GB2360123A

GB2360123A - Music teaching aids

Info

Publication number: GB2360123A
Application number: GB0029267A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philippa Estelle Rose
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-02
Filing date: 2000-11-30
Publication date: 2001-09-12
Also published as: GB9928560D0; GB0029267D0

Abstract

A teaching aid comprising a book (10) containing two-dimensional representations (30-60) of musical symbols and/or notation; a set of three-dimensional representations (130) of the musical symbols and/or notation corresponding to the two-dimensional representations (30-60). There is also provided a three-dimensional template including at least one recess in the form of a musical symbol and/or notation and at least one corresponding three-dimensional representation (181-185) of a musical symbol and/or notation able to fit within the or each recess. The three-dimensional representations can facilitate learning.

Description

2360123 MUSIC TEACHING AIDS This invention relates generally to aids for

teaching music and musical notation.

During early developmental stages a considerable amount of a child's learning takes place within a play environment. Through various games and activities a child will develop social, cognitive and linguistic skills that form the foundation for a more formal education at a later date.

A child needs to learn the alphabet and the number line before he or she can read, spell or count. Similarly, a child must learn and understand the meaning of musical notation before he or she can read and/or write music. Learning what at first must seem like a very confusing and alien character structure is a daunting task for a child and indeed also for an adult.

The present invention seeks to provide a teaching aid for music education which can facilitate conscious learning at an early age.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a teaching aid comprising a book containing printed representations of musical symbols and notation; a set of three-dimensional representations of the musical symbols and notation corresponding to the printed representations, and a table including a stave designed to receive the three dimensional representations of the musical symbols and notation.

According to an another aspect of the present invention there is provided a teaching aid comprising a three dimensional template of musical symbols and notation designed to receive counterpart three-dimensional musical symbols and notation.

Preferably, the three-dimensional representations of musical symbols and notation are manufactured from a suitable plastics material, wood or M13F.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a table including on a top surface and at least one musical stave on the top surface.

2 The table can include a printed stave and is preferably a light fold-out type table, for example a tressel table.

The invention can provide three-dimensional musical notes which have been found can facilitate learning. Moreover, if a child is introduced to musical notation by means of a 4game' or what appears to the child as a game, there is a much greater chance of introducing those all important first concepts in a natural and fun way.

io An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of music book; Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of music table; Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of music table; Figures 4a and 4b show some examples of three-dimensional representations of musical notation; Figure 5 shows an arrangement of preferred music tile puzzles; Figure 6 shows a preferred music template; Figure 7 shows a three-dimensional note puzzle; and Figure 8 shows an embodiment of keyboard.

With reference to Figure 1, a music book 10 includes a plurality of pages 20. On each page 20 a music symbol or notation, for example a stave 30 or treble clef 40, is printed alongside the appropriate name 50, 60 for the symbol. The number of pages within the book, or the number of books within a series of books, will depend upon the level of knowledge it is -desired to impart to the pupil. However, it should be noted that the music teaching aid can encompass all the known music symbols and musical notations to allow for optimum teaching flexibility.

3 The symbols 30, 40 are preferably of printed form, as are the corresponding names 50, 60. The system includes a set of threedimensional representations, for example plastic or wooden blocks (see Figure 4), from which a student or pupil can choose the symbol corresponding to the printed symbol to place it on the printed symbol in the book in such a manner as to cover the printed symbol or twodimensional 'shadow'. In this way the student or pupil can obtain an understanding of the symbol, how it looks and 'feels', and also by what name it is known.

It is envisaged that the symbols 30, 40, both in two-dimensional and three-dimensional form, could be provided with a tactile surface to assist the handicapped. For example, they could be formed of velvet or with eye and hook fastenings (one part on the twodimensional symbol in the book and the other part on the three-dimensional form of the symbol) to allow securing of the three-dimensional symbols to the book.

The apparatus preferably includes musical table 70 (Figure 2) which is provided with a blank printed music stave 80. This may be printed directly onto the table or appear as parallel groves provided or cut into the material of the table. Alternatively, the staves may be printed onto a tablecloth or sheet that is placed on the table. In one embodiment, the staves are formed of Velcro' strip which can facilitate attachment of musical notes provided with the other part of the Velcro' fastening and can also provide a tactile sensation for use by the visually impaired. It is also envisaged that this table top could be provided as a folding board for storage purposes.

In use, a student or pupil may be asked to find a musical symbol, for example a crotchet, and to place the symbol on a particular line or space of the blank stave.

In Figure 2 the staves 80 are shown, for example only, with double bar lines and a bracket 90 placed at the beginning of each stave. Also, boards with single staves and no bracket for string and woodwind instruments may be provided.

4 In another example of use of the system, the teacher may ask for the notes and symbols of a particular tune to be placed on the table in the correct places and in the correct sequence, thus introducing the connection of a series of abstract notes and symbols with a 4real' piece of music.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of music table 100 which includes pre-printed notes and symbols (those that appear have no significance and are shown by way of example only). the apparatus provides three-dimensional symbols such that a pupil can obtain the corresponding three-dimensional representation 110 of the symbol (a quaver 10 pair in the Figure) and place it over the two-dimensional representation 120.

