US20020034718A1 - Musical cube - Google Patents
Musical cube Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20020034718A1 US20020034718A1 US09/421,730 US42173099A US2002034718A1 US 20020034718 A1 US20020034718 A1 US 20020034718A1 US 42173099 A US42173099 A US 42173099A US 2002034718 A1 US2002034718 A1 US 2002034718A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- composition
- musical
- channel
- playing
- instrument
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 90
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 38
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 claims 6
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 abstract description 10
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 abstract description 7
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- ZYXYTGQFPZEUFX-UHFFFAOYSA-N benzpyrimoxan Chemical compound O1C(OCCC1)C=1C(=NC=NC=1)OCC1=CC=C(C=C1)C(F)(F)F ZYXYTGQFPZEUFX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 15
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 210000003195 fascia Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 210000002569 neuron Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 239000011295 pitch Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910001369 Brass Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 210000004556 brain Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 239000010951 brass Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003930 cognitive ability Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009527 percussion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008092 positive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 108090000623 proteins and genes Proteins 0.000 description 2
- 230000033764 rhythmic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012549 training Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000019687 Lamb Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000003926 auditory cortex Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000004958 brain cell Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000004641 brain development Effects 0.000 description 1
- 244000309464 bull Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002592 echocardiography Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003340 mental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002991 molded plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000010004 neural pathway Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000000118 neural pathway Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000007472 neurodevelopment Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001737 promoting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011160 research Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003786 synthesis reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001256 tonic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011800 void material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
- G09B1/00—Manually or mechanically operated educational appliances using elements forming, or bearing, symbols, signs, pictures, or the like which are arranged or adapted to be arranged in one or more particular ways
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
- G09B15/00—Teaching music
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
- G09B15/00—Teaching music
- G09B15/02—Boards or like means for providing an indication of notes
- G09B15/04—Boards or like means for providing an indication of notes with sound emitters
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to the field of tools and techniques for enhancing early childhood development. More specifically, the invention relates to systems and processes that permit an infant or small child to experience complex, polyphonic music such as ensemble music from a quality source in a way that maximizes the child's opportunity to learn from and develop in response to the music, and further gives the infant or small child an opportunity to experiment or improvise with respect to the music, but only in such a way that will enhance the learning and neurological development process.
- complex, polyphonic music such as ensemble music from a quality source
- an apparatus for facilitating an understanding and recognition of polyphonic music in infants and small children includes, according to a first aspect of the invention, a housing; a speaker positioned within the housing; a plurality of input devices positioned on the housing; and a music generator within the housing for storing and playing at least one prearranged multi-channel musical composition, the music generator being electronically connected to the speaker and the input devices, and wherein the music generator is constructed and arranged to be able to, in response to actuation of at least one of the input devices by a user, change the identity of channels of the multi-channel composition that are being played over the speaker, and wherein the change in channels is effected without interrupting the musical composition as it plays.
- a method for teaching musical concepts to infants and small children includes steps of providing a child-friendly apparatus that is capable of playing an orchestral composition that includes a plurality of different musical instruments; actuating the apparatus to play the composition; and modifying the number and of instruments that are playing as the composition plays, whereby the infant or small child is made aware of the effect of the presence or absence of different instruments in the overall composition.
- a method for teaching musical concepts to infants and small children includes steps of providing a child-friendly apparatus that is capable of playing an orchestral composition that includes a plurality of different musical instruments; playing a developmentally appropriate composition with the apparatus; and modifying the number of instruments that are playing as the composition plays, whereby the infant or small child is made aware of the effect of the presence or absence of different instruments in the overall composition.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus that is shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting a control system for the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
- FIG. 4 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on one component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 5 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on another component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 6 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on another component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 7 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on another component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 8 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on another component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 9 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on yet another component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
- an apparatus 10 for facilitating an understanding and recognition of polyphonic music such as ensemble music in infants and small children is in general terms constructed as a polyhedron, and more specifically a cube that is fabricated without sharp edges so that it is safe for infants and small children to possess.
- apparatus 10 includes raised, soft rubber edges and rounded comers.
- apparatus 10 could be fabricated as another type of polyhedron, a sphere, or a flat panel.
- the apparatus 10 includes a housing 12 that includes four identical square-shaped interior frame components 14 and two other components 15 that are secured together to form the framework of a cube.
- the four identical components 14 are fastened together with screws for rigidity, and each frame element has bosses thereon that retain the printed circuit board 29 (discussed below) diagonally with respect to the cube-shaped body of the apparatus 12 .
- the two additional components define a battery compartment, and together with the four identical components define the cube-like shape of the apparatus 12 .
