MC772A1 - Apparatus for studying music - Google Patents

Description

BfiEYIT d1 I I ï S I I I 0 I "Apparatus for the study of music"

Mr. Jean G-OMBÀULÏ

The present invention relates to a device that facilitates the study of music.

This device essentially consists of a platform carrying a network of conductive blades, each of which is connected, via a specific electrical circuit, to one of the terminals of a loudspeaker. The other terminal of the loudspeaker is connected to a conductive stylus designed to be applied to one or another of the platform's conductive blades to close the corresponding circuit. The characteristics of these various circuits are such that closing each one causes the loudspeaker to produce a different sound corresponding to a specific musical note, and this in the order of the scale if the circuits of the different blades are closed successively from left to right.

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Furthermore, there are gridded sheets intended to be placed, one after the other, on the platform of the device; these sheets, whose vertical columns correspond to the various conductive blades of this platform, have perforations located at specific points to translate, in a way, a musical tune that can be reproduced by engaging the conductive stylus successively in each of the said perforations.

However, the vertical columns and horizontal rows of each sheet are numbered to allow the determination of each point, and in particular each perforation, by these given coordinates*

Thus, this device is indeed capable of facilitating the study of music thanks to study sheets with perforations corresponding to specific musical exercises. Furthermore, each user of the device can perform the exercises by following the instructions in a booklet explaining the method to be followed, or by listening to advice previously recorded on a disc or magnetic tape.

Other features and advantages of the device according to the invention will appear in the following description. This description is given with reference to the attached drawing, which is provided for illustrative purposes only and on which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view with removal of a device according to the invention;

25 Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one of the grid sheets intended to be fitted onto this device; Figure 4 is a top plan view of a movable plate sus-30 also capable of being attached to this device;

Figure 5 partly represents a variant;

Figure 6 is a detailed view of this variant.

Figure 7 is a view of a detail from another variant;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the underside of a pawn used in this variant;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view*

In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the device according to the invention is in the form of a box 1 having a lid 2. At its upper part, the box 1 carries a tray 3 provided with a network of conductive blades 4.

These extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction. However, for simplicity, this direction will be referred to later as the "vertical direction" given that the user of this device is required to use it by placing the end 5 of the box in front of him.

The conductive blades 4 can obviously be made by printing conductive ink onto a suitable substrate.

Each of these blades is connected, via a special electrical circuit, to one of the terminals of a loudspeaker (not shown), the other terminal of which is connected by a flexible conductor 6, to the conductive tip of a stylus 7o This tip is intended to be applied to one or the other of the conductive blades 4 of which ensures, by the same token, the closure of the circuit of which the corresponding blade is a part.

Of course, the device includes a battery to power the speaker or possibly a connecting wire for connection to the power distribution network.

The circuits of the various conductive blades contain calibrated resistors that produce very pure tones corresponding to different predetermined musical notes, in the order of the scale, if the circuits of the four blades are closed successively, from left to right. In the example shown,

38 parallel conductive blades are planned.

The characteristics of the calibrated resistances provided in the various corresponding circuits are such that all the tones and semitones from A to F, i.e. 3 octaves, can be obtained; the circuit capable of producing the A tuning fork 880 oscillation is then connected to the conducting blade located approximately in the middle of the network of blades 4. But it is quite obvious that the number of these can be modified according to the size, number and arrangement of the circuits provided in the device.

In combination with this device, grid sheets 8, such as the one shown in Figure 3, are provided, and are intended to be placed one after the other on the tray 3. For this purpose, the latter has a fixing clip 9 on the side opposite the end 5 of the case.

Each sheet 8 has 38 vertical columns arranged above the conductive blades 4 when the sheet is in place on the tray 3. These columns are numbered at the top of each sheet, while the horizontal rows are numbered on the left side. Thus, in the example shown, there are 51 horizontal rows. However, the number could obviously be different.

Thanks to the double numbering system thus provided, it is possible to locate exactly each cell of a sheet of 8 by its coordinates, the numbers of the vertical columns each serving as the abscissa and the numbers of the horizontal rows each serving as the ordinate.

Now, the various grid sheets 8 have, in certain specific squares, perforations 10 designed to allow the passage of the conductive tip of the stylus 7 so that it can come into contact with the conductive blade located below the corresponding perforation. These are distributed

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so as to translate, in a way, a musical tune that can be reproduced by inserting the tip of the stylus 7 successively into each of these perforations, starting from the top and going from left to right®

However, some perforations can be replaced by oblong openings extending vertically over two successive rows, thus opposite the same conductive blade, in order to represent longer notes. On the left side, the leaves can display, vertically, a musical staff corresponding to the notes of a given theme with its bar lines.

Depending on an important characteristic, each note of a theme can be colored a different color, for example according to the following conventions:

BLACK (perfect chord) or TONIC MEDIAN DOMINANT OCTAVE

RED " 7th dominant SECONDS/s DOMINANT DOMINANT SENSITIVE

BLUE u 4) degree TONICS/s DOMINANT sus DOMINANT OCTAVE

Such an agreement is likely to facilitate accompaniment by guitar, piano, harmonica, organ and, in general, all musical instruments.

