Abstract:
A method of music instruction utilizing a system capable of producing two or more sounds perceived by the user as originating in specific locations in three-dimensional space relative to the user, with the system comprising a user interface, a sound generator, a transmitter, and a monitoring device, and the method comprising the steps of obtaining the system; interacting with the user interface of the system to provide instruction to the sound generator; interacting with the monitoring device; generating the one or more sounds perceived to be emanating from some location in three-dimensional space based on the instruction provided; transmitting output signals to the monitoring device; and perceiving the sounds by means of the monitoring device, with the method being practiced at the same time that the user either plays or does not play a musical instrument.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of instruction of musicians. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method of instruction using a virtual metronome that gives the musician the perception of audible sounds emanating from various locations in three-dimensional space. 
     Description of Prior Art 
     Musicians have traditionally used many different methods for learning and improving their musicianship. One such method is to employ a metronome to maintain a steady beat during practice of a musical instrument. A metronome is a mechanical or electronic device that makes repeated audible sounds at an adjustable pace, used for marking rhythm. Metronomes measure time in beats per minute. Metronomes allow the user to vary the tempo of the beats by increasing or decreasing the beats per minute generated by the metronome. The metronome was first patented in 1815 by Johann Maelzel as a tool for musicians under the title “Instrument Machine for the Improvement of all Musical Performance, called Metronome.” 
     Metronomes come in mechanical, electronic, and software forms. A mechanical metronome typically has a pendulum arm that swings back and forth to an adjustable tempo. The very first metronomes were mechanical, and they remain popular even today. However, due to cost and accuracy improvements, electronic metronomes have become the standard. 
     There is a huge variety of electronic metronomes on the market. Electronic metronome models range from the very simple to the very elaborate. Simple electronic metronomes duplicate in electronic format the function of the mechanical metronome. More elaborate electronic metronomes incorporate sounds and clicks to denote musical meter and subdivided rhythmic groups. Some electronic metronomes assist the musician with a visual representation of when the beat will sound. Finally, the most elaborate electronic metronomes will record and analyze the musician&#39;s timing and rhythm and provide a visual depiction and breakdown of how accurate the musician is. 
     Software based metronomes provide the musician with all of the options available with mechanical and electronic metronomes, but with the audible sounds being controlled and generated by a computer. 
     A metronome is used by musicians to keep an exact and steady tempo when practicing. Use of a metronome during practice increases the musician&#39;s sense of rhythm and timing. Practicing scales, various music drills, or a piece of music to a metronome assists musicians in developing a more precise and accurate sense of time. Use of a metronome assists in learning consistency of tempo and rhythmic beats, and can be incorporated into a practicing technique wherein the metronome is set to progressively higher speeds. Sheet music often has metronome markings that show the speed at which the work should be played. Similarly, when recording music, metronomes are used to set click tracks, which then allow musicians to separately play the different parts of a work which are then synchronized to the click track. 
     Regular practice with a metronome allows a musician to work on fundamentals, drills, and music while simultaneously building a more precise perception and execution of rhythm and timing. The regular pulse of the metronome creates an external reference point that allows the practicing musician to compare and adjust his or her own rhythm and time to the external reference point. Metronome use can be built into a musician&#39;s practice sessions as the musician sees fit. The metronome does not have to be the central focus of a practice session or exercise or drill. The benefits of using a metronome in terms of building a more precise sense of rhythm and time are there for a musician even if the metronome is in the background of the musician&#39;s focus during a given practice session. 
     The metronome thus assists the musician with improving the perception of rhythm and time as made manifest in music&#39;s beats/pulse, subdivisions, and meter. Existing metronomes easily facilitate practice regimes, exercises, and drills meant to boost a musician&#39;s precision. Existing metronomes allow a musician to make improvement in these areas the centerpiece and focus of a given practice. Use of metronomes in any practice session often has the secondary benefit of improving a musician&#39;s sense of rhythm and time. 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, existing metronomes are quite limited as a pedagogical tool across the many other aspects of sound and music. They do not assist in the developing of precise perceptions by the musician of other fundamental components and dimensions of sound and music. Existing metronomes do not measure and create an external reference point for the spatial aspects of sound, the distance and placement aspects of sound, the shape aspects of sound, the movement aspects of sound, the volume and crescendo/decrescendo aspects of sound (e.g., emanation and decay aspects of sound), the dynamic aspects of sound, the color/timbral aspects of sound, the pitch/frequency aspects of sound, the harmonic and non-harmonic aspects of sound, or the orchestration aspects of sound. 
