Abstract:
A segmented, interactive audio-visual content progress bar and method of use whose divisions provide an information and instructional index of performance content. The progress bar provides a time linear segmentation of a user component of a performance content and a sound signal corresponding to the performance content. The progress bar provides a time progress marker advancing with time as a corresponding indicator of the user component of the performance content.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of, and is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/860,709, filed Aug. 20, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to computerized instruction in the arts including instrumental, music, dance, choreography, and vocal training and instructions. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a segmented, interactive audio-visual content progress bar whose divisions provide an information and instructional index of the content that is used for such interactive instruction and training. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Instruction in the arts and in particular musical instruction, like any art form, is usually taught in methodical and progressive manner that begins with basic elements that must be mastered long before the expression of emotional content becomes a part of the artistry. That is, technique is strongly emphasized before maturity is acknowledged and receives full treatment in performance training. An example is the repetitive playing of scales to develop dexterity and note recognition. Many instruments, e.g., guitar, violin, piano, etc., can produce individual notes, and chords, which in various major or minor keys, are capable of producing an emotional correspondence. Dialog, through choice of words and subtlety of expression, can elicit similar emotional reactions. Body language in dance can also be similarly expressive. Therefore, a system and method of instruction that enables a student to access the more complex and emotionally expressive power of performance at the same time as acquiring technique can accelerate the learning process in a manner that is desirable and more personally rewarding. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Disclosed is an apparatus for performance instruction, more specifically an instruction player. As an exemplary way of describing the features and benefits of the instruction player, the apparatus is directed to instruction for playing guitar. However, the details of the apparatus may be adapted and modified within the intended scope of the disclosure to include an instruction apparatus for choreography, singing, speech, musical instruments (e.g., string, wind, reed, percussion, and synthesizer), theatrical and movie acting, and combinations thereof. 
         [0005]    In an embodiment, a segmented, interactive audio-visual content progress bar and method of use, controlled by a program stored on a computer memory and executed on a computer, the progress bar having divisions to provide an information and instructional index of performance content on a display are disclosed. The progress bar provides a time linear illustration of a user component of a performance content and a sound signal corresponding to the performance content. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  shows instructional progress bars in accordance with the disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIGS. 2A-2C  shows macro-progress bars used for visual training; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows an additional micro-progress bar with fret diagrams. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    In an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , a system  100  for using a learning instruction player includes a program  105  stored in a memory device  110  readable by a computer  115  capable of executing the commands of the program  105 . A display  120  presents graphic instruction content under the control of the program  105 , as operated interactively by a user through a keyboard/mouse device  125 , and/or other device, which is coupled to the computer  115  and can transmit and/or receive data from the computer  115 . An audio output device  130  coupled to the computer provides audio signal output corresponding to the graphic instruction content shown on the display  120 . 
         [0011]    In an embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2A , the instructional player program  105  controls the display  120  for presentation of visual training material and an audio output for presentation of corresponding audio content. To describe the operation of the instruction player, the example of a guitar instruction player is presented. However, the instruction player may be adapted in detail to provide instruction for various other musical instruments, singing and voice training, choreography, acting, combinations of the foregoing, and the like. 
         [0012]    In the example of the guitar instruction player, the display presents a macro-progress bar  200  which provides a time linear illustration of a performance content such as, for example, a song, instrumental, or the like, to be performed by a user as a complement to the performance content. In the present example, the progress bar is directed to instructions for playing a musical piece on a guitar, including both strumming chords and picking individual notes. 
         [0013]    one embodiment, a particular musical piece may be selected from a library of available pieces by activating a playlist softkey  205  associated with the macro-progress bar  200  on the display. The macro-progress bar  200 , in one embodiment, divides the musical piece into a plurality of sections  210  laid out time sequentially, such as introduction, verse, transition, bridge, conclusion, and the like. This provides the student user with a visual representation of the structure of the musical piece. The user may elect to play the instruction player one section  210  at a time, or to play the entire song on the instruction player. This may be done by toggling a play selector softkey  215  that switches the player between playing one section  210  (“Play By Section”) and playing the entire song (“Play Full Song,” referring to FIG.  2 B). In summary, the mode showing in display  200  is the alternate of the option shown on softkey  215 . Specifically, for the purpose of illustration,  FIG. 2A  shows only the “Play By Section” mode of the player softkey  215 , which indicates that the player is currently in the “Play Full Song” mode.  FIG. 2B  shows instructional player with the softkey  215  showing the “Play Full Song” option, indicating that the player is in “Play By Section” mode. In the “Play By Section” mode, the user may click on a desired section  210 . The user may then play the selected section  210  by selecting a Run/Pause softkey  220 . The selected section  210  will repeat continuously until another softkey  215 , or another section  210  is selected. If softkey  215  is in “Play Full Song” mode (i.e., showing “Play By Section” as a selection option), as indicated in  FIG. 2A , activating softkey  225  plays a song from the beginning. If softkey  215  is in “Play By Section” mode, as indicated in  FIG. 2B , activating softkey  225  plays the song from the beginning of the currently selected section  210 . For the purpose of illustration,  FIG. 2A  the Run/Pause softkey  220  displays “Run,” indicating that the player is in “Pause” mode, and that the Run mode may be selected.  FIG. 2C  shows the Run/Pause softkey  220  displaying the “Pause” symbol, indicating that the player is in “Run” mode, and that the Pause mode may be selected. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment, a progress bar marker  230  advances along the macro-progress bar  200  in timed sequence corresponding to the progress of the song. Upon selecting the softkey  225 , the player returns the progress bar marker  230  to the beginning of the song or the beginning of the section, depending on the mode of softkey  215 . 
