Abstract:
A set of music instructional blocks includes a number of blocks having mating magnets on two opposing sides thereof and musical indicia on the four remaining sides. The musical indicia represent standard rhythmic notes, musical rests and time signatures. The blocks having musical indicia representing standard rhythmic notes are sized proportionally to the note represented, with the quarter note being the primary sized block. For instructional practice, the blocks can be connected together by the magnets to form musical sequences.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to teaching music and, more specifically, to a set of magnetically attached blocks having indicia for standard rhythmic notes and rest values imbued thereupon so that a user may place appropriate blocks together to form musical sequences practice educational exercises. On each block two opposing sides are fitted with magnets for connecting to one another, the blocks are either colored black to represent notes or white to represent rests while on the remaining four sides, the primary blocks are based on the quarter note value and its rhythmic equivalent. Other blocks of the present invention make up a full set, representative of values such as eighth notes, sixteenth notes and their equivalents, while also varying in size, matching their rhythmic proportion to said primary blocks. Typically a complete set of the present invention consists of 50 blocks that can all be connected to one another magnetically. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other block devices designed for teaching music and rhythm. While these musical education devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a set of magnetic block having musical indicia for use in teaching the rhythmic system of music. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a set of magnetic blocks having two opposed sides that contain magnets for inter connection to one another. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a set of magnetic blocks having four of its sides forming a primary block having indicia relative to the value of a quarter notes and its rhythmic equivalent. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a set of magnetic blocks having coloration of either black or white with said black blocks representing notes while the white blocks are representative of rests. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a set of magnetic blocks representing other rhythmic values such as eighth or sixteenth notes and their rhythmic equivalent and having a size representative of said values. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a set of magnetic blocks that can be easily utilized to put together and teach rhythmic patterns, time signatures to an individual utilizing said blocks as an instructional tool. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a set of magnetic blocks having magnets on opposing side with the remaining sides having indicia representative of different musical symbols and rhythmic indicia that may be utilized in educating an individual in music&#39;s rhythmic system. Additionally the present invention has primary blocks representative of quarter notes and additional other blocks representative of other notes such as eighth and sixteenth notes and their rhythmic equivalent. Finally color and size of said block are variable and are colored either black for notes or white for rests. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a chart of rhythmic values related to the musical blocks of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Musical Rhythmic Teaching Blocks of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Musical Rhythmic Teaching Blocks of the present invention     12  music block     14  primary block     16  musical indicia     18  magnet     20  gray block     22  white block     24  side of  12       26  time signature block     27  musical note block     28  musical note     30  time signature/rest     32  eighth note     34  sixteenth note     36  quarter note     38  rhythmic value related to the music blocks       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10 . The present invention is a musical rhythmic system of music blocks  12  that are designed to aid students to understand the rhythmic system. The primary blocks  14  are based on a value of a quarter notes  36  including eighth notes  32  and sixteenth notes  34 . Each primary block has four sides containing musical indicia  16  symbolizing a quarter note and its rhythmic equivalent. Other blocks  12 , making up a full set, have musical indicia  16  representing other rhythmic values like eighth notes, sixteenth notes and their rhythmic equivalent. These blocks  12  vary in size, matching their rhythmic value and always in proportion to the primary block. Blocks  12  are represented in two colors, grey  20  and white  22 , imitating the piano keyboard. Grey blocks  20  represent value of the notes  28  while white blocks  22  represent value of rests. Other blocks  12  represent time signatures  30 . All blocks can be connected together by the user  24  with magnets  18  to create a musical line or phrase. A complete set consists of fifty blocks. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention  10 . The present invention is a musical rhythmic system of music blocks  12  that are designed to aid students to understand the rhythmic system. The primary blocks are based on a value of a quarter notes. Each primary block has four sides containing musical indicia  16  symbolizing a quarter note and its rhythmic equivalent. Other blocks  12 , making up a full set, have musical indicia  16  representing other rhythmic values like eighth notes, sixteenth notes and their rhythmic equivalent. These blocks  12  vary in size, matching their rhythmic value and always in proportion to the primary block. Blocks  12  are represented in two colors, grey  20  and white  22 , imitating the piano keyboard. Grey blocks  20  represent value of the notes while white blocks  22  represent value of rests. Other blocks  12  represent time signatures. All blocks can be connected together by magnets  18  to create a musical line or phrase. A complete set consists of fifty blocks. 