     It is therefore shown that there is a need for a method of music instruction that allows the musician practice tools for addressing multiple aspects of music and sound. 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method of music instruction that allows the musician practice tools for addressing multiple aspects of music and sound. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of music instruction that uses an improved metronome. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a method of music instruction that allows the musician to perceive metronomic sounds in various locations in three-dimensional space. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a method of music instruction that allows the musician to perceive metronomic sounds that dynamically move through three-dimensional space. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a method of music instruction that allows the musician to perceive metronomic sounds that manifest the Doppler Effect. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a method of music instruction that allows the musician to customize the experience of perceiving metronomic sounds that are located in and dynamically move through three-dimensional space. 
     Other objects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the description that follows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The method of music instruction of the present invention overcomes the deficiencies of traditional metronomes by using a specialized system that creates and dynamically manipulates multiple sounds in three-dimensional space. This allows multiple aspects of sound and music to be measured, practiced, and improved upon by the musician. The method allows the practicing musician to make any one of the aspects of sound and music, or a combination of aspects, the centerpiece or focus of a practice session, exercise, or drill. The method also allows the practicing musician to simply go about his or her standard practice regimes while improving perception and cognition regarding these aspects as a secondary benefit. Moreover, the method described herein may be used without the practicing musician playing an instrument; that is, metronomic practice alone may be advantageous to the musician. 
     The method allows the practicing musician to program aspect settings to be applied during a practice session. The system used by the method may contain pre-set aspects and combinations of aspects, as well as allowing ad hoc custom programming of aspect characteristics. These pre-sets will be designed to cover the fundamentals of the aspects of sound and music. The custom programming of the aspects and combinations of aspects can be tailored to the unique practice schedule and goals of the musician. The method thus allows for great variation in programming to meet the needs of every musician. 
     In the method of the present invention, the basic metronome ‘click’ is expanded to accomplish the measurement and enhancement of perception of the basic aspects as follows: 
     Spatial aspects of sound: the click is perceived by the musician as being located in and emanating from different places within three-dimensional spherical sonic space. A basic pre-set will have the click rotate in a circumference around the musician. The click may be assigned to move a part of the distance of the circumference every so many clicks or after some pre-defined period of time. The clicks in this pre-set will emanate from the same radial distance in relation to the musician. The radial distance of the circumference can be adjusted to move closer to the musician or further away. The circumference can be axially rotated. This pre-set, at a most basic level, enhances spherical perception of sound. Different patterns in addition to a basic circle are also contemplated as pre-sets. For example, ovals, swirl-like movements, square or triangular movements, and non-linear movement may be used to position the audible sounds in three-dimensional space. 
     Distance aspect of sound: more explicit focus on distance can be achieved through pre-sets that vary the metronome click to be perceived as moving towards and away from the musician in a straight line. Pre-sets could also have the emanation point vary from side to side, front to back, and up to down. Perception of placement of sound is enhanced by utilizing more than one click at a time with the different clicks placed in front of and behind each other, as well as splayed out across spherical space. The simultaneous perception of multiple clicks could be assigned different timbres or pitches (or both) to differentiate them from each other, with more difficult or advanced pre-sets making the simultaneous clicks less dissimilar to each other. 
     Shape aspect of sound: the method uses multiple simultaneous clicks and sequential clicks to describe a particular sonic shape, such as a square, a cube, a cylinder, a cone, a triangle, a pyramid, etc. 
     Movement aspect of sound: the method provides an elaboration and expansion of the above ideas, with pre-sets creating undulations or wave-like patterns across spherical space. Additionally, different sounds are sustained for different time durations, creating a further sense of movement across space. This allows the musician to perceive metronomic sounds that manifest the Doppler Effect. 
