C D E F G A Note Names 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 Fingering ~
It will be apprecia`ted that that the note names and fingering patterns will change for different scales in both modes.These concepts are relatively difficult for music pupils, and particularly young pupils to grasp. Visual aids have therefore, been suggested. Attention is directed to ' ~86~
ll.S. paten-t 4,881,443 issued 21 November 1989 to H.W.
Bertram which describes an apparatus having a display base with a circular display disc rotatably associated with the base and a display associated with the base and a display keyboard moveable relative to the display base. The base, the disc and the keyboard are all inscribed with indicia to enable the student to study and compute chords and scales in any presented mode of music. This device is however, relatively complex and presents far more information than can be readily assimilated by young or begining music students. There is, therefore, a need for a very simple visual aid wh;ch can be used by the teacher and pupil alike to study with provision to expand as the pupil becomes more advanced. Preferably the aid should be in -the form of a kit so that each pupil can have a personal set for the self completion of assignments and private study. This visual aid enables the student to learn by doing. The devices of the prior art, as illustrated by U.S. patent 4,881,443, are ready made and involve no student assembly.
Obiect of Invention Thus, it is one object of the present invention to provide a visual aid, in the form of a kit7 for the teaching of mus;cal theory which can be used by any student from the very basic to the advanced level.
.
.
. . , ~ . .
, 2 ~
Brlef Statement of Invention By one aspect of this invention there is provided a music teaching apparatus comprising a planar representation of a half-staffboard, a planar representation of a partial keyboard, a series of transparent overlays and a plurality of sticker elements of selected colours, each selectively arranyed on satd overlay and over a selected one of said half-stafFboard and said partial keyboard so as to il1ustrate a selected pattern or sequence.
Brief Descri~tion of Drawin~s Fig. 1 is a sketch of a staffboard teaching device embodying the present invention; showing bass clef with a key signature overlay for C flat major.
Fig. 2 is a sketch, similar to Fig. 1 showing C flat major scale with the key signature overlay as in Fig.1.
overlay.
Fig. 3 is a sketch of a partial keyboard teaching device embodying the present invention, showlng a tonal pat-tern overlay for C major; and Fig. 4 is a sketch of a keyboard teaching device as in Fig. 2 with the tonal pattern for C Maj~or used to establish the G Major scale.
Detailed Descri~tion of Preferred Embodiments 1n Fig. 1 there is shown a planar sheet 1, preferably of card stock, having imprinted thereon a repressntation of the bass clef. Either on a ^eparate shoet 10 and hlnged , ~ ~
.. ' .
to the planar sheet 1 or on the reverse of sheet 1 there is provided a representation of the treble clef sign 11. These sheets 1 are used in conjunction with two transparent key signature overlay sheets 2 for sharps ( # ) and flats ( ).
In Figure l the base clef is shown with the flats overlay so that ;t represents a C flat major key signature. The key s~gnature sheets may be pre-printed or may bs built up with an erasable pen by the student as part of his/her studies.
~The key signature sheets are not, therefore, an essential integer of the present invention, bu~ are merely preferred.
The staffboard sheet 1 is then used in conjunction with a C
flat major scale overlay, as shown in Figure 2. The scale overlay comprises a transparent overlay 3 upon which the student places a plurality of stickers 4 of selected colour according to the scale which is de~ired. It will be appreciated that one scale overlay will suffice for all scales, regardless of key. This is possible because the same overlay is moved up and down the staffboard- to the appropriate starting note for the chosen scale. Variations on this process on the staffboard may also be used to illustrate chromatic (half tone~ patterns as well as atonal (whole tones) patterns and for the development of chords for any key. It is important that each student should build up his/her own individual library of scales: chroma~ic, atonal, maJor and minor, and chord patterns and other musical patterns as par~ of h;s/her musical education. As it is .
,, , , 2 ~ t'~6 necessary to illustrate how the scales, chords and chromatic patterns may go up or down relative to the staff, it is desirable that the overlays be movable, i.e. not secured in any way to the staffboard which is in itself kept stationary. For convenience, the transparent staffboard overlays 3 and 4, once preparad, are ~tored in envelopes, a binder or a box of suitable size and ind-ividually acc0ssible by identification tags.
The second part of the kit of the present invention comprises a planar sheet 5 having imprinted thereon a portion of a standard piano keyboard 6, as shown in Figure 3. Sheet 5 is used in conjunction wi~h a planar transparent overlay 7 upon which the student affixes a plurality of coloured stickers or markers, such as circles, in the appropriate pattern for a particular scale and key. Figure 3 show~ the tonal pattern for the scale of C Major and Figure 4 shows the tonal pattern for the scale of G Major.
It will be appreciated that a total of 28 overlays will be necessary to build up a complete set of scales for all of the major and minor scales in all keys. In addition, overlays for chromatic (half tone/step) patterns and akonal (whole tone/step) patterns can be produced. Beginning students and very young students may not require a whole set - often a chromatic, an atonal, 4 major and 4 minor scales , ~ . .