         [0015]    An audio output  130  presents an audio signal in time correspondence with the progress bar marker  230  on the macro-progress bar  200 . The audio signal may include verbal instructions in addition to performance content to be performed by the user, where the musical notes may, for example, be chords or individual picked notes or combinations of picked notes and chords. Alternatively, the audio signal may include only components of the musical piece that complement the part to be played by the user, for example, voice or other instrumentation to be accompanied by the user on guitar. In this manner, the user can hear at the desired guitar sound is intended to be, or the user can provide the guitar accompaniment over the provided audio signal. 
         [0016]    In are embodiment, smaller divisions of a section  210 , tier example, may indicate one or more (musical) measures  240  within the corresponding section. 
         [0017]    The progress bar  200  may be further divided, as shown in  FIG. 3 , into a vertically stacked sequence of micro-progress bars  300 . In an embodiment, one or more measures  310  of a section  210  may be displayed in the micro-progress bar  300 . Each measure  310  may be divided up, for example, to show beats  320 . 
         [0018]    Numbers, such as the numbers  242 , can be added over each song section  210  on the macro progress bar  200  to indicate the number of measures  240  in each song section  210 . In an embodiment, the measures  240  on the macro progress bar  200  may be highlighted to indicate the range covered within each of the micro progress bars  300  displayed in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0019]    When the player is in operation, as the progress bar marker  230  advances, the micro-progress bar  300  displays a sequential plurality of measures  310  that are advanced and replaced as the musical piece progresses. 
         [0020]    A micro-progress bar marker  330  advances along the micro-progress bar  300  in time correspondence with the audio signal and the progress bar marker  230  to indicate the instantaneous location within the measure  310  of the musical piece. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment, the micro-progress bar  300  may provide a visual representation of a portion of the guitar neck as a fret diagram  335  with frets indicated, and finger positions (chord)  340  on the various strings (illustrated with black dots on the fret diagram  335 ). When the guitar strings are strummed, the chord  340  produces a desired sound. The fret diagram  335  may be placed at an appropriate location corresponding to a particular beat  320  within a measure  310  to indicate where the chord  340  is played. The chord  340  may be placed at any beat within the measure  310 , and repeated, if desired, on every beat  320 , until a new chord  340  is introduced. As the micro-progress bar marker  330  advances to a next interval, or beat  320 , a visual representation of the fret diagram  335  and chord  340  is provided each time the new chord  340  is to be strummed, at a time location indicated by the micro-progress bar marker  330 . The chord designation  345  (e.g., D maj , G maj , as shown in  FIG. 3 , may appear, for example in the measure  310  at the same corresponding time location as the fret diagram  335 . In an embodiment, the fret diagram  335  may be animated to provide a video representation of fingering positions and changes. 
         [0022]    In addition to showing fingerings for the chord  340 , the micro-progress bar  300  may provide corresponding fingerings on the fret diagram  335  for plucking individual strings to produce individual notes, for example, to complement a chord during a measure of music. 
         [0023]    The micro-progress bar  300  may also be provided with lyrics  350  and other notations, such as, for example, crescendo, staccato, vibrato, and similar notations well known in the art. 
         [0024]    In an embodiment, a slide bar  360  including a slide button  370  may be provided to preview all groups of measures  310  contained in the song. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , four measures  310  are shown, but the number of measures  310  displayed may be greater or fewer. Moving the slide button  370  up causes previous groups of measures  310  to be shown, and moving the slide button  370  down causes following groups of measures  310  to be shown. In another embodiment, a plurality of rows of measures  310  can be displayed and moved up and down by moving the slide button  370  using, for example, the keyboard and/or mouse  125  or equivalent interactive control device to change the displayed groups of measures. 
         [0025]    An additional plurality of slide bars and slide buttons similar to slide bar  360  and slide button  370  may be provided on the display  120  to independently control, for example, the volume of either the musical accompaniment, the performance content, or a combination of both. The functionality of the slide bars and slide buttons may be realized with equivalent softkey structures provided on the display. For example, rotary softknobs, and the like may be used. The slide bars and slide buttons can be provided for a number of additional functions such as cadence, rhythm, timing, volume or any other variable that is a component of mastery of the art form being taught. 
         [0026]    In like manner, other embodiments are disclosed, which may pertain to instruction in other aspects of performance arts. For example, the progress bar may provide lyrics and music for a song, while the audio output provides corresponding musical accompaniment, with or without the voice track, and with or without any corresponding musical accompaniment to provide voice instruction directed at a particular musical piece. In other embodiments for other instruments, choreographic and the like, the fret diagram  335  in  FIG. 3  can be replaced by other teaching illustrations adapted to other instruments or art forms. More specifically, the fret diagrams can be replaced with choreographic diagrams showing, for example, foot or body positioning or movement or thumbnail animations of such movements. Also more than one thumbnail type diagram could be stacked vertically in place at the fret diagram shown in the Figures. For example violin bowing and fingering positions could both be shown in stacked arrangement. Fingering diagrams for wind instruments and appropriate illustrations for percussion instruments could also be incorporated. Of course, the fret diagrams will change for the number of strings of the instrument and the muter program would be adapted to display the diagrams for the specific instrument or art form being taught. This could either be an option where the user selects the instrument or art form being taught or separate programs for each instrument could be made available. 
         [0027]    It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 
         [0028]    Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure 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, and composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the an will readily appreciate from the embodiments of the present disclosure, 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 disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.