GB2431510A

GB2431510A - A device for aligning written music with the keys of a musical instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2431510A
Application number: GB0620094A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Douglas Adams
Original assignee: ALBERT JAGGER Ltd
Current assignee: ALBERT JAGGER Ltd
Priority date: 2005-10-18
Filing date: 2006-10-11
Publication date: 2007-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-11
Also published as: GB0521127D0; GB0620094D0; GB2431510B

Abstract

A locator 10, for use with a keyboard 26 of a musical instrument 20, comprises an elongated base (11), a retention portion (12), a transverse stop member (13) and a locating element (15, 16). In use, the locating element (15, 16) aligns the position of the locator 10 with respect to the keys 25 of the keyboard 26. The locator 10 preferably provides a means for locating a new form of written music 30 in alignment with specific keys 25 of the keyboard 26. The elongated base (11) may extend over 15 adjacent keys 25 and the underside of the base (11) ideally has a non-slip surface (14). The locating element (15, 16) may comprise one or more plates that fit between adjacent groups of black keys 27 of the keyboard 26. A method for producing a series of musical notes in accordance with a prescribed sequence is also provided.

Description

LOCATOR FOR USE WITH A KEYBOARD

This invention relates to a locator for use with a keyboard of a musical instrument. In use it enables the relative positioning of a new form of sheet music with respect to the keys of a keyboard to provide for a method for playing the keyboard using the locator and the new form of sheet music. The invention also relates to a new method for producing a series of notes in accordance with a prescribed sequence.

in this disclosure the term keyboard' is used to refer to a keyboard of any musical instrument. It therefore embraces pianos, organs and standalone electronic keyboards.

Traditional music is written on a staff consisting of five horizontal lines. The relative positioning of symbols on the staff indicates which notes should be played. The types of symbols used also indicate the length and style of each note. Other symbols are employed to represent sharps' and flats'.

Learning to read music that is written in this way can take a significant amount of time. The meanings of the symbols employed in traditional music notation are not intuitive. It is therefore necessary to recognise each symbol and remember what it represents. In practice, i.e. when performing a piece of music on an instrument, these steps need to be executed in a fraction of a second.

When playing a musical instrument it is not only necessary to be able to establish which note is being indicated and how it should be played but it is also necessary to learn how to produce the desired note using the instrument.

Thus, for example, if a c' is indicated, it is necessary to know which key on a keyboard should be pressed in order to produce this note.

Consequently, it usually takes a long time and a Jot of practice before a person can play a musical instrument, competently, in accordance with traditional sheet music.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to facilitate a new method for playing a keyboard which enables a person to play music even if the person cannot read or interpret traditional written music and/or does not know which notes the keys represent.

Conventional music stands have a panel for supporting music at an angle that is appropriate to enable users to easily see and read the music as they play their instruments. Such music stands may be free-standing or may be rested, attached or integral to the body of the instrument itself. In the case of keyboard instruments, including pianos and organs, the stand is usually positioned in line with the centre of the keyboard. However, the location of the music with respect to the keyboard is not critical and may be varied to suit individual preferences.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a device that can bc used to facilitate a new method for playing a keyboard, by locating the position of a new type of written music with respect to the keys of the keyboard.

According to the invention, there is provided a locator for use with a keyboard of a musical instrument, the locator comprising an elongated base, a retention portion, a transverse stop member and a locating element, such that, in use, the locating element locates the position of said locator with respect to the keys of the keyboard.

In use, the locator of the present invention provides a simple means for locating a new form of written music in the required alignment with the keys of a keyboard. Desirably, a music sheet is placed on the base such that the retention portion prevents the sheet from sliding off the base. The sheet is preferably positioned with one side of the sheet abutting the transverse stop member. in this position, the music written on the sheet will be in alignment with the appropriate keys to be played.

A particular advantage is that the locator allows the music to be sited within

the same field of view as the keys to be operated.

Preferably, in use, the locator is sited close to the edge of the keyboard opposite the operator. It is also preferable for the underside of the base to comprise a non-slip surface so that the locator tends to stay in its set position during use.