When placed on tray 3, each sheet 8 can be shifted transversely in order to transpose the corresponding musical theme either to lower notes 25 or to higher notes. Therefore, the lower edge of each sheet 8 has an opening 12, which is positioned opposite a series of reference numbers, arranged on the same horizontal line, on the lower part of tray 3. These reference numbers allow the extent of the transverse shift of each sheet placed on this tray to be determined. Furthermore, the same reference numbers can be used on an explanatory booklet describing the method to be followed, which is intended to be

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used in combination with this device. These figures will thus provide a reference to the tone chosen in each case.

Some sheets of paper can be designed to have a student perform specific exercises. Thus, some of these sheets may contain several groups of perforations and corresponding explanations allowing a student to see, practically, that some notes are separated by a tone and others by a semitone.

Other worksheets can be designed to help a student understand the nature of alterations caused by a flat or a sharp. For this purpose, a first group of perforations can be arranged to guide the student in reproducing the different notes of a diatonic scale, and another group of perforations can guide them in reproducing a chromatic scale. Thanks to the coordinates used to locate the position of the perforations in the two groups, the student can thus practically observe that this modification was obtained by raising the pitch by a semitone.

Of course, another series of perforations can also be provided, allowing the student to reproduce the notes of a descending chromatic scale, to realize that it was obtained by alteration by a flat, that is to say by descending by a semitone.

The student can then carry out other complementary exercises using blank graph paper and drawing himself the location of the perforations corresponding to certain exercises, or to certain musical themes.

After punching the corresponding holes and inserting the tip of the stylus 7 into each one, the student can then see for themselves if their exercise is correct.

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Furthermore, a practical check can also be carried out by superimposing such an exercise sheet with a printed sheet supplied with the device and corresponding to the same exercise. As already indicated, some graph paper sheets can be designed to have a student reproduce a specific musical theme—as a practical exercise.

This device can then be used by referring to a teaching method that applies it, this method being set out in a booklet that may be supplied with the device along with a series of graph paper exercises.

But it is also possible to provide for the recording of explanations of the teaching method on a disc or a sound tape that can be reproduced during the use of the device.

"But it remains that box 1 of this may possibly include one or more compartments intended to hold the ancillary equipment used on this occasion."

Of course, the use of a sound recording disc or magnetic tape then presents a very great advantage. Indeed, it is possible to reproduce the notes produced with the device according to the invention by placing the tip of the stylus 7 in the perforations of certain specific sheets 8. The student can therefore check the accuracy of the exercises practiced by ear.

But this device allows for a variety of exercises. For example, a teacher can assign specific homework to their students, asking them to complete it on the grid paper. Afterwards, it will be possible to immediately correct the assignments by comparing them to these pre-prepared reference sheets.

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The device according to the invention makes it possible to reproduce all types of music, in classical modes, major and minor, or even in Gregorian mode or oriental modes, etc.

As previously mentioned, the colouring of the notes on the musical staff provided on the left side of the sheet allows for the accompaniment of a musical theme using a specific instrument.

Furthermore, the present device can be used by placing above the sheet 8 already in place on the tray 3, a transparent plate 13 bearing a grid as well as the drawing 14 of a piano keyboard and the drawing 15 of a musical staff extending transversely in correspondence with the vertical columns.

This plate also has a transverse slot 16 allowing the stylus tip 7 to pass through so that it can be successively inserted into each of the perforations in the corresponding sheet 8. But of course, the transparent plate 13 must then be moved from top to bottom as this operation progresses. To this end, the longitudinal edges of the tray 3 have two grooves or two corner brackets 17 forming a slide designed to receive the plate 13, which can thus slide vertically.

This plate allows the perforations of sheet 8 to be located on the keyboard, and at the same time, the user of the device can check, thanks to slot 16, the notes that will appear on the left end of this plate. This facilitates sight-reading and, in particular, the singing of notes in unison with the sounds obtained by inserting the stylus tip into each perforation of each sheet 8.

The transposition of a musical theme is simplified because these perforations are identified, by a specific name and location, on the staff provided on the movable plate 13®. This feature greatly simplifies any task.

of solfège and harmony. Furthermore, it can be of great service to composers and educators for musical dictation exercises.

Furthermore, the presence of drawing 14 of a piano keyboard allows this device to be used for training tuners or for checking operations during the tuning of a piano®

Figures 5 and 6 represent a variant embodiment of the device according to the invention. In this variant, the corresponding device's casing 1a has, at its upper part, a platform 3a identical to platform 3. Indeed, the upper surface of this platform bears a network of conductive blades connected, via various specific electrical circuits, to one of the terminals of a loudspeaker, the other terminal of which is connected to the conductive tip of a stylus 7a. However, above this platform, there is a series of wires or other conductive elements 18 which are grouped in pairs above the conductive blades 4. Now, the conductive wires of the same pair are part of a specific electrical circuit capable of ensuring, when closed, the power supply to one of the electric lamps 19 of a series of lamps intended to represent the various notes of the scale. To this end, these lamps are arranged on the same support, according to the location of the various notes on a musical staff. Preferably, their support consists of a music stand 20 provided at one end of the box 1a so that it is placed in front of the user's eyes.