- Each interior frame component 14 includes a plurality of molded plastic edge guards 16 , which cooperate with eight soft molded rubber comer pieces 26 to form a near continuous rounded border about the edges and corners of the apparatus 10 .
- the rounded edges and corners prevent injury to the child and protect the apparatus' electronic internal components from shock if it should be dropped.
- buttons 20 are preferably hinged and include colored graphics thereon that in the preferred embodiment depict a musical instrument, or an orchestra or ensemble of instruments.
- the graphics respectively depict a violin, which is depicted in FIG. 4, a French horn, as is shown in FIG. 5, a piano, as is shown in FIG. 6, a flute, as is shown in FIG. 7, a harp, as is depicted in FIG. 8, and an orchestra, which is shown in FIG. 9 as a collage of different instruments.
- buttons 20 are preferably large enough to be effectively manipulated by infants and young children who are still developing dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
- the buttons 20 have a surface area that is at least 4 cm 2 , with a more preferred surface area of at least 9 cm 2 .
- the buttons 20 are generally square in shape, and have a surface area of about 36 cm 2 .
- Six light sources 34 are also preferably associated with the respective buttons 20 , for purposes that will be described in greater detail below.
- Two of the interior frame components 14 have a void in place of one of the edge guards 16 , and in this space is provided a door 22 that is removable by the consumer to gain access to a battery compartment and battery contacts 24 .
- a high-quality speaker 28 which is shown schematically in FIG. 3.
- the interior shaped of the housing 12 has been designed in such as manner as to acoustically guide sound from the speaker 28 to the space outside of the housing 12 as accurately as possible without echoes, uneven frequency attenuation or other distortion.
- the speaker 28 is attached directly to a printed circuit board 29 by a resonance tube or baffle 31 whose dimensions and shape are designed to enhance the low frequency response of the speaker 28 and the overall acoustics of the sound output.
- the speaker, baffle, and printed circuit board assembly is placed diagonally inside the apparatus 12 so as to allow the sound waves to bounce off the inner walls of the cube in several directions so that the music can be heard effectively while the apparatus 12 is being held in any orientation.
- Every side of the apparatus 12 has small holes (which are shaped as musical notes in the preferred embodiment) around the perimeter, which allow the sound to escape to allow the music to be heard in any direction and to reduce the echo that may result from the sound waves bouncing off the inner walls of the cube.
- the control system for apparatus 10 which is also preferably located within the housing 12 , includes a central processing unit or CPU 30 , which is preferably an integrated circuit type processor, and a memory unit, which is preferably a read-only memory chip or ROM 32 .
- ROM 32 is preferably fixed within the apparatus 10 , although it alternative could be made removable and replaceable, such as by sliding a card module into the apparatus 10 . This would permit a consumer to change the musical options, such as songs and arrangements, that are available for use with the apparatus 10 .
- buttons 20 are respectively associated with six switches, S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , S 5 and S 6 , and these switches are in communication with the CPU 30 so that the CPU 30 will be able to sense when a particular button 20 has been depressed by a user.
- the six illumination sources 34 that are associated with the six respective buttons 20 are in communication with CPU 30 so as to be controllable by the CPU 30 .
- CPU 30 is in communication with the speaker 28 .
- ROM 32 stored on ROM 32 is at least one multi-channel musical composition.
- a “channel” is defined as a discrete electronic audio path or source.
- ROM 32 has stored thereon in digital electronic format eight different compositions, with each composition being made of six channels, each of which corresponds to a different musical instrument or group of instruments or a component of an instrument.
- ROM 32 will include two commercially available 4-channel chips, which will provide the eight channel capability, with three channels being dedicated to the piano, two channels being dedicated to the harp, and one channel each being dedicated to the flute, French horn and violin. By dedicating more than one channel to the piano and harp, the apparatus 12 can better simulate play of these instruments, wherein it is common for two or more notes to be produced at the same time.
- the selected channels represent at least one instrument from each of the four major classes, these being brass (the French horn), woodwind (the flute), percussion (the piano), and string (the violin and harp).
- brass the French horn
- woodwind the flute
- percussion the piano
- string the violin and harp
- the composition is Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, there will be stored for this particular composition separate three distinct channels for a piano accompaniment for the composition, two channels of harp accompaniment, a violin accompaniment, a flute accompaniment, and a French horn accompaniment.
- tonal major music i.e., constructed in a major key according to the accepted conventions of Western tonal music, including a major triad consisting of the “tonic,” “mediant” and “dominant;”
- each composition, and therefore each channel is preferably about 5 seconds to five minutes in length, and is most preferably from about fifteen seconds to one minute in length.
- each channel is a high quality digital recording of an actual instrument being played, or is modified from a synthesized note to simulate the actual sound of the instrument as opposed to being a simple note synthesis.
- the net effect is of an orchestra playing, with each of the different instruments being distinguishable by listeners.
- CPU 32 is preferably programmed to ensure that any channel or instrument may be silenced or started at any time as the composition is being played by pressing the button that corresponds to that channel or instrument.
- CPU 32 further ensures that when more than one channel or instrument is being played at a time, the different are time-synchronized together as intended in the overall orchestral arrangement of the composition. This allows the user to add and subtract channels or instruments while the composition is playing without missing a note, providing fluid, seamless arrangements.
- each button corresponding to an instrument will light up so as to blink in synchronization with notes being played by that instrument for as long as that instrument is included in the ensemble that is playing. If another button is pressed in the midst of a performance when the instrument corresponding to that button is not playing, the channel that corresponds to the second button will begin to play in synchronization to the first channel, and the button will begin to blink in synchronization with the notes that are being played with that instrument. Additional channels may be added in this matter. If a button is pushed for a second time during the performance of this composition, this will instruct the CPU 32 to subtract the corresponding channel or instrument from the composition as it plays, and the button will no longer be lit after the channel or instrument ceases. If all of the instruments are subtracted, the sequence of the song will continue, as will be indicated by the lit orchestral button, and any one of the instruments may be brought back into play by pressing the appropriate button.
- the CPU 32 is programmed to begin playing the full orchestral channel for that same song. If, however, the orchestra button is pushed while a song is in the process of playing, the CPU 30 will switch to another composition. This new composition will be the default composition in the event that any of the buttons are pushed to initiate the apparatus 10 to play a song.
- the apparatus 12 is further programmed to shut off automatically after a predetermined period of time to conserve power.
- any instrument can be repeatedly added and subtracted from the ensemble, either consecutively or in interdigitation with the addition or subtraction of any other instrument, numerous times during the presentation of any composition.
- the child can create his or her own orchestra by mixing up to five instruments, and, by pressing the ORCHESTRA button, play a composition by a full orchestra. Through this, the child is also made aware of such concepts as melodic and harmonic role in ensemble music.
- the invention and the preferred embodiment described herein permits an infant or small child to experience complex, polyphonic music from a quality source in a way that maximizes the child's opportunity to learn from and develop in response to the music. It further permits the infant or small child to experiment or improvise with respect to the music, but not in a discordant way, only in a way that will enhance the learning and development process. This entire experience will be afforded to the infant or small child in an apparatus that is visually attractive and safe, so that it may be used even when a parent or caregiver is not closely watching. Moreover, though the use of the illumination of the buttons as the corresponding channels are being played, the infant or small child begins to associate each instrument or the entire orchestra with the appropriate sound.
- the apparatus 12 could be used to teach any kind of music, such as classical music, lullabies, rock, country, or various kinds of international music, and the channels and instruments represented thereby could be selected as necessitated.
Abstract
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates generally to the field of tools and techniques for enhancing early childhood development. More specifically, the invention relates to systems and processes that permit an infant or small child to experience complex, polyphonic music such as ensemble music from a quality source in a way that maximizes the child's opportunity to learn from and develop in response to the music, and further gives the infant or small child an opportunity to experiment or improvise with respect to the music, but only in such a way that will enhance the learning and neurological development process.
- 2. Description of the Related Technology
- It has now been established that human infants are born with the ability to process and understand basic musical material. For example, their ability to discriminate two notes is as good as that of adults (Olisho, 1984), they can remember the contour (pattern of rising and falling pitches) of melodies (Trehub, Bull and Thorpe, 1984), they mentally segment (or “chunk”) extended melodies into smaller phrases as do adults (Thorpe and Trehub, 1989) and they comprehend rhythm (Trehub and Thorpe, 1989). They even can use music as an aid to remember previous daily events, and also exhibit an innate preference for musical sounds that are consonant rather than dissonant (Fagen et al., 1997). These findings show that children have the capacity to process and remember music and thereby to be influenced by music starting at a very early age.
- In recent years, experts in childhood development, neurology and related fields have shown that music can have a significant positive impact on intellectual development. Exposure to music has been linked to improvements in learning to read and engage in mathematical and symbolic thinking, such as involved in solving spatial-temporal tasks like mental arrangement of puzzle pieces.
- In a study conducted at the University of California Irvine, Rauscher and Shaw (1997) studied the effects of active participation in piano keyboard lessons on cognitive abilities. Over a two-year period, a numbers of preschoolers were split into a first group that was given piano lessons, a second group that was given singing lessons, a third group that was given computer lessons and a fourth group that were not given lessons of any kind. The four groups were then tested on their ability to a arrange pieces of a puzzle into a meaningful whole. The researchers found that the children who received keyboard lessons showed a significant increase in their ability to solve the visual-spatial tasks compared to each of the other groups.
- Evidence of the connection between early exposure to certain types of music and enhanced intellectual development is also provided by the experiences that parents and researchers have had with the Kodaly musical education program, which was developed in Hungary and provides a structured approach to musical training in early childhood. The effect of this training on later academic development was studied by Hurwitz et al. (1975) at Children's Hospital in Boston. With all other factors being equal, this study found a dramatic increase in reading scores between children who had been in the Kodaly program versus those who had not.
- The process of brain development starts with the genes that the child has inherited from her parents. These genes determine the basic number of neurons that are present in the brain and the structure of the major neural pathways. Experience, however, shapes the interconnections that are developed between the neurons as the child grows and learns. Research by Weinberger at the University of California Irvine (1990-1998) has shown that musical sounds (tones) which attract attention can result in a “retuning” of brain cells (neurons) in the auditory cortex, which is the highest level of the auditory system and a region involved both in understanding language and music. Thus, interaction with musical sounds can enhance the ability of the brain to process, discriminate and remember sounds. These changes are likely to have a positive effect on a child's ability to understand spoken words and build an advanced vocabulary.
- The basis of music's positive effects on reading has been explained by the work of Lamb and Gregory (1993). Learning to read requires sounding-out syllables which is based on learning to discriminate pitches in phonetic materials. Learning to read was closely identified with the fact that practice with listening to music improves pitch discrimination.
- As more has been learned about the relationship of music to cognitive ability, parents have been making a greater effort to expose their children to music. Certain types of toys, such as small keyboard instruments that permit a child to play individual synthesized notes and that may also feature prerecorded synthesized tunes or a selection of percussive accompaniment are helpful to some extent because the child is given the opportunity to experiment and improvise. These types of toys, though, tend to lack quality acoustics and give little or no opportunity for the child to learn and understand the fundamental aspects of group or orchestral music, which concern how various types of instruments (strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion) interrelate to provide melody and harmony.
- A need exists for a system, technique and method that permits a child to learn and recognize the different sounds made by individual instruments and the various sounds and combinations that two or more instruments make playing together.
- Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a system, technique and method that permits a child to learn and recognize the different sounds made by individual instruments and the various sounds and combinations that two or more instruments can make playing together.
- In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, an apparatus for facilitating an understanding and recognition of polyphonic music in infants and small children includes, according to a first aspect of the invention, a housing; a speaker positioned within the housing; a plurality of input devices positioned on the housing; and a music generator within the housing for storing and playing at least one prearranged multi-channel musical composition, the music generator being electronically connected to the speaker and the input devices, and wherein the music generator is constructed and arranged to be able to, in response to actuation of at least one of the input devices by a user, change the identity of channels of the multi-channel composition that are being played over the speaker, and wherein the change in channels is effected without interrupting the musical composition as it plays.
- A method for teaching musical concepts to infants and small children according to a second aspect of the invention includes steps of providing a child-friendly apparatus that is capable of playing an orchestral composition that includes a plurality of different musical instruments; actuating the apparatus to play the composition; and modifying the number and of instruments that are playing as the composition plays, whereby the infant or small child is made aware of the effect of the presence or absence of different instruments in the overall composition.
- According to a third aspect of the invention, a method for teaching musical concepts to infants and small children includes steps of providing a child-friendly apparatus that is capable of playing an orchestral composition that includes a plurality of different musical instruments; playing a developmentally appropriate composition with the apparatus; and modifying the number of instruments that are playing as the composition plays, whereby the infant or small child is made aware of the effect of the presence or absence of different instruments in the overall composition.