Desirably, the transverse stop member is located towards, and preferably at, one end of the base. A pair of opposed transverse stop members may be sited towards, and preferably at, respective opposite ends of the base.

Alternatively, multiple transverse stop members may he employed at a plurality of positions along the length of the base. The or each transverse stop member may he held in fixed position relative to the base or may be moveable there-along.

Different lengths of locators may be provided to suit different lengths of keyboard or to encompass a different number of keys to be played. A suitable length for most simple melodies would be to cover a little over two octaves, say, fifteen notes.

Two or more locators may he employed at different positions along the length of a keyboard.

In a particular embodiment, the locator may rest on the black keys of the keyboard. In this embodiment, the locating element may be a plate or projection on the underside of the base. Desirably, the locating element is of a size marginally smaller than the gap between two adjacent black keys on a traditional keyboard so that it can fit between two of the black keys and prevent the locator from any substantial longitudinal displacement from that position. Preferably, the depth of the locating element is marginally less than the height that the black keys project above the white keys so that, in position, the locating element is suspended from the base. The locating element is desirably of a size only capable of fitting between a set of two and set of three back keys. This limits the possible locations of the locator and reduces the likelihood of incorrect location. It may be preferable to have two or more locating elements spaced along the underside of the base to aid in correct location. It may also be desirable for the locating element to be moveable to different set positions relative to the base.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the locating element may be configured for location in the slot, often provided on a keyboard, for placement of a traditional music stand. In this embodiment, the base may comprise an extended support platform for music to be laid upon, with an upturned retention portion at the front end and a downwardly depending portion at the opposite, rear, end, the downwardly depending portion forming the locating element of the locator, which can be placed in the slot provided for a traditional music stand. Thus, the base may be rested on the portion of the instrument between the slot and the keyboard, with the front end of the base suspended above the edge of the keyboard opposite the operator.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method, for producing a series of musical notes in accordance with a prescribed sequence comprises providing a musical instrument with a series of keys capable of being operated to produce individual notes; aligning graphical symbols relating to the prescribed sequence with the keys to be operated; and operating the keys aligned with each graphical symbol in accordance with the prescribed sequence.

Preferably, the locator of the present invention is used in the above method for aligning the graphical symbols, or music, with the keys to be operated.

Ph..,. +L. ... .-. -l,-.- 4',-,. 4,. .*,,,-, -.

I 11U, LlIc})JIIL iiivciiiiuii IJ1UVIUc. ivi a 11ILL1IOU Jul 1VUULIIl ll1Ul'.. J1 generating sound. it facilitates the production of music by a user with no prior knowledge of how to play a keyboard or how to read traditional music.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A is a front perspective view of a locator of the present invention, showing one end, Figure lB is a front perspective view of the locator of Figure lÀ, showing the other end, Figure 2A is a top plan view of the locator of Figure 1A, Figure 2B is a rear elevation view of the locator of Figure IA, Figure 2C is a front elevation view of the locator of Figure 1A, Figure 2D is a view of one end of the locator of Figure 1A, Figure 2E is an underside plan view of the locator of Figure 1A, Figure 3 is an underside plan view of an alternative locator, according to the present invention, 1-': :..

rigule is a top piaii view ui d UdUIIIUIId1 ILLIUI1IL rCyUUaIU, WIUI L1!C locator of Figure 1A in a desired location, Figure 5 is a top plan view of the arrangement of Figure 4, with a sheet of music located on the locator, Figure 6 is an example of a sheet of music for use with a locator of the present invention, Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative locator of the present invention, from the front and left, Figure 8 is a perspective view of a traditional keyboard, with the locator of Figure 7 located in the slot provided for a traditional music stand.

One embodiment of a locator 10 of the present invention is shown in Figures 1A through 2E. As can be seen therefrom, the locator 10 comprises an elongated rectangular base 11 with an upstanding front retention portion 12.