     Volume/(de)crescendo aspect of sound: the method allows for clicks to increase and decrease in volume over time. The speed of gradation can be altered. Reverb variance and other aspects of sound decay may be added to the click. 
     Dynamic aspect of sound: the method allows for vibrations similar to various forms of instrumental and vocal vibrato, percussiveness, flange, delay, chorus, compression, distortion, and overtones (natural and artificial harmonics) to be expressed. 
     Color/timbral aspects of sound: timbre is the characteristic quality of a sound, independent of pitch and loudness, from which its source or manner of production can be inferred. Timbre depends on the relative strengths of the components of different frequencies, which are determined by resonance. Timbre, also known as the color of sound, is the most difficult aspect of sound and music to define and isolate in terms of musical acoustics. The method, through altering of the metronomic click and utilizing the widest palette of instrument choices in conjunction with instrument execution techniques, will have a pre-set bank of encyclopedic timbral depth. Through random assignation to the metronomic click or through planned timbral studies with various timbral ranges assigned to the metronomic click during a given practice session, the perception of tonal color possibilities and the precise ascertainment of tonal color in the musician&#39;s mind will be enhanced. 
     Pitch/frequency aspect of sound: the method is capable of altering the pitch of the metronomic click along the well-known twelve tone Western system of music. In a similar manner, the method may alter the clicks along non-Western systems that involve microtones, e.g., the Middle Eastern scale system. The pitch/frequency aspects of the method will have pre-sets and the ability of the user to select pitch variances to study in a given practice session (e.g., a musician may practice a minor second melodic interval by choosing two notes separated by a minor second interval). Random minor second couplets of clicks ranging through the twelve keys can be assigned, or the musician could choose to study specified minor second melodic intervals, or any other combination of melodic intervals and melodic intervallic patterns. 
     Polyrhythmic/polymeter aspects of sound: The method allows the musician to set the metronomic click to simultaneously represent meter, polymeter, polyrhythm, and other complex aspects of meter and rhythm. The meter of music is its rhythmic structure, the patterns of accents heard in regularly recurring measures of stressed and unstressed beats at the frequency of the music&#39;s pulse. Polymeter refers to the simultaneous use of different meters when the measure sizes differ but the beat remains constant. Since the beat is the same, the various meters eventually agree. Polyrhythm is the simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythms that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter. The system employed in the method will allow the user to study and improve perception about meter, polymeter, polyrhythm, and other complex aspects of meter and rhythm through the use of presets and customization. The sets of metronomic clicks will make use of accents to further amplify and expand understanding of the aforementioned concepts. The system will also allow the user to practice concentrating on one meter or rhythmic pattern while the system, through use of preset metric and rhythmic tracks, deviates grossly and randomly from the meter and rhythmic pattern the user is practicing. The system, after varying periods of deviation, will return to the metric and rhythmic pattern of the practitioner, allowing the user to gauge whether he or she has been able to stay on course with what was being played despite the metric and rhythmic distraction. These aspects pertaining to meter and rhythm can be applied in conjunction with other previously described aspects. 
     Harmonic aspects of sound: The method allows the musician to set the metronomic click to sound harmonic intervals. Additionally, the method allows the musician to set the clicks to sound chords ranging from two note dyads, triads, four note chords, five note chords, etc. The method allows the musician to set the metronomic clicks to study the aforementioned chords along with all of their inversions. Finally, in terms of harmonic aspects of sound, the method allows the musician to study via assignments to the metronomic click harmonic and chord progressions, including specific types of cadences. 
     Non-harmonic composite aspects of sound: the method through various assignments to the metronomic click allows the musician to study sound composites of different kinds. This aspect of composites explores combinations of sounds outside of the conventional combinations covered by the orchestration/orchestral aspects of sound, described below. The use of daily objects, machine sounds, technological sounds, etc., is available. A greater precision and depth of perception and appreciation will be awakened in the musician through utilizing this aspect. 