Figure 4 shows several examples, in plan view 130, of three-dimensional symbols and notations used. The reader will be aware that the set of symbols or characters used is not restricted to that shown in Figure 4 At the appropriate stage, it will be important for the pupil to begin to understand the subdivisions of music and the relationship between printed music and the timing of a given piece of music. Figure 5 shows preferred music tiles 140, 150, 160 and 170. these can be in the form of a disc of any suitable material which can be handled by the student or 20 pupil.

The largest tile 140 shown has printed on its top surface a twodimensional representation of a semi-breve 142. Since a semi-breve is equivalent to two minims, there are provided two smaller tiles 150 depicting a minim 152 and being, in this example, half-discs such that the two tiles 150 when placed together and of the same size and, preferably, of the same shape as the tile 140.

A minim is equivalent to two crotchets, and Figure 5 shows four tiles 160 each depicting a crotchet 162 and being a quarter disc, half the size of the minim tile 150 and a quarter 30 of the size of the semi-breve tile 140.

Smaller tiles 170 are half the size of tiles 160 and depict quavers. Further sub-divisions are depicting semi-quavers and a demi-semi-quaver (not shown) tile.

Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional music template 180 in plan view. The template may be made from any suitable material, such as plastics material or wood. Into shallow recesses in the template, three- dimensional representations of music notes and symbols 181 to 184 are removably placed. The dimensions of the recesses are substantially equivalent to the dimensions of the three-dimensional representations.

lo By way of example only, Figure 6 shows a three-beat rest (181+184), a minim and dot (182+184), the number three 183, and three dots 185. The template 180 shows the pupil the connection between a note sustained for three beats, a three beat rest and the numeral three.

The three-dimensional forms of the notes and symbols are preferably provided with a handle such as a knob, for removable from the template 180.

Another embodiment provides a 'note puzzle'. With reference to Figure 7, a three dimensional quaver 92 is shown divided into three constituent parts. The quaver 90 comprises a tail 92, a stem 94 and a note head 96. It should be noted that any symbol, note or the like may be provided in a three-dimensional 'note puzzle' form, and that a quaver is shown for simplicity only.

In using such a 'note puzzle' the pupil will learn the names of the constituent parts and also the inter-relationship between the notes. For example, if a pupil were given a three dimensional representation of a semi-breve along with that which is shown in Figure 7, it would be possible for the pupil to construct a minim also. These would be achieved by replacing the crotchet note head 96 with the semi-breve note head, and removing the tail 92.

6 The 'note puzzle' may be provided with a template as described in connection with the embodiment of Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows a part of another embodiment of music teaching aid. In this embodiment there is provided a book or computer representation of a book with a keyboard 200. The arrangement is such that the keyboard 200 is always visible and accessible by the user. The keyboard 200 may typically have a three octave span.

The system provides a sound generator and, preferably, a display, such that actuation of any of the keys of the keyboard 200 will generate the appropriate aural note.

The embodiment shown has the keyboard at the bottom of the book with pages of the book provided above such that the pages can be turned while still having access to the keyboard. The book may be provided with printed tunes and the like which can be played on the keyboard by the user. where a display is provided, instructions may be displayed and/or a representation of the music played on the keyboard 200.

The display may be touch sensitive to allow input into a processor (not shown) of the system.

The embodiment of Figure 8 can be combined with the above-described embodiments so as to be provided with three-dimensional music notes and symbols to be placed at appropriate locations on the pages of the book.

7

Claims

1. A teaching aid comprising a book containing two-dimensional representations of musical symbols and/or notation; a set of three-dimensional representations of the musical symbols and/or notation corresponding to the two-dimensional representations.

2. A teaching aid comprising a three-dimensional template including at least one recess in the form of a musical symbol and/or notation and at least one corresponding three-dimensional representation of a musical symbol and/or notation able to fit within the or each recess.

3. A table including a top surface and at least one substantially flat or two-dimensional representation of a musical stave provided on the top surface.

4. A table according to claim 3, wherein the table is a fold-out type table.

5. A book including a plurality of two-dimensional representations of musical symbols and/or notation and a representation of a keyboard arranged so as to be always 20 visible during use of the book.

6. A book according to claim 5, including a processor and sound generating means operable to generate aural notes when the keys of the keyboard are activated.

7. A book according to claim 5 or 6, including a set of three-dimensional representations of musical symbols and/or notation.

8. A teaching aid according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or book according to claim 7, wherein the three-dimensional representation or representations of musical symbols and/or notation are formed from plastics material, wood or MDE 8

9. A teaching aid according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or book according to claim 7, including hook and eye fastening means for fastening the two- dimensional and three-dimensional representations together.

10. A teaching aid according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or book according to claim 7, wherein the or each three-dimensional representation is formed from separate components locatable together to provide the three-dimensional representation of a musical symbol or notation.