~and some chord patkerns will suffice. Supplementary kits designed for various levels ( Beginer, Intermediate, and Advanced) could be developed with the appropriate quantity , :' -`` 2 ~ 3 ~
of materials in each. The construction and composition of each kit could be designed to supplement the previous one.The invention would thereby be beneficial to students of all ages and skill levels, and expand as their ability advances. Advanced theory students can be encouraged to make up a whole set.
.
- : : .
: ~ ' . .
., : ' -, ' .
' .
-
Bacl<~round of Invention The mus;cal alphabet is conventionally written as C,D, E,F,G,A,B,C and the notes represented thereby from C to C
are termed an "octave". This octave pattern is repeated in a number of different "keys" or "scales", depending upon the p;tch or frequency of the acoustical vibration. The lowest note or first note names the "key". The 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the scale may be played together to form a"chord".
This pattern is also repeated in all of the keys. In Western music there are two familiar modas of music known as the major (Ionian) and the minor (Aeolian) modes from which major and m1nor scales may,be derived. Each mode comprises a series of scales known as diatonic scalesj one of which is the scale of C major. Each scale comprises a series of seven steps rising from one note or key to its octave such as the C to C octave of the C major scale referred to above. The step or interval between the notes in a scale is either a tone or a semitone apart. Each mode of music has its own characteristic sequence of tone/semitone steps between successive notes o~ its scales.
..
Another way to describe the relationships of note pitch is the tone/semitone relationship. An octave has 12 semitones. Two semitones make a tone. A semitone is the interval between every note on a piano, black to white to black or white to white where there is no black. The arrangement of these semitones combined with the tones determines whether the scale constitutes either a major or minor mode. All maJor scales can be built using the Tonal Pattern for C major below.
The major mode can be characterized thus (for C major):
T T ST T T T ST Tonal Pattern / \/ \ / \/ \/ \ :
C D E F G A B C Note Names 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 Fingering Rt. Hand All minor scales can be built using the Tonal Pattern --for A minor below.
The minor mode can be characterized thus (for A minor):
T ST T T ST T~ST ST Tonal Pattern / \ / \/ \ / \
A B C D E F G A Note Names 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 Fingering ~
It will be apprecia`ted that that the note names and fingering patterns will change for different scales in both modes.These concepts are relatively difficult for music pupils, and particularly young pupils to grasp. Visual aids have therefore, been suggested. Attention is directed to ' ~86~
ll.S. paten-t 4,881,443 issued 21 November 1989 to H.W.
Bertram which describes an apparatus having a display base with a circular display disc rotatably associated with the base and a display associated with the base and a display keyboard moveable relative to the display base. The base, the disc and the keyboard are all inscribed with indicia to enable the student to study and compute chords and scales in any presented mode of music. This device is however, relatively complex and presents far more information than can be readily assimilated by young or begining music students. There is, therefore, a need for a very simple visual aid wh;ch can be used by the teacher and pupil alike to study with provision to expand as the pupil becomes more advanced. Preferably the aid should be in -the form of a kit so that each pupil can have a personal set for the self completion of assignments and private study. This visual aid enables the student to learn by doing. The devices of the prior art, as illustrated by U.S. patent 4,881,443, are ready made and involve no student assembly.
Obiect of Invention Thus, it is one object of the present invention to provide a visual aid, in the form of a kit7 for the teaching of mus;cal theory which can be used by any student from the very basic to the advanced level.
.
.
. . , ~ . .
, 2 ~
Brlef Statement of Invention By one aspect of this invention there is provided a music teaching apparatus comprising a planar representation of a half-staffboard, a planar representation of a partial keyboard, a series of transparent overlays and a plurality of sticker elements of selected colours, each selectively arranyed on satd overlay and over a selected one of said half-stafFboard and said partial keyboard so as to il1ustrate a selected pattern or sequence.
Brief Descri~tion of Drawin~s Fig. 1 is a sketch of a staffboard teaching device embodying the present invention; showing bass clef with a key signature overlay for C flat major.
Fig. 2 is a sketch, similar to Fig. 1 showing C flat major scale with the key signature overlay as in Fig.1.
overlay.
Fig. 3 is a sketch of a partial keyboard teaching device embodying the present invention, showlng a tonal pat-tern overlay for C major; and Fig. 4 is a sketch of a keyboard teaching device as in Fig. 2 with the tonal pattern for C Maj~or used to establish the G Major scale.
Detailed Descri~tion of Preferred Embodiments 1n Fig. 1 there is shown a planar sheet 1, preferably of card stock, having imprinted thereon a repressntation of the bass clef. Either on a ^eparate shoet 10 and hlnged , ~ ~
.. ' .
to the planar sheet 1 or on the reverse of sheet 1 there is provided a representation of the treble clef sign 11. These sheets 1 are used in conjunction with two transparent key signature overlay sheets 2 for sharps ( # ) and flats ( ).