     Orchestration/orchestral aspects of sound: the method allows the musician to set the metronomic click to various orthodox combinations of sound found in the modern symphonic orchestra. The different sections of the orchestra, both in isolation and in relation to the other sections, will be capable of being explored through the various assignations that the method makes to the metronomic click. Other musical ensembles other than symphonic orchestras, such as bands, chamber ensembles, quartets, and the like, also make use of principles of orchestration, and the method of the present invention applies to such ensembles as well. 
     The practicing musician who makes regular and disciplined use of the virtual metronome of the method of the present invention will greatly expand and multiply and maximize the benefits of practice. The musician who uses the method will be able to devise an infinite amount of exercises and drills designed to hone in on a particular component of sound and music simultaneous with working on the various technical skills needed for mastery on a particular instrument. With the method, the musician will be able to custom select and create practice sessions where various aspects of sound become the primary and foreground focus of the session. The musician, through utilization of the method&#39;s pre-sets or customization, will also be able to have aspects of sound in the background of focus for a given practice session so that the musician is subconsciously enhancing various perceptual capacities while concentrating on standard music practice goals and objectives. The method, by maintaining all of the functions of the most advanced electronic and software based metronomes, will be for the serious and disciplined practicing musician a means for developing and increasing perceptual and cognitive precision regarding all of the fundamental components of sound and music. 
     Other features and advantages of the method of the present invention are described below. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic depiction of a musician practicing the method of the present invention by playing an instrument while perceiving sounds generated by the system as located in three-dimensional space. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic depiction of components of the system used by the method of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart depicting the basic steps of the method of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The method of music instruction disclosed in the present invention requires the use of a specialized system  100  capable of producing two or more distinct sounds  20  perceivable by the user  1 , with each of the two or more sounds  20  perceived by the user  1  as originating in a specific location in three-dimensional space relative to the user  1 . See  FIG. 1 . For example, one of the sounds  20  produced by the system  100  may be perceived by the user  1  as being located directly in front of the user  1 , while another of the sounds  20  produced by the system  100  may be perceived by the user  1  as being located off to the left of the user  1 . The system  100  itself is comprised of a user interface  110 , a sound generator  120 , a transmitter  130 , and a monitoring device  140 . See  FIG. 2 . 
     The user interface  110  may be any user interface  110  known in the art capable of allowing a person to provide instruction to the system  100  regarding characteristics of how the two or more sounds  20  are to be perceived by the user  1  in three-dimensional space. The user interface  110  also must be capable of allowing the instruction to be processed by the sound generator  120 . In one embodiment, the user interface  110  comprises a computer  112  and a computer monitor  114 , a keyboard  116 , and/or a computer mouse  118 . The user interface  110  may use a touch screen computer monitor  114  in lieu of a keyboard  116  and/or a computer mouse  118 , or a touch screen computer monitor  114  may be used together with a keyboard  116  and/or a computer mouse  118 . The user interface  110  may be a simple keypad data entry device. In some embodiments the user interface  110  will have predefined input elements which correspond to predefined instructions to be provided to the system  100  by the user  1 . These predefined input elements may be menu options displayed on a computer monitor  114 , or dedicated buttons, or mechanical dials or sliders, or any combination of the foregoing. In other embodiments the user interface  110  will accept ad hoc instructions from the user  1 , such as a series of codes corresponding to desired characteristics of the two or more sounds  20  to be produced by the system  100 . The user interface  110  may also be resident on a mobile computing device, such as a smart phone or a tablet. 
     The sound generator  120  of the system  100  must be capable of accepting instruction from the user  1  as provided through the user interface  110 , and to convert the instructions into output signals suitable for use by the monitoring device  140 . The sound generator  120  may comprise an integrated processor  122 , whereby the processor  122  is capable of converting the instruction for use by the sound generator  120  to generate the output signals suitable for use by the monitoring device  140 . Each of the two or more output signals must comprise information sufficient to create audible sounds  20  perceivable by the user  1  as being located in one or more specific locations in three-dimensional space relative to the user  1 . In the preferred embodiments the processor  122  is a computing device which uses computer software resident on that computing device. The computing device may alternately use firmware or dedicated microprocessors. In alternate embodiments the processor  122  is a separate component in communication with the sound generator  120 . 
