Abstract:
Using a violin teaching apparatus as an example, a training device is disclosed to aid in teaching how to play bowed string instruments. By guiding the motion of a bow teaching apparatus in a manner consistent with the operation of an actual bow, students will learn proper bowing technique. Depending on the immediate pedagogical objective, the motion of a bow teaching apparatus can be limited in terms of back and forth motion as well as the angle relative to the training device. This disclosure can be applied to other bowed string instruments including, but not limited to, a cello and double bass.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR 
       [0001]    An embodiment of the disclosed apparatus was demonstrated at the American String Teachers&#39; Association National Conference on Mar. 8, 2014 in a presentation titled “A Spoonful of Sugar: Games and Activities that Make Practice Fun.” 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A bowed string instrument is a type of musical instrument comprising one or more strings that can be vibrated using a bow to produce sound. Examples of bowed string instruments include a violin, viola, a cello, and a double bass. By moving the bow across the strings, the sound of different notes can be generated to produce music. In learning to play a bowed string instrument, one of the skills that must be mastered is how to maintain the bow at the proper distance and angle relative to the strings. 
         [0003]    A bowed string instrument generally comprises two portions. The first portion called the body generally has an ellipsoid shape which is attached on one end to an elongated portion called the neck. Along the outer surface of the instrument are a plurality of strings that are attached from substantially one end of the neck to the other end of the body. The strings are spaced away from the surface of the instrument using a spacer called a bridge. The strings may be arranged in a manner such that the strings form an arc near the bridge and are substantially within the same plane near the neck. The above description of a bowed-string instrument can be modified in numerous ways and still maintain this same general character. 
         [0004]    A bow suitable for use with a bowed-string instrument generally comprises a stick and a ribbon, also referred to as bow hair. The ribbon is generally comprised of one or more lengths of a flexible material that is stretched substantially from one end of the stick to the other end of the stick. A bow may also comprise a “frog” configured to receive one end of the ribbon as well as a mechanism for adjusting the tension of the ribbon. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention relates to tools used in the teaching of musical instruments. In particular, this disclosure relates to tools used to teach musicians in the art of playing bowed-string instruments. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
       [0006]    The primary tool used in teaching musicians how to play a musical instrument is the musical instrument itself. The variability and flexibility that allows trained musicians to produce masterful pieces of art can also distract novice students from learning the fundamental skills necessary to master a musical instrument. In the case of bowed string instruments, one of these fundamental skills is how to maintain the proper form when stroking the bow along the strings. In addition to the vigilant eye of the music instructor, tools may be useful to assist students of bowed string instruments in mastering the proper form. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The disclosed training device aids in the instruction of playing bowed string instruments, like a violin, for example. By guiding the motion of a bow teaching apparatus in a manner consistent with the operation of an actual bow, students will learn proper bowing technique. Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the disclosed training device will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a view of one embodiment of a violin training apparatus. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  illustrates another view of one embodiment of a violin training apparatus. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a view of an embodiment of a bow guide suitable for use with the disclosed violin training apparatus. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  illustrates another view of an embodiment of a bow guide suitable for use with the disclosed violin training apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bow training apparatus that is suitable for use with the disclosed violin training apparatus. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross section of a guide body with the neck portion of a violin training apparatus disposed within. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The exemplar violin teaching apparatus  100  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  ( FIG. 1  collectively) comprises a body portion  101 , a neck portion  102 , a guide body  103 , a bridge portion  104 , a bow interface  105 , two slide stoppers  106 , a finger placement guide  107 , a positioner  108 , and two attachment posts  109 . A violin teaching apparatus  100  can be constructed from wood, plastic, metal, composites or other suitable materials using standard manufacturing techniques. The various components can be constructed from different materials. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , body portion  101  is shaped as a rectangular prism, and can be used to simulate the proximal end (the end nearest to a student) of an actual violin&#39;s body. Although illustrated as a rectangular prism, body portion  101  can be adapted to more closely emulate the shape of a violin. The shape of body portion  101  may also be selected for aesthetic purposes, for teaching purposes, or to provide additional comfort for a student. 
         [0016]    The neck portion  102  is attached to body portion  101  in a substantially perpendicular manner. However, depending on the shape of body  101  and/or possible aesthetic considerations the connection between body  101  and neck  102  may join at a different angle or location. The neck portion  102  in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  has a cylindrical shape albeit a cylinder without a circular cross-section. Neck portion  102  has one flat surface defined by a chord as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Although illustrated as a substantially straight cylinder of uniform cross-section, the neck portion  102  may assume a variety of different shapes. For example the region between body portion  101  and guide body  103  might have a thicker or thinner diameter than other portions of neck portion  102 . Depending on the respective shapes of body portion  101  and guide body  103 , there may not be any space between body portion  101  and guide body  103 . In another embodiment, the portion between guide body  103  and finger placement guide  107  might have a curved shape for aesthetic reasons. In another embodiment, neck portion  102  may include a loop that could be used to store the violin teaching apparatus  100  by hanging it on a wall, for example. The length of the neck portion  102  can be configured so that the distance between its distal end (end furthest away from body  101 ) and the proximal end of violin teaching apparatus  100  is approximately the length of a specific type of instrument, such as a violin or cello, for example. The size of body portion  101  can also be configured to control the length of violin teaching apparatus  100 . 