- These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus that is shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting a control system for the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
- FIG. 4 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on one component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 5 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on another component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 6 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on another component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 7 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on another component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
- FIG. 8 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on another component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; and
- FIG. 9 is an isolation view of a graphic that is provided on yet another component of apparatus that is constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
- Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to FIG. 1, an
apparatus 10 for facilitating an understanding and recognition of polyphonic music such as ensemble music in infants and small children is in general terms constructed as a polyhedron, and more specifically a cube that is fabricated without sharp edges so that it is safe for infants and small children to possess. As may be seen in FIG. 1,apparatus 10 includes raised, soft rubber edges and rounded comers. Alternatively,apparatus 10 could be fabricated as another type of polyhedron, a sphere, or a flat panel. - Looking now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the
apparatus 10 includes ahousing 12 that includes four identical square-shapedinterior frame components 14 and twoother components 15 that are secured together to form the framework of a cube. The fouridentical components 14 are fastened together with screws for rigidity, and each frame element has bosses thereon that retain the printed circuit board 29 (discussed below) diagonally with respect to the cube-shaped body of theapparatus 12. The two additional components define a battery compartment, and together with the four identical components define the cube-like shape of theapparatus 12. Eachinterior frame component 14 includes a plurality of molded plastic edge guards 16, which cooperate with eight soft moldedrubber comer pieces 26 to form a near continuous rounded border about the edges and corners of theapparatus 10. The rounded edges and corners prevent injury to the child and protect the apparatus' electronic internal components from shock if it should be dropped. - As may further be seen in FIG. 2, six
fascia pieces 18 are secured over the respective outer surfaces of theinterior frame components 14 and eachfascia piece 18 acts to secure alarge button 20 in position between thefascia piece 18 and theinterior frame component 14. Thebuttons 20 are preferably hinged and include colored graphics thereon that in the preferred embodiment depict a musical instrument, or an orchestra or ensemble of instruments. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the graphics respectively depict a violin, which is depicted in FIG. 4, a French horn, as is shown in FIG. 5, a piano, as is shown in FIG. 6, a flute, as is shown in FIG. 7, a harp, as is depicted in FIG. 8, and an orchestra, which is shown in FIG. 9 as a collage of different instruments.Buttons 20 are preferably large enough to be effectively manipulated by infants and young children who are still developing dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Preferably thebuttons 20 have a surface area that is at least 4 cm2, with a more preferred surface area of at least 9 cm2. In the most preferred embodiment, thebuttons 20 are generally square in shape, and have a surface area of about 36 cm2. - Six
light sources 34, such as a light bulbs or LEDs, are also preferably associated with therespective buttons 20, for purposes that will be described in greater detail below. - Two of the
interior frame components 14 have a void in place of one of the edge guards 16, and in this space is provided adoor 22 that is removable by the consumer to gain access to a battery compartment andbattery contacts 24. - Also provided within the
housing 12 is a high-quality speaker 28, which is shown schematically in FIG. 3. According to one important aspect of the invention, the interior shaped of thehousing 12 has been designed in such as manner as to acoustically guide sound from thespeaker 28 to the space outside of thehousing 12 as accurately as possible without echoes, uneven frequency attenuation or other distortion. In the preferred embodiment, as is best shown in FIG. 2, thespeaker 28 is attached directly to a printedcircuit board 29 by a resonance tube or baffle 31 whose dimensions and shape are designed to enhance the low frequency response of thespeaker 28 and the overall acoustics of the sound output. The speaker, baffle, and printed circuit board assembly is placed diagonally inside theapparatus 12 so as to allow the sound waves to bounce off the inner walls of the cube in several directions so that the music can be heard effectively while theapparatus 12 is being held in any orientation. Every side of theapparatus 12 has small holes (which are shaped as musical notes in the preferred embodiment) around the perimeter, which allow the sound to escape to allow the music to be heard in any direction and to reduce the echo that may result from the sound waves bouncing off the inner walls of the cube. - The control system for
apparatus 10, which is also preferably located within thehousing 12, includes a central processing unit orCPU 30, which is preferably an integrated circuit type processor, and a memory unit, which is preferably a read-only memory chip or ROM 32. ROM 32 is preferably fixed within theapparatus 10, although it alternative could be made removable and replaceable, such as by sliding a card module into theapparatus 10. This would permit a consumer to change the musical options, such as songs and arrangements, that are available for use with theapparatus 10. - As is schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, the six
buttons 20 are respectively associated with six switches, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6, and these switches are in communication with theCPU 30 so that theCPU 30 will be able to sense when aparticular button 20 has been depressed by a user. Likewise, the sixillumination sources 34 that are associated with the sixrespective buttons 20 are in communication withCPU 30 so as to be controllable by theCPU 30. In addition,CPU 30 is in communication with thespeaker 28. - According to one important aspect of the invention, stored on ROM32 is at least one multi-channel musical composition. For the purpose of this document, a “channel” is defined as a discrete electronic audio path or source. In the preferred embodiment, ROM 32 has stored thereon in digital electronic format eight different compositions, with each composition being made of six channels, each of which corresponds to a different musical instrument or group of instruments or a component of an instrument. In the most preferred embodiment, ROM 32 will include two commercially available 4-channel chips, which will provide the eight channel capability, with three channels being dedicated to the piano, two channels being dedicated to the harp, and one channel each being dedicated to the flute, French horn and violin. By dedicating more than one channel to the piano and harp, the
apparatus 12 can better simulate play of these instruments, wherein it is common for two or more notes to be produced at the same time. - It should be noted that in the preferred embodiment the selected channels represent at least one instrument from each of the four major classes, these being brass (the French horn), woodwind (the flute), percussion (the piano), and string (the violin and harp). For example, if the composition is Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, there will be stored for this particular composition separate three distinct channels for a piano accompaniment for the composition, two channels of harp accompaniment, a violin accompaniment, a flute accompaniment, and a French horn accompaniment.
- The type of music that is best suited to teaching basic concepts of music is implemented in the apparatus. The key characteristics of this type of music, which is defined for purposes of this document as “developmentally appropriate music” are:
- (a) tonal major music, i.e., constructed in a major key according to the accepted conventions of Western tonal music, including a major triad consisting of the “tonic,” “mediant” and “dominant;”
- (b) simple melodic, i.e., consisting of a prominent sequence of notes that can be recognized and remembered by infants and also sung or hummed by adults;
- (c) musical material that has elements of repetition of either melody, rhythm or both, thus promoting anticipation and recognition;
- (d) tempo that is not very fast (e.g., “allegro” but not “presto”), so that the child is able to perceive the sequence of individual notes or phrases
- (e) duration that provides a musically complete set of related phrases within the general span of attention of an infant or young child. Accordingly, each composition, and therefore each channel is preferably about 5 seconds to five minutes in length, and is most preferably from about fifteen seconds to one minute in length.
- Preferably, each channel is a high quality digital recording of an actual instrument being played, or is modified from a synthesized note to simulate the actual sound of the instrument as opposed to being a simple note synthesis. As a result, when more than one or all of the channels are played together, the net effect is of an orchestra playing, with each of the different instruments being distinguishable by listeners.
- CPU32 is preferably programmed to ensure that any channel or instrument may be silenced or started at any time as the composition is being played by pressing the button that corresponds to that channel or instrument. CPU 32 further ensures that when more than one channel or instrument is being played at a time, the different are time-synchronized together as intended in the overall orchestral arrangement of the composition. This allows the user to add and subtract channels or instruments while the composition is playing without missing a note, providing fluid, seamless arrangements.
- In operation, each button corresponding to an instrument will light up so as to blink in synchronization with notes being played by that instrument for as long as that instrument is included in the ensemble that is playing. If another button is pressed in the midst of a performance when the instrument corresponding to that button is not playing, the channel that corresponds to the second button will begin to play in synchronization to the first channel, and the button will begin to blink in synchronization with the notes that are being played with that instrument. Additional channels may be added in this matter. If a button is pushed for a second time during the performance of this composition, this will instruct the CPU32 to subtract the corresponding channel or instrument from the composition as it plays, and the button will no longer be lit after the channel or instrument ceases. If all of the instruments are subtracted, the sequence of the song will continue, as will be indicated by the lit orchestral button, and any one of the instruments may be brought back into play by pressing the appropriate button.