Projecting upwardly at 900 from the base 11, at one end thereof, is a transverse stop member 13. A further stop member could be provided at the other end of the base, and the or each stop member may be moveable along the base. Substantially the whole of the underside of the base 11 is covered in a non-slip surface material 14. Where the material is absent, locating elements, in the form of plates 15, 16, are fitted to the underside of the base II. In this particular embodiment, two locating plates 15, 16 are provided, with the first plate 15 located towards the end of the base ii where the transverse stop member 13 is located and the second plate 16 located towards the opposite end oi the base ii. However, only a single locating element, or more than two elements could be provided, and the or each locating element could be longitudinally slidable along the base.

A variant locator 17 is shown in Figure 3. This is essentially the same as locator 10 hut with only a single locating element, in the form of plate 15.

As before, plate 15 is located towards the end of the base 11 where the transverse stop member 13 is located.

Figure 4 illustrates location of locator 10 on a traditional electronic keyboard instrument 20. In this arrangement, locating plate 15 is inserted between black keys 21 and 22, and locating plate 16 is inserted between black keys 23 and 24. Consequently, the locator 10 is allowed to rest on top of the ends of several black keys as shown. The non-slip surface 14 helps to maintain the set position of the locator 10 in use and in particular, inhibits it from sliding towards the user. As the locating elements 15 and 16 are of a size only slightly smaller than the gap between black keys 21, 22 and 23, 24, this prevents any significant lateral movement of the locator 10 once in the desired location.

When a sheet 30 of a new form of written music is placed on the locator 10 and aligned against the transverse stop member 13 and front retention panel 12, as shown in Figure 5, it is apparent that the columns 31 of the music grid 33 are in alignment with the white keys 25 of the keyboard 26. This alignment of the columns 31 and white keys 25 is essential to enable a user to correctly play the music written on the sheet 30. Consequently, the locator 1 fl,-rr,idc frr th mi,c' fl,th th I.J JI I'JI U UII UL1%..l IIII}JIL VV LU J1 12115111115 L11 J11L.13. ._".J VV I III L1I relevant white keys 25, providing that the locator 10 is itself in the desired location on the keyboard 26.

An example of a sheet of music 30, which has been designed to he used in conjunction with a locator 10 of the present invention, is illustrated in Figure 6. This new form of music 30 is composed of a grid 33 of columns 31 and rows 32. As shown in Figure 5, the widths of the columns 31 are the same as the widths of the white keys 25 of a standard keyboard 26, or as near as is practicable. Thus, when correctly aligned, the columns 31 of the grid 33 form extensions of the white keys 25. As shown in this particular sheet of music 30, narrower columns 38 may also be provided. Columns 38, of this type, indicate when the black keys (corresponding to sharps and flats) should be played Thus, as seen in Figure 5, the column 38 in this example aligns with the black key 27. Conveniently, the columns 38 are only provided on the grid 33 when a particular black key is to be played. Otherwise, the grid 33 may become cluttered and may not be easily read by a user.

The notes 34, which are to be played on the keyboard 26, are shown in numerical progression whereby each number is written in the column 31, 38 in line with the key 25, 27 that is to be operated. Consequently, if the notes c', d' and a' are to be played in sequence then a 1' will be entered in the column 31 aligned with the note c', a 2' will be entered in the column 31 aligned with the note d', and a 3' will be entered in the column 31 aligned with the note a'. Accordingly, by operating the keys 25, 27 aligned with successive numbers 34, a series of musical notes can be produced.

The above notation, only describes the sequence of notes to be played and not the duration of each note, the way it should be played or the presence of any pauses between successive notes. Consequently, the above notation can only he correctly interpreted and played by a user who is familiar with that - 10 - particular piece of music and knows the melody. However, further notation can he introduced into this form of music to better enable a user to correctly play an unfamiliar tune. Thus, other symbols can be employed as illustrated.

In this particular example, two consecutive dots 35 indicate that the note should be struck twice before moving on to the next note. Two joined dots 36 indicate that a note should be held for twice as long as normal and a double dash 37 is used to indicate a pause.