     While the sound generator  120  may employ any known technology for creating audible sounds  20  perceivable by the user  1  as being located in one or more specific locations in three-dimensional space relative to the user  1 , in one embodiment the sound generator  120  uses head-related transfer functions and reverberations. (A head-related transfer function is a response that characterizes how the human ear receives a sound from a specific location in three-dimensional space. Much like stereoscopic vision, binaural sound—slightly different sounds directed at the left and right ears of a listener—when synthesized from a head-related transfer function, can cause the perception of location.) Examples of three-dimensional sound generators are the MorrowSoundTrue3D™ and the A&amp;G 3D-EST™. Similarly, studio mixing board consoles can be used to simulate three-dimensional sound location through the manipulation of panning knobs, volume controls, spread slider controls, doppler level controls, and other mixing controls. 
     The monitoring device  140  must be capable of expressing the output signals produced by the sound generator  120  in a manner capable of being perceived by the user  1  as an audible sound  20  located in one or more specific locations in three-dimensional space relative to the user  1 . In one embodiment the monitoring device  140  comprises one or more audio speakers. The one or more audio speakers may be wired to the sound generator  120  or may be wireless. In another embodiment the monitoring device  140  is a pair of headphones  142 . The headphones  142  may be wired to the sound generator  120  or may be wireless. In yet another embodiment the monitoring device  140  is a pair of wireless earbuds. 
     The transmitter  130  provides the interface between the sound generator  120  and the monitoring device  140 . As such, it must be capable of transmitting the output signals from the sound generator  120  to the monitoring device  140 . Where the monitoring device  140  comprises one or more wired audio speakers, or a wired headphone  142 , the transmitter  130  comprises one or more wires. Where the monitoring device  140  comprises one or more wireless audio speakers, or a wireless pair of headphones  142 , or a pair of wireless earbuds, the transmitter  130  is a wireless transmitter capable of wirelessly transmitting signals to the monitoring device  140 , using any known technology, including radio frequency transmission, Bluetooth™, wifi, wiMAX, and the like. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the system  100 , the user interface  110 , the sound generator  120 , and the transmitter  130  are integrated into a single unit. 
     The method of music instruction of the present invention comprises the following steps, see  FIG. 3 : 
     Step A: obtain the system  100  described above. 
     Step B: a system operator interacts with the user interface  110  of the system  100  to provide instruction to the system  100  regarding how the two or more sounds  20  are to be perceived by the user  1  in three-dimensional space. The system operator may interact with the user interface  110  of the system  100  by selecting from two or more predefined instruction options, with each predefined instruction option comprising instruction to the system  100  regarding how two or more sounds  20  are to be perceived by the user  1  in three-dimensional space. The characteristics of how the two or more sounds  20  are perceived by the user  1  in three-dimensional space differ at least in part across each predefined instruction option. Alternatively, the system operator may interact with the user interface  110  of the system  100  by entering ad hoc instructions, with the ad hoc instructions providing information to the system  100  regarding how two or more sounds  20  are to be perceived by the user  1  in three-dimensional space. In some embodiments the system operator is a person other than the user  1 ; in other embodiments the system operator and the user  1  are the same person. 
     Step C: the user  1  interacts with the monitoring device  140  in a manner which allows the user  1  to perceive the two or more sounds  20  expressed by the monitoring device  140 . Where the monitoring device  140  comprises a pair of headphones  142  or a pair of earbuds, this step comprises the user  1  placing the headphones  142  over the user&#39;s  1  ears, or placing the earbuds into the user&#39;s  1  ears, as the case may be. Where the monitoring device  140  comprises one or more audio speakers, the user interaction of Step C may be simply to be attentive to any sounds  20  that emanate from the one or more audio speakers. 
     Step B and Step C may be performed in any order in relation to the other. 