         [0017]    The guide body  103  is coupled to neck portion  102 . Bridge portion  104  is attached to guide body  103  and bow interface  105 . For purposes of convenience, the combination of parts and functionality represented by guide body  103 , bridge portion  104  and bow interface  105  will be referred to as bow guide  200  when discussing the combination as a whole. 
         [0018]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , guide body  103  has a cylindrical opening that is large enough to fit around neck portion  102 . Bow guide  200  can be coupled to neck portion  102  by fitting guide body  103  over the distal end of neck portion  102 . In another embodiment, neck portion  102  may comprise two pieces that couple directly to either side of guide body  103 . This may be accomplished using threads or a barrel joint, for example. In another embodiment, at least one portion of guide body  103  is removable or separable and can be reattached around a section of neck portion  102 . For example, guide body  103  might split into two halves connected via a hinge along one side and one or more fasteners on the other side. Guide body  103  could be placed around neck portion  102 , and then fastened closed. In this embodiment, the inner surface of guide body  103  might contain a compressible layer (e.g., foam) that will exert sufficient pressure to limit the motion of guide body  103  relative to neck portion  102 . This might be desirable for embodiments comprising a neck portion  102  without a uniform cross-section. 
         [0019]    The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  includes slide stoppers  106 , which prevent guide body  103  from sliding along the length of neck portion  102 . A slide stopper  106  could comprise a metal ring, a rubber ring, a clamp, or a peg. In other embodiment, the functionality of slide stopper  106  could be built into the shape of neck portion  102 . In other embodiments, the coupling between the guide body  103  and the neck portion  102  may inherently prevent lateral motion of bow guide  200  along the length of neck portion  102 . 
         [0020]    As an alternative to slide stoppers  106 , neck portion  102  and guide body  103  can be configured to limit the lateral motion via one or more grooves on the outer surface of neck portion  102 . In this embodiment, guide body  103  may comprise one or more spring plungers configured to couple with one or more of the grooves in the neck portion  102 . When engaged, the spring plungers would limit the motion of the guide body  103  in the manner defined by the grooves in neck portion  102 . In another embodiment, guide body  103  comprises one or more grooves and neck portion  102  comprises one or more spring plungers. In another embodiment, one or more grooves could be selected from amongst a group in order to place the bow guide  200  at one of several locations along neck portion  102  with each location being substantially prevented from relative lateral motion. This might be desirable to adjust the position of bow guide  200  to accommodate different students and/or to emulate one of several different types of bowed string instruments. In addition to or in lieu of spring plungers, various types of ridges or bearings could also be used to couple the guide body  103  to neck portion  102  in a manner that limits their relative lateral motion. 
         [0021]    Guide body  103  and neck portion  102  might also be configured such that bow guide  200  is free to rotate within a limited arc around the outer surface of neck portion  102 . This type of configuration can be accomplished a number of different ways. One example is shown in  FIG. 4 . Using one or more tabs within the inner surface of guide body  103 , the rotation of the bow guide  200  relative to the neck portion is limited by the spacing of the tabs. This functionality can also be performed using grooves and spring plungers. As would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, the length of the grooves can be used to limit the arc of rotation of bow guide  200 . These same groves can also be used to limit the lateral motion of the bow guide  200  along the length of the neck portion  102 . In another embodiment, guide body  103  is not a closed cylinder and neck portion  102  contains one or more tabs that fit through an open portion of guide body  103 . The shape and dimensions of the open portion of guide body  103  and any tabs in neck portion  102  could be used to limit the rotation of guide body  103 . 
         [0022]    Bow guide  200  may also contain a bridge portion  104 , which could be a separate structure or an integral part of either guide body  103  or bow interface  105 . Bridge portion  104  represents the space between the surface of guide body  103  and bow interface  105 . Bridge portion  104  may not be distinct from other portions and could be integral with guide body  103  and/or bow interface  105 . The various parts bow guide  200  could also be integrated into a single unitary body. 
         [0023]    Violin training apparatus  100  may also comprise a finger placement guide  107  near the distal end of neck portion  102 . Finger placement guide  107  can be used to visually mark the fingertip locations utilized in playing a violin. Finger placement guide  107  may be an integral part of neck portion  102  or could be attached to neck portion  102  using adhesive or merely slipped on to the end of neck portion  102  as a sleeve. 
         [0024]    Violin training apparatus  100  may comprise a positioner  108  attached underneath body portion  101 . Positioner  108  can be used to assist a violin student in properly positioning violin training apparatus  100 . The positioner  108  illustrated in  FIGS. 1  might come into contact with a student&#39;s shoulder so as to encourage proper positioning of violin training apparatus  100 . In one embodiment, positioner  108  is removable from body portion  101 . A removable coupling between positioner  108  and body portion  101  may be accomplished via the use of a dowel or a screw post, for example. In one embodiment, positioner  108  is shaped like a cabinet knob. In another embodiment, positioner  108  is shaped like the shoulder rest, which is a routine accessory for the violin and various models of which are supplied in all violin shops. 