In Figure l the base clef is shown with the flats overlay so that ;t represents a C flat major key signature. The key s~gnature sheets may be pre-printed or may bs built up with an erasable pen by the student as part of his/her studies.
~The key signature sheets are not, therefore, an essential integer of the present invention, bu~ are merely preferred.
The staffboard sheet 1 is then used in conjunction with a C
flat major scale overlay, as shown in Figure 2. The scale overlay comprises a transparent overlay 3 upon which the student places a plurality of stickers 4 of selected colour according to the scale which is de~ired. It will be appreciated that one scale overlay will suffice for all scales, regardless of key. This is possible because the same overlay is moved up and down the staffboard- to the appropriate starting note for the chosen scale. Variations on this process on the staffboard may also be used to illustrate chromatic (half tone~ patterns as well as atonal (whole tones) patterns and for the development of chords for any key. It is important that each student should build up his/her own individual library of scales: chroma~ic, atonal, maJor and minor, and chord patterns and other musical patterns as par~ of h;s/her musical education. As it is .
,, , , 2 ~ t'~6 necessary to illustrate how the scales, chords and chromatic patterns may go up or down relative to the staff, it is desirable that the overlays be movable, i.e. not secured in any way to the staffboard which is in itself kept stationary. For convenience, the transparent staffboard overlays 3 and 4, once preparad, are ~tored in envelopes, a binder or a box of suitable size and ind-ividually acc0ssible by identification tags.
The second part of the kit of the present invention comprises a planar sheet 5 having imprinted thereon a portion of a standard piano keyboard 6, as shown in Figure 3. Sheet 5 is used in conjunction wi~h a planar transparent overlay 7 upon which the student affixes a plurality of coloured stickers or markers, such as circles, in the appropriate pattern for a particular scale and key. Figure 3 show~ the tonal pattern for the scale of C Major and Figure 4 shows the tonal pattern for the scale of G Major.
It will be appreciated that a total of 28 overlays will be necessary to build up a complete set of scales for all of the major and minor scales in all keys. In addition, overlays for chromatic (half tone/step) patterns and akonal (whole tone/step) patterns can be produced. Beginning students and very young students may not require a whole set - often a chromatic, an atonal, 4 major and 4 minor scales , ~ . .
~and some chord patkerns will suffice. Supplementary kits designed for various levels ( Beginer, Intermediate, and Advanced) could be developed with the appropriate quantity , :' -`` 2 ~ 3 ~
of materials in each. The construction and composition of each kit could be designed to supplement the previous one.The invention would thereby be beneficial to students of all ages and skill levels, and expand as their ability advances. Advanced theory students can be encouraged to make up a whole set.
.
- : : .
: ~ ' . .
., : ' -, ' .
' .
-
Claims (4)
1. A music teaching apparatus comprising:
a planar representation of a half staffboard;
a planar representation of a partial keyboard;
a plurality of transparent overlays adapted to overlie and be moved relative to a selected one of said staffboard and said keyboard; and a plurality of sticker elements of selected colour, each selectively arrangeable and permanently mountable on, any selected said overlay so as to provide a permanent pattern thereon and overlie said selected one of said half-staffboard and said partial keyboard.
a planar representation of a half staffboard;
a planar representation of a partial keyboard;
a plurality of transparent overlays adapted to overlie and be moved relative to a selected one of said staffboard and said keyboard; and a plurality of sticker elements of selected colour, each selectively arrangeable and permanently mountable on, any selected said overlay so as to provide a permanent pattern thereon and overlie said selected one of said half-staffboard and said partial keyboard.
2. A music teaching apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 including storage means for said overlays.
3. A music teaching apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said staffboard includes a treble clef and a bass clef.
4. A music teachiong apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pattern is selected from a scale pattern, a chord pattern and an interval pattern.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US67411991A | 1991-03-25 | 1991-03-25 | |
| US674,119 | 1991-03-25 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2062634A1 true CA2062634A1 (en) | 1992-09-26 |
Family
ID=24705371
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2062634 Abandoned CA2062634A1 (en) | 1991-03-25 | 1992-03-11 | Device for teaching music |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2062634A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU732104B2 (en) * | 1996-05-24 | 2001-04-12 | Abraham Cytrynowski | System to assist teaching music scales |
| US7148414B2 (en) | 2003-04-11 | 2006-12-12 | David Kestenbaum | Colored music notation system and method of colorizing music notation |
-
1992
- 1992-03-11 CA CA 2062634 patent/CA2062634A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU732104B2 (en) * | 1996-05-24 | 2001-04-12 | Abraham Cytrynowski | System to assist teaching music scales |
| US7148414B2 (en) | 2003-04-11 | 2006-12-12 | David Kestenbaum | Colored music notation system and method of colorizing music notation |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |