Patent ID: 6191348
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: G09B,G10D,G10G,G10H

Abstract:
A system for instructing a student to play music, comprising:a body assembly;a neck assembly rigidly extending from the body assembly, wherethe neck assembly definesupper and lower elongate neck edges,a playing surface on a front portion of the neck assembly extending between the upper and lower neck edges, anda palm surface on a rear portion of the neck assembly extending between the upper and lower neck edges;a plurality of string members attached to the body assembly and the neck assembly such that the string members are suspended substantially parallel to the upper and lower neck edges and adjacent to the playing surface;a plurality of display segments arranged in an instruction grid such that each display segment corresponds to a unique location on the playing surface; anda control circuit for operating the display segments based on note data such that the display segments communicate note instructions that indicate where the string members are to be brought into contact with the neck assembly to form musical notes; whereinthe instruction grid is arranged on the back portion of the neck assembly such that, when the body assembly and the neck assembly are arranged in a playing orientation relative to the student, the instruction grid substantially faces the student to facilitate viewing of the display segments; andthe instruction grid is embedded within the neck assembly and is visible through a bracing surface defined by the neck assembly.