         [0025]    Violin training apparatus  100  may also contain one or more attachment posts  109 . Attachment posts  109  can be used to temporarily attach various structures to body portion  101 . In one embodiment, attachment posts  109  are configured to receive a chin pad. In one embodiment, the chin pad is attached via elastic straps that loop over the attachment posts  109 . Attachment posts  109  may also contain a lip to aid in making attachments to body portion  101 . In one embodiment, attachment posts  109  have animal shapes on the ends that are configured to provide a lip for attachments. The position and number of attachment posts  109  illustrated in  FIG. 1  merely serve as an example, and can be configured in other ways as desired. In another embodiment positioner  108  is attached to body  101  using one or more attachment posts  109 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  ( FIG. 2  collectively) illustrates the bow guide  200  in greater detail. Bow guide  200  includes a guide body  201 , a bridge portion  202 , and bow interface  203 . The bow interface  203  includes two openings  204  that are configured to receive a bow training apparatus  300 , such as the one illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The openings  204  are configured to guide the movement of a bow training apparatus  300  disposed within. As will be discussed further, the shape of the bow training apparatus  300  will inform the shape of the bow interface  203  and openings  204 . For example, if the bow training apparatus  300  is shaped like a cylindrical dowel, then the bow interface portion  203  may contain one or more circular openings  204  opposite each other in the manner shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . Bow interface  203  could form a closed cylinder as shown in  FIG. 2 . In another embodiment, bow interface  203  is an open cylinder with openings  204  defined by rings. In another embodiment, bow interface  203  may have additional rings between the two outer openings  204 . In another embodiment, openings  204  are only partially closed. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bow training apparatus  300  suitable for use with violin training apparatus  100 . Bow training apparatus  300  comprises stick  301 , frog  302 , and one or more stoppers  303 . Stick  301  is configured for disposition within bow interface  203 . Frog  302  is optional and can be used to simulate the portion of a bow against which the thumb is placed, which in ordinary violin playing houses the tensioning screw and the apparatus for attaching the ribbon. If desired, one or more stoppers  303  can be used to prevent the stick  301  from being inadvertently removed from the bow interface  203  during training exercises. 
         [0028]    When disposed within bow guide  200 , the motion of stick  301  is constrained by the configuration of bow interface  203 . In one embodiment, stick  301  is configured as a dowel with circular cross-section. The motion of stick  301  will follow the path defined by the openings  204 . In this embodiment, stick  301  is able to rotate freely within bow guide interface  203 . In another embodiment, stick  301  and openings  204  are configured to permit rotation of stick  301  within a certain range. The techniques described above to control the rotation of the guide body  103  with respect to the neck portion  102  can be used to control the rotation of stick  301  within bow guide interface  203 . 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, bow training apparatus  300  is configured to be inserted into one opening  204  of bow interface  203  and out the other opening  204 . In another embodiment, openings  204  are configured such that bow training apparatus  300  can snap into place within bow interface  203 . In this embodiment, openings  204  are only partially closed and at least a portion of bow interface  203  is comprised of a sufficiently flexible material that bow training apparatus  300  can snap in and out of place within bow interface  203 . In another embodiment bow interface  203  is configured to open and close along its length to permit the disposition of stick  301 . For example, bow interface  203  might comprise a hinge that would allow its top portion to swing open to allow stick  301  to be placed within it. Once stick  301  has been put in place, the top portion of bow interface  203  can be returned to its closed position. The structures used to couple bow training apparatus  300  to bow interface  203  can also be used to couple guide body  103  to neck portion  102  and vice versa. 
         [0030]    In another embedment, bow interface  203  is removable from bridge portion  202 . Bow interface  203  comprises a post that can be inserted into an opening within bridge portion  202 . This allows the same violin training apparatus  100  to be utilized with different bow interfaces  203  having different properties. For example, different sizes of bow interfaces  203  could be designed to accommodate different sizes and configurations of bow training apparatus  300 . The bow interface  203  can also be integrated with the bow training apparatus  300  in a manner that is not easily separable. Thus, the integrated bow interface  203  can be inserted into the bridge portion  202  to complete a violin training apparatus  100  with bow training apparatus  300  disposed within. 
         [0031]    Although the previous discussion was in the context of a violin teaching apparatus, the teaching of this disclosure can easily be adapted by a person of ordinary skill in the art to other musical instruments. For example, the violin teaching apparatus  100  could be adapted to teach other bowed string instruments, such as a cello or double bass. One way the adapt a violin teaching apparatus  100  for use as a cello teaching apparatus might be to extend the next portion to the length of a typical cello and adapt the body portion for contact with the ground by adding an end pin. In another embodiment, the body portion may be adapted to rest on a student&#39;s lap as opposed to extending all the way to the ground as would an actual cello. To the extent that teaching is focused on the bowing aspect of a bowed string instrument, other features of a bowed string instrument might be needed for pedagogical purposes. 
         [0032]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.