       FIG. 3  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention  10 . Shown are a primary block  14  and the four musical indicia  16  that appear on one of the gray blocks  20 . Four sides  24  of the blocks  12  contain musical indicia  16  while the remaining two opposing sides  24  are magnetic  18 . 
       FIG. 4  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention  10 . Shown are a time signature block  26  and the four musical indicia  16  that appear on one of the white blocks  22 . Four sides  24  of the blocks  12  contain time signatures  30  while the remaining two opposing sides  24  are magnetic  18 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention  10 . Shown are a primary block  14  and the four musical indicia  16  that appear on one of the gray blocks  20 . Four sides  24  of the blocks  12  contain musical indicia  16  while the remaining two opposing sides  24  are magnetic  18 . 
       FIG. 6  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention  10 . Shown are a block  12  and the four musical indicia  16  that appear on one of the gray blocks  20 . Four sides  24  of the blocks  12  contain musical indicia  16  while the remaining two opposing sides  24  are magnetic  18 . 
       FIG. 7  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention  10 . Shown are a time signature block  26  and the four musical indicia  16  that appear one of the white blocks  22 . Four sides  24  of the time signature block  26  contains musical indicia  16  in the form of time signatures  30  while the remaining two opposing sides  24  are magnetic  18 . 
       FIG. 8  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention  10 . Shown are a time signature block  26  and the four musical indicia  16  that appear on one of the white blocks  22 . Four sides of the time signature block  26  contains musical indicia  16  in the form of time signatures  30  while the remaining two opposing sides are magnetic  18 . 
       FIG. 9  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention  10 . Shown are a time signature block  26  and the four musical indicia  16  that appear one of the white blocks  22 . Four sides of the time signature block  26  contains musical indicia  16  in the form of time signatures  30  while the remaining two opposing sides are magnetic  18 . 
       FIG. 10  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention  10 . Shown are a time signature block  26  and the four musical indicia  16  that appear on one of the white blocks  22 . Four sides of the time signature block  26  contains musical indicia  16  in the form of time signatures  30 . 
       FIG. 11  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention  10 . Shown are a time signature block  26  and the four musical indicia  16  that appear on one of the white blocks  22 . Four sides of the time signature block  26  contains musical indicia  16  in the form of time signatures  30 . 
       FIG. 12  is a sample of a musical block of the present invention  10 . Shown are a time signature block  26  and the four musical indicia  16  that appear on one of the white blocks  22 . Four sides of the time signature block  26  contain musical indicia  16  in the form of time signatures  30 . 
       FIG. 13  is a sample of a musical note block  27  of the present invention  10 . Shown are the musical indicia  16  on the gray block  20  representing musical notes  28 . 
       FIG. 14  is a sample of a time signature block  26  of the present invention  10 . Shown are the musical indicia  16  on the white block  22  representing time signature/rest symbols  30 . 
       FIG. 15  is a sample of a musical note block  27  of the present invention  10 . Shown are the musical indicia  16  on the gray block  20  representing musical notes  28 . 
       FIG. 16  is a sample of a time signature block  26  of the present invention  10 . Shown are the musical indicia  16  on the white block  22  representing time signature/rest symbols  30 . 
       FIG. 17  is a sample of a time signature block  26  of the present invention  10 . Shown are the musical indicia  16  on the white block  22  representing time signature/rest symbols  30 . 
       FIG. 18  is a chart of rhythmic values  38  related to the musical blocks of the present invention. Time in music is represented by rhythmic values  38 . These note values are related mathematically. The largest musical note  28  in common use today is the whole note. The chart below describes the relationships of the other notes. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.