IT202100000503A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISTANCE TEACHING OF A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT - Google Patents

Description

Device and method for remote teaching of a musical instrument

Remote teaching? a potentially very useful tool for remote teaching, even for teaching a musical instrument remotely.

Various examples of devices for teaching stringed musical instruments are known in the state of the art, such as for example those described in US2018/0218633 or US2006/0048629. Methods for remotely imparting music lessons are also known, for example described in WO2018126203, which allow lessons to be imparted even with a plurality of users. of students at the same time

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

However for a stringed instrument master, especially a guitar master, it is (i) very difficult to verbally explain to a student who is following the lesson remotely which keys to press on the guitar and how;

(ii) ? practically impossible to obtain, only through the use of a webcam, a correct perception of the execution by the student

Purpose of the invention

The present invention intends to provide a device and a method which allow to impart lessons of a musical instrument remotely, overcoming the limits associated with the embodiments known to the state of the art.

In particular, the present invention intends to provide a device and a method which allow easy communication of the exercises by the teacher and which also allow objective feedback on the execution of the exercise by the student to be sent to the teacher.

Device description

The device according to the invention comprises a plurality of RGB LED lights (6) organized in a plurality? of columns and a plurality? of lines, and ? configured so that each column corresponds to a fretboard fretboard of a stringed instrument, such as a guitar or bass, and each row corresponds to a string (3).

Preferably therefore there will be six lines in the case of a guitar, four in the case of a bass (1).

Each column of LED lights ? positioned on a respective adhesive support configured to be glued to the neck of the stringed instrument, below the strings themselves.

As evident from the illustration of figure 1, each LED light is therefore uniquely matched to each key of the keyboard of the instrument, and ? identifiable by defining the related row and column.

It is specified that by RGB LED light we mean a LED light configured in such a way as to be able to change the color of its light emission according to the command applied via a relative controller.

The device further comprises a controller, configured in such a way as to control the switching on, off and the color of each of said LED lights, as well as calculation means on which computer programs configured to perform the light control method are loaded LEDs described below.

The device ? characterized by the fact that it also includes a plurality of sensors (2), each associated with a key of the keyboard of a guitar and each configured to detect the pressure of at least a portion of the key associated with it.

In a first embodiment, shown in figure 3, said sensors (2) comprise a plurality of of strain gauges, configured to detect the local deformation of each metal strip (5) which defines the keys of the keyboard.

As evident from the figures, each vertical strip (5) is associated with a plurality of of sensors, each configured to detect a local deformation of the strip itself in correspondence with a relative chord (3).

In another embodiment, shown in figure 4, said sensors (2) comprise a plurality of of pressure sensors positioned on the neck of the guitar or bass, each corresponding to a fret and a relative string.

The sensors are configured to detect the pressure exerted by a string (3) on the neck of the guitar or bass (1) following the exertion of pressure (P) by the musician's finger on said string.

The device ? characterized by the fact that said controller ? furthermore configured to acquire the pressure and/or deformation values detected by each of said sensors (2), and furthermore comprises communication means configured to exchange information with a remote device, such as a PC, a smartphone or a tablet. Said device ? preferably equipped with means of remote connection.

The controller, by communicating with the remote device, can? acquire input information relating to the sequences of LED lights to be turned on to indicate the correct execution of an exercise and/or piece, and ? also configured to acquire and transmit the signals detected by said sensors (2). The comparison between the sequence of signals acquired by the various sensors (2) and the sequence of LED lights on allows you to verify the correct execution of the piece. There? ? possible because? both the LED lights and the sensors are uniquely associated with each fret on the guitar neck.

In a first embodiment said verification is performed by means of computer programs, loaded on said controller or on said remote device, configured to compare said signals acquired by said sensors (2) with the sequence of LED lights lit to indicate correct execution, and to assign an overall performance score to the piece/exercise.

In a second embodiment, said verification can? be performed in mode? remote from a teacher who, receiving through said means of remote communication the information relating to the execution of the piece/exercise as detected by said sensors, can? identify the corrections to suggest to the student.

Moreover, by analyzing the sequence of signals acquired by the sensors and listening to the audio relating to each exercise, the teacher will be facilitated in verifying even remotely the execution of techniques such as tapping, bending, vibrato.