- If the button depicting the orchestra is depressed when no song is playing, the CPU32 is programmed to begin playing the full orchestral channel for that same song. If, however, the orchestra button is pushed while a song is in the process of playing, the
CPU 30 will switch to another composition. This new composition will be the default composition in the event that any of the buttons are pushed to initiate theapparatus 10 to play a song. - The
apparatus 12 is further programmed to shut off automatically after a predetermined period of time to conserve power. - The following table depicts an illustrative play pattern that is just one of an almost infinite amount of different ways of how the
apparatus 10 may be operated by pushing different buttons:Action Button No. Depressed Result 1 Piano Piano begins composition # 1 2 Flute Flute begins to accompany Piano in mid-song for composition # 1. 3 Violin Violin begins to accompany Piano and Flute for composition # 1. 4 Harp Harp begins to accompany Violin, Piano and Flute for composition # 1. 5 Violin Violin drops out, Harp, Piano and Flute continue to play composition # 1. (Composition #1 is permitted to conclude.) 6 Orchestra The full orchestral channel for composition # 1 is played. 7 Orchestra Composition #1 is stopped and the full orchestral channel for composition # 2 starts from thebeginning. 8 Harp Full Orchestra drops out, Violin, Piano, Flute and French Horn continue to play composition # 2together. 9 Violin Violin drops out, Piano, Flute and French Horn continue to play composition # 2 together.10 Piano Piano drops out, Flute and French Horn continue to play composition # 2 together.12 Flute Flute drops out, French Horn continues to play composition # 2.13 French Horn Composition # 2 stops playing. 14 Harp Harp begins to play Composition # 2.15 Orchestra Composition # 2 stops playing; the full orchestral channel for composition # 3 begins playing. 16 Orchestra Composition #3 stops playing; the full orchestral channel for composition # 4 begins playing.17 Orchestra Composition # 4 stops playing; the full orchestral channel for composition # 5 begins playing. - As is demonstrated in the example give above, any instrument can be repeatedly added and subtracted from the ensemble, either consecutively or in interdigitation with the addition or subtraction of any other instrument, numerous times during the presentation of any composition. Through use of the
apparatus 10 as described above, the child can create his or her own orchestra by mixing up to five instruments, and, by pressing the ORCHESTRA button, play a composition by a full orchestra. Through this, the child is also made aware of such concepts as melodic and harmonic role in ensemble music. - Accordingly, the invention and the preferred embodiment described herein permits an infant or small child to experience complex, polyphonic music from a quality source in a way that maximizes the child's opportunity to learn from and develop in response to the music. It further permits the infant or small child to experiment or improvise with respect to the music, but not in a discordant way, only in a way that will enhance the learning and development process. This entire experience will be afforded to the infant or small child in an apparatus that is visually attractive and safe, so that it may be used even when a parent or caregiver is not closely watching. Moreover, though the use of the illumination of the buttons as the corresponding channels are being played, the infant or small child begins to associate each instrument or the entire orchestra with the appropriate sound.
- The
apparatus 12 could be used to teach any kind of music, such as classical music, lullabies, rock, country, or various kinds of international music, and the channels and instruments represented thereby could be selected as necessitated. - It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Claims (44)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/421,730 US6366758B1 (en) | 1999-10-20 | 1999-10-20 | Musical cube |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/421,730 US6366758B1 (en) | 1999-10-20 | 1999-10-20 | Musical cube |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20020034718A1 true US20020034718A1 (en) | 2002-03-21 |
US6366758B1 US6366758B1 (en) | 2002-04-02 |
Family
ID=23671803
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/421,730 Expired - Lifetime US6366758B1 (en) | 1999-10-20 | 1999-10-20 | Musical cube |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6366758B1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20190001231A1 (en) * | 2017-07-01 | 2019-01-03 | Schmick, Llc | Portable Configurable Music Station |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7013279B1 (en) | 2000-09-08 | 2006-03-14 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Personal computer and scanner for generating conversation utterances to a remote listener in response to a quiet selection |
US6716031B2 (en) * | 2001-06-20 | 2004-04-06 | Leapfrog Enterprises, Inc. | Interactive learning apparatus responsive to striking |
US8987576B1 (en) * | 2012-01-05 | 2015-03-24 | Keith M. Baxter | Electronic musical instrument |
USD803951S1 (en) * | 2016-12-15 | 2017-11-28 | Anki, Inc. | Toy cube |
USD803952S1 (en) * | 2016-12-15 | 2017-11-28 | Anki, Inc. | Toy cube |