An alternative locator 40, according to the present invention, is shown in Figure 7. This comprises an extended base 41 with a front retention portion 42 and an extended transverse stop member 43. Again, a non-slip surface material 44 is provided on the underside of the base 41. However, in this embodiment, the locating element is in the form of a depending back plate 45. Conveniently, the back plate 45 is of a size able to fit into a slot 51, which is often provided on keyboards 50 for insertion of a traditional music stand. This arrangement is illustrated in Figure 8. Again, in this embodiment, it is critical that, when in use, the transverse stop member 43 is in the correct location to align the music grid 33 with the appropriate keys 25, 27. Thus, the locator 40 may be designed to be positioned at one end of the slot 51, with the transverse stop member 43 provided part way along the base 41 in order to correctly position the grid 33. The exact position of the transverse stop member 43 along the base 41 therefore depends on the length nr1 nrcit;rn cI rh clct 1 n rpitrtn tr t1, I.'.uc mc)7 I1'..L f.flJPILlS/LI J I LI.JI'.JI. .2 A 111 1.It*I.I.Jflfl L'.J LII. flI..J 3 __/ , I Further embodiments of the present invention may also be constructed to provide a simple means for locating the new form of written music 30 in the required alignment with the keys 25, 27 of a keyboard 26. The main -11 - advantage of using a locator 10, 40 to locate the new form of written music is that it enables a complete beginner, who cannot read traditional music, to play a (known) tune immediately.

Claims

- 12 - CLAIMS

1. A locator, for use with a keyboard of a musical instrument, comprising: an elongated base a retention portion; a transverse stop member; and a locating element, such that, in use, the locating element locates the position of said locator with respect to the keys of a keyboard.

2. A locator as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, in use, the locator is sited close to the edge of the keyboard opposite the operator.

3. A locator as claimed in either preceding Claim, wherein the underside of the base comprises a non-slip surface.

4. A locator as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the transverse stop member is located at or towards one end of the base.

5. A locator as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein a pair of opposed transverse stop members are sited at or towards opposite ends of the base.

6. A locator as claimed in Claim 1, wherein multiple transverse stop members are employed at a plurality of positions along the length of the base.

- 13 -

7. A locator as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the or each transverse stop member is moveable to different set positions relative to the base.

8. A locator as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the base is of a length suitable to extend over approximately fifteen adjacent keys of a keyboard.

9, A locator as claimed any preceding Claim, wherein the base is configured to rest on the black keys of a keyboard.

10. A locator as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the locating element is a plate or projection on the underside of the base.

11. A locator as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the locating element is of a size marginally smaller than the gap between two adjacent black keys on a traditional keyboard, so that it can fit between two of said keys and prevent the locator from any substantial longitudinal displacement from that position.

12. A locator as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, wherein the depth of the locating element is marginally less than the height that the black keys project above the white keys on a traditional keyboard, so that, in position, the locating element is suspended from the base.

13. A locator as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the locating element is desirably of a size only capable of fitting between a set of two and set of three back keys on a traditional keyboard.

14. A locator as claimed in Claim 10, wherein two or more locating elements are spaced along the underside of the base to aid in correct location.

15. A locator as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the locating element is rnoveable to different set positions relative to the base.

16. A locator as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the locating element is configured for location in the slot, often provided on a keyboard, for placement of a traditional music stand.

17. A locator as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the base comprises an extended support platform for music to he laid upon, with an upturned retention portion at the front end and a downwardly depending portion at the opposite, rear, end, forming the locating element.

18. A locator as claimed in Claim 16, wherein, the base is configured to rest on the portion of an instrument between the slot and the keyboard, with the front end of the base suspended above the edge of the keyboard opposite the operator.

19. A locator, substantially as described herein, with reference to and as 1A..-')t -E..-,...-,-.1 IIVWJI III ILI1%.I I I,UI L I fl LU IUI L J UI I IU1L F - 15 -

20. A method, for producing a series of musical notes in accordance with a prescribed sequence, comprising: providing a musical instrument with a series of keys capable of being operated to produce individual notes; aligning graphical symbols relating to the prescribed sequence with the keys to he operated; and operating the keys aligned with each graphical symbol in accordance with the prescribed sequence.

21. A method as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the locator of Claim 1 is used for aligning the graphical symbols with the keys to be operated.

22. A method, for producing a series of musical notes in accordance with a prescribed sequence, substantially as described herein.