With the device just described ? It is possible to carry out the method detailed below, which allows you to give instrument lessons, both in presence and in mode. remote, by a teacher to one or more? students, both the teacher and each student equipped with a device according to the invention.

The device then enables the possibility? of distance learning with teacher and student/student group.

What happens on the teacher's guitar is viewed by the student/s remotely. The master programs and controls remotely in various ways. which happens on the guitars of the students connected remotely both at the video (LED) and at the audio (sound) level.

The system ? obviously also suitable for classroom sessions with pi? people physically present in the same place; in fact, the characteristic of visualizing the lesson on the pupils' guitar? an indisputable advantage that represents a significant added value.

The way of inserting commands by the teacher will be? multiple and could take place, for example, via on-screen software (virtual keyboard), via a physical keyboard connected to the teacher's device, via software self-recognition of the sound played via software.

A possible way is described below. of use of the device, in order to deliver music lessons remotely and / or in the presence of a teacher to one or more? students.

The Visual Note used by the teacher will be the master who will guide? all other Visual Note devices present on the students' guitars (individually or all together) each connected via remote connection.

The master can display directly on the keyboard of each student, by means of the plurality? of LED lights present there, the sequence of notes to be played, possibly setting the color of each of them to facilitate understanding of the fingering, etc.

Furthermore, the master can run a song that will be? visible/audible at the same time on the pupil's guitar. will have the possibility? to modulate the songs at will, such as: looping single beats, adjusting the speed, singling out the audio of each instrument present in the midi file, rather than displaying its layout and/or audio.

Analysis of the steps to obtain the functionality? of ?remote teaching? - transmission of predetermined exercise and execution in real time:

to. The maestro's remote device connects to the controller present on the device according to the invention applied to the maestro's guitar;

b. the master shares with one or more? students a link to create a remote communication session

c. The students connect, and enter the remote communication session

d. students and teacher can converse normally and see each other through their own webcam

And. the teacher sends, through said means of remote communication, to each student the exercise to be performed, codified by a sequence of LED lights that light up on the neck of the guitar

f. the student's remote device receives the exercise, and upon a go command from the student, the leds on the student's guitar light up in sequence, indicating correct execution of the exercise sent by the teacher g. the student performs the composition/exercise, and the device installed on the student's guitar detects, by means of the appropriate sensors, the sequence of pressures exerted on each key

h. the sequence of pressures exerted on each key, together with the audio of the exercise performed by the student, is sent to the remote device of the teacher, who can? evaluate the execution

AND? clear that the master can also see via webcam and listen in real time to the exercise performed by the student.

Claims (7)

Claims 1. Device for learning a stringed musical instrument comprising a plurality of LED lights configured in such a way as to be able to change the color of its light emission according to the command applied via a relative controller, configured in such a way that each LED light is uniquely combined with a respective key and a respective string of said instrument with cords, further comprising a controller configured in such a way as to control the switching on, off and the color of each of said LED lights, characterized by the fact that it also includes a plurality of sensors (2), each associated with a key and with a string of the keyboard of said stringed instrument and each configured to detect the pressure of the key associated with it. 2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that said sensors (2) comprise a plurality? of strain gauges, configured to detect the local deformation of each metal strip (5) which defines the keys of the keyboard. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said LED lights are positioned on a respective adhesive support configured to be glued to the neck of the stringed instrument, below the strings themselves. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that said sensors (2) comprise a plurality? of pressure sensors positioned on the neck of the stringed instrument, each in correspondence with a key and a relative string, configured to detect the pressure exerted by a string (3) on the neck of the stringed instrument (1) following exercise of a pressure (P) by the musician's finger on said string. 5. Device according to claim 4 characterized in that said controller ? furthermore configured to acquire the pressure and/or deformation values detected by each of said sensors (2), and furthermore comprises communication means configured to exchange information with a remote device equipped with remote connection means. 6. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that said controller ? configured to acquire, through communication with said remote device, information relating to the sequences of LED lights to be switched on to indicate the correct execution of an exercise and/or a piece, and ? also configured to acquire and transmit the signals detected by said sensors (2). 7. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that computer programs configured to perform a comparison between the sequence of signals acquired by said sensors (2) and said sequence of LED lights lit to indicate the correct execution of an exercise and/or piece