FR3073622B1 (en) * | 2017-11-13 | 2021-06-25 | Sas Joyeuse | METHOD OF ORDERING A PORTABLE OBJECT AND PORTABLE OBJECT CONTROLLED BY SUCH A PROCESS |
US10864454B1 (en) * | 2019-12-24 | 2020-12-15 | William Davis | Interactive audio playback cube |
Family Cites Families (25)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US491833A (en) * | 1893-02-14 | bowen | ||
US4121488A (en) | 1976-03-08 | 1978-10-24 | Nep Company, Ltd. | Step-on type tone scale play device |
US4140039A (en) | 1976-04-12 | 1979-02-20 | Faulkner Alfred H | Hand held synthesizer |
JPS6326869Y2 (en) | 1979-08-07 | 1988-07-20 | ||
US4294155A (en) * | 1980-01-17 | 1981-10-13 | Cbs Inc. | Electronic musical instrument |
US4662260A (en) | 1985-04-26 | 1987-05-05 | Daniel Rumsey | Sound producing ball |
US4651613A (en) * | 1985-11-22 | 1987-03-24 | Harrison Barbara G | Musical block |
US4836075A (en) * | 1987-10-14 | 1989-06-06 | Stone Rose Limited | Musical cube |
JPH0433912Y2 (en) * | 1988-09-16 | 1992-08-13 | ||
US4974486A (en) * | 1988-09-19 | 1990-12-04 | Wallace Stephen M | Electric stringless toy guitar |
JP2612923B2 (en) * | 1988-12-26 | 1997-05-21 | ヤマハ株式会社 | Electronic musical instrument |
US4936780A (en) | 1989-01-31 | 1990-06-26 | Cogliano Mary A | Touch sensor alpha-numeric blocks |
US5049107A (en) | 1989-03-30 | 1991-09-17 | Malbo S.R.L. | Sound-box device |
US5260512A (en) | 1989-12-29 | 1993-11-09 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Sound-signal generator having ball-shaped housing with keyboard incorporated therein |
US5074182A (en) * | 1990-01-23 | 1991-12-24 | Noise Toys, Inc. | Multiple key electronic instrument having background songs each associated with solo parts which are synchronized with and harmonious with the background song |
US5145447A (en) | 1991-02-07 | 1992-09-08 | Goldfarb Adolph E | Multiple choice verbal sound toy |
US5058894A (en) | 1991-02-11 | 1991-10-22 | Levinn Mitchell D | Musical puzzle toy |
JP3293227B2 (en) | 1993-03-31 | 2002-06-17 | ヤマハ株式会社 | Music control device |
US5393926A (en) * | 1993-06-07 | 1995-02-28 | Ahead, Inc. | Virtual music system |
US5488196A (en) * | 1994-01-19 | 1996-01-30 | Zimmerman; Thomas G. | Electronic musical re-performance and editing system |
US5461188A (en) * | 1994-03-07 | 1995-10-24 | Drago; Marcello S. | Synthesized music, sound and light system |
US5841051A (en) * | 1995-08-17 | 1998-11-24 | M. H. Segan Limited Partnership | Apparatus for providing musical instruction |
US5784733A (en) | 1997-05-12 | 1998-07-28 | Rasamny; Khalil | Blanket with compartment housing a sound producing device |
US5949010A (en) * | 1997-05-21 | 1999-09-07 | 21St Century Ideas, Ltd. | Musical blocks |
US6271453B1 (en) * | 1997-05-21 | 2001-08-07 | L Leonard Hacker | Musical blocks and clocks |
-
1999
- 1999-10-20 US US09/421,730 patent/US6366758B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20190001231A1 (en) * | 2017-07-01 | 2019-01-03 | Schmick, Llc | Portable Configurable Music Station |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US6366758B1 (en) | 2002-04-02 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6353168B1 (en) | Educational music instrument for children | |
Bregman | Auditory scene analysis: The perceptual organization of sound | |
Maconie | Other planets: the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen | |
Carterette et al. | Comparative music perception and cognition | |
Mazzola et al. | Musical creativity: Strategies and tools in composition and improvisation | |
Mannes | The power of music: Pioneering discoveries in the new science of song | |
US6271453B1 (en) | Musical blocks and clocks | |
Beament | How we hear music: The relationship between music and the hearing mechanism | |
US8420923B1 (en) | Music playing device for symphonic compositions | |
US5949010A (en) | Musical blocks | |
US6337434B2 (en) | Music teaching instrument | |
US6727417B2 (en) | Computerized music teaching instrument | |
US6366758B1 (en) | Musical cube | |
US20030129572A1 (en) | Learning center | |
Nikolsky | Emergence of the distinction between “verbal” and “musical” in early childhood development | |
Nilsson | A field of possibilities: Designing and playing digital musical instruments | |
Morrongiello et al. | Children's perception of musical patterns: Effects of music instruction | |
CN103632657A (en) | One-finger-playing symphony system | |
Rajan | The music within | |
Trehub | Infants' perception of musical sequences: Implications for language acquisition | |
CN211699703U (en) | Electric piano with automatic accompaniment | |
Desainte-Catherine et al. | Playing with sounds as playing video games | |
Popham | Sonorous Movement: Cellistic Corporealities in Works by Helmut Lachenmann, Simon Steen-Andersen, and Johan Svensson | |
Petkus | The Songs of John Cage (1932-1970) | |
Spitzer | Hearing Postmemory: Anne Frank in Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane over the Sea |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: MUNCHKIN, INC., CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:DUNN, STEVEN BRYAN;WEINBERGER, NORMAN;REEL/FRAME:010691/0060;SIGNING DATES FROM 20000223 TO 20000301 |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: UNION BANK, N.A. FKA UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:MUNCHKIN, INC.;REEL/FRAME:022960/0690 Effective date: 20090611 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 12 |