The body of the stylus 7a has a conductive ring. This ring is arranged to ensure an electrical connection between the two wires 18 of the same pair when the tip of this stylus is applied to a conductive blade 4 of the plate.

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Under these conditions, the device shown in Figure 5 makes it possible to obtain both an audible and a visual representation of a specific note of a musical theme, in particular a theme represented by perforations on a grid sheet 8, such as that shown in Figure 3.

Figures 7 to 9 represent another, more advantageous embodiment which also exhibits the same property.

In this version, the wires 18 are omitted, but two conductive rails 18b are provided on either side of each conductive blade 4b of the corresponding plate 3b, positioned against this plate, as are the blades 4b. The two conductive rails of the same pair form part of an electrical circuit capable of supplying power to an electric lamp 19, provided for a control panel such as the one shown in Figure 5. This lamp, by its position, corresponds to the same note as that to which the conductive blade 4b located between the two conductive rails in question corresponds.

In addition, a series of insulating pawns 22 are provided, intended to be placed above the conductive blades 4b of the board 3b to illustrate, by their position, a specific musical theme. The underside of each of these pawns has, near two opposite sides, two contacts 24a connected by a conductor 25b. Two other similar contacts 24b connected by another conductor 25b are also provided, these two contacts being near the other two opposite sides of the pawn.

The spacing between the contacts of the same pair is equal to that provided between the two conductive rails 18b located on either side of a specific conductive strip 4b. Thus, regardless of the orientation of a pin, its placement above a strip 4b ensures the electrical connection of the corresponding rails 18b, either via contacts 24a or via contacts 25a. Consequently, the lamp connected to these two rails is, from that moment on,

lit

However, each pin 22 also has, in its center, a protruding metal pin on its underside,

to make contact with the blade 4b located below. On the upper face of the pin, this pin has a blind hole intended to receive the tip of the conducting stylus 7 described previously.

When a series of 22 pieces are in place on the 3b board, to illustrate a musical theme in a light way, it is therefore sufficient to press the tip of the stylus 7 successively on the upper end of the central pin of each of these pieces to obtain the sound illustration of this same theme.

However, it is quite clear that the device according to the invention is not limited to the examples described above by way of illustration only. Indeed, many other variations are possible.

Furthermore, this device can be used for various applications. Thus, it can be used not only for educational purposes, but also simply for recreational purposes.

However, the 8 grid sheets, intended for use with this device, can be distributed in various ways. Indeed, these sheets can be sold with the device, or separately. But they can also be distributed for advertising purposes, for example in packaging containing various goods.

Claims (1)

DEMANDS 1°) Apparatus for the study of music, characterized in that it is essentially made up of a plate carrying a network of conductive blades, each of which is connected, via a particular electrical circuit, to one of the terminals of a loudspeaker, the other terminal of which is connected to a conductive stylus intended to be applied to one or the other conductive blades of the plate to close the corresponding circuit, the characteristics of these various circuits being such that the closing of each of them causes the loudspeaker to produce a different sound corresponding to a determined musical note, and this in the order of the scale if the circuits of the different blades are closed successively from left to right. 2°) An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided, in combination with gridded sheets intended to be placed one after the other on the platform of this apparatus, these sheets, whose vertical columns correspond to the various conductive blades of this platform, having perforations located at determined points to translate in a way a musical tune which can be reproduced by engaging the conductive stylus successively in each of the said perforations" 3°) An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the vertical columns and horizontal rows of each sheet are numbered to allow the determination of each point, and in particular of each perforation, by its coordinates. - 13 - 4) An apparatus according to claim 2 to 3, characterized in that some of the perforations provided in these sheets are oblong in the vertical direction, therefore opposite the same conductive blade, these oblong perforations thus corresponding to musical notes of longer duration; 5) An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it provides a system for fixing each of the sheets to the apparatus's platform, this system allowing one or the other sheet to be shifted laterally to thus obtain a transposition during the reproduction of the air translated by perforations on the corresponding sheet; 6) An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that one of the transverse edges of each sheet has an opening intended to reveal a number belonging to a series of reference numbers provided on the platform to indicate, if necessary, the extent of the transverse shift of each sheet. 20 7°) An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it also includes a transparent plate bearing the design of a piano keyboard and intended to be placed above a perforated sheet already arranged on the apparatus's platform, this plate having a slot extending transversely to allow the conductive stylus to be engaged at any point along its width depending on the location of the perforations in the sheet below; 8°) An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus's platform has, on its longitudinal edges, grooves forming guide rails for moving the transparent plate along the entire height of the platform; 9°) An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that its platform carries, in combination with the conductive blades, other conductive elements forming part of a series of electrical circuits capable of powering lamps positioned according to the location of the various notes on the musical staff, the conductive stylus being arranged to close one or the other of these circuits when placed on a specific conductive blade of the platter* iVNlSiy O Original "Industrial Property Consulting" 28, Boul. Princessa Charlotte, 29 MONTE-CARLO By proxy