     Step D: the system operator causes the sound generator  120  to begin processing the instruction provided in Step B. Step D may be a discrete step from Step B, or it may automatically commence upon the completion of Step B without further input from the system operator. 
     Step E: the sound generator  120  accepts the instruction from the user interface  110  and converts the instruction into two or more output signals suitable for use by the monitoring device  140 . Each of these two or more output signals comprises information sufficient to allow the sound generator  120  to create output signals suitable to be acted upon by the monitoring device  140  to create audible sounds  20  perceivable by the user  1 . 
     Step F: the transmitter  130  transmits the two or more output signals from the sound generator  120  to the monitoring device  140 . 
     Step G: the monitoring device  140  expresses the two or more output signals in a manner capable of being perceived by the user  1  as two or more audible sounds  20  located in one or more specific locations in three-dimensional space relative to the user  1 . 
     Step H: the user  1  perceives the two or more audible sounds  20 , wherein there is an interval of silence between one of the two or more audible sounds  20  perceived by the user  1  and at least one other of the two or more audible sounds  20  perceived by the user  1 . 
     In the preferred embodiments, the method further comprises Step I, in which the user  1  plays a musical instrument  10 . Step H and Step I may be performed in any order or simultaneously in relation to the other. 
     The method of music instruction of the present invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics: 
     Each of the two or more audible sounds  20  of Step G may be perceived by the user  1  as being located in a single specific location in three-dimensional space relative to the user  1 . This characteristic of the method replicates a traditional metronome, although this virtual metronome may be located anywhere in three-dimensional space relative to the user  1 . 
     Alternatively, at least one of the two or more audible sounds  20  of Step G may be perceived by the user  1  as moving from one specific location in three-dimensional space relative to the user  1  to another specific location in three-dimensional space relative to the user  1  over a period of time. 
     In yet another alternative, at least one of the two or more audible sounds  20  of Step G is perceived by the user  1  as having a variable volume over a period of time. This may involve an increasing volume, a decreasing volume, or a volume which both increases and decreases over time. This characteristic of variable volume may be combined with the characteristic of movement through three-dimensional space described above. 
     In yet another alternative, at least one of the two or more audible sounds  20  of Step G is perceived by the user  1  as having a variable pitch over a period of time. This may involve an increasing pitch, a decreasing pitch, or a pitch which both increases and decreases over time. This characteristic of variable pitch may be combined with any one or more of the characteristics described above. 
     In yet another alternative, at least one of the two or more audible sounds  20  of Step G is perceived by the user  1  as having variable tone over a period of time. This may involve an increasing tone, a decreasing tone, or a tone which both increases and decreases over time. This characteristic of variable tone may be combined with any one or more of the characteristics described above. 
     In yet another alternative, at least one of the two or more audible sounds  20  of Step G is perceived by the user  1  as having variable timbre over a period of time. This may involve an increasing timbre, a decreasing timbre, or a timbre which both increases and decreases over time. This characteristic of variable timbre may be combined with any one or more of the characteristics described above. 
     In yet another alternative, one of the two or more audible sounds  20  perceived by the user  1  in Step H is a first sound  22  and another of the two or more audible sounds  20  perceived by the user  1  in Step H is a second sound  24 . The first sound  22  and the second sound  24  may be simultaneously perceived by the user  1  in Step H. Alternatively, the first sound  22  may be perceived by the user  1  as being located in a location in three-dimensional space relative to the user  1  different from a perceived location of the second sound  24  in three-dimensional space relative to the user  1 . Or, at least one of the two or more audible sounds  20  of Step G may be perceived by the user  1  as having a duration different from that of at least one other of the two or more audible sounds  20  perceived by the user  1 , or a volume different from that of at least one other of the two or more audible sounds  20 , or a pitch different from that of at least one other of the two or more audible sounds  20 , or a tone different from that of at least one other of the two or more audible sounds  20 , or a timbre different from that of at least one other of the two or more audible sounds  20 , or any combination of one or more of the foregoing characteristics. 
     What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the method of music instruction of the present invention, along with some it its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Other embodiments not specifically set forth herein are therefore also within the scope of the following claims.