Abstract:
A music teaching device for the composition and reading of a score is described, of the type comprising coaxial elements assembled along a central axis and rotatable with respect thereto. Said coaxial elements are arranged according to a series of stable geometry configurations alternative to a series of geometric unstable configurations.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to a music teaching device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The operation of a mechanical device for the composition and reading of a music score is based on the concepts of: rhythmic pulsation, also named beat; the names of the notes according to their respective duration values, the value and number of beats. 
         [0003]    The presence of a constant rhythmic pulsation, which divides time into equal parts so as to provide a reference “grid” for the reader or player, is necessary to read, interpret and play a score. The pulsation speed is expressed in bpm (beats per minute) and hypothetically may vary from 1 bpm to +infinite bpm. Commonly, bpm from 30 to 300 are adopted. 
         [0004]    Each note corresponds to a sound and various note values exist to determine their duration in time. The whole note is the longest note, to which the value of 1/1 (one whole) is attributed; the values of the other notes are obtained by dividing always by 2 (to obtain 1/64 or 1/128, for example). 
         [0005]    In order to determine the actual duration of a note in time, a value that is included in the note values must be attributed to the beats (rhythmic pulsations) so as to establish a concrete relationship. 
         [0006]    Example: a pulsation of 60 bpm is given. It is established that each pulsation (beat) equals 1/4 (one quarter note). In such a case, a whole note (4/4 note) will last for 4 seconds. By increasing the pulsation to 120 bpm, but maintaining a value of 1/4, the same whole note (4/4 note) will last exactly half the time, i.e. 2 seconds. 
         [0007]    By maintaining instead the pulsation at 120 bpm, but changing the value from 1/4 to 1/8 (one eighth note) the same whole note (4/4 note) will last for 4 seconds again. 
         [0008]    After having established the value, groups of beats must be created to allow to divide the score into equal segments. Such segments are called bars or measures and allow to read the part from a given point or to repeat some parts by means of the so-called “ ritornello” signs. 
         [0009]    The tempo type according to which the part will be written is determined at the beginning of the score by means of a numeric fraction. This means establishing how many beats there must be within each measure and what their value will be. 
         [0010]    Example: fraction 3/4 at the beginning of the part means that within each bar there will be 3 beats in each bar, having a value of 1/4 each. Thus, the numerator indicates the number of beats and the denominator determines the value thereof. Consequently, there are no numeric limits for the numerator, but such limits exist instead for the denominator, which must indicate a value included in the note values (4 means 1/4, 8 means 1/8 etc.). 
         [0011]    Furthermore, the sum of the note values and of the pauses contained in the same bar must correspond to the value expressed at the beginning of the score. 
         [0012]    Teaching devices of the mechanical type, formed by rollers or faceted disks, which turn independently to provide information on the combinations of musical scores to be played, are known in the prior art. 
         [0013]    For example, according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,172 a music teaching device comprises a number of rings positioned so as to have an independent movement by turning on a base element. According to the shape of the base element, the reference rings are either coaxial cylindrical sleeves or concentric rings. The outer surface of each ring is divided into segments which can be identified by means of predetermined colors. Each segment shows signs referring to a note of the chromatic scale. The device works so that, when the various ring segments are aligned according to the same color, the corresponding segments of each next ring represent the notes of a non-chromatic scale. 
         [0014]    In each of the prior art, it is the object of the present invention to make a music teaching device which can further facilitate the study and learning of a musical instrument by combining a sequence of music fragments to compose a plurality of musical pieces, in particular rhythmic pieces, in more stable, easily changeable and repetitive manner. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In accordance with the present invention, said object is reached by means of a music teaching device for the composition and reading of a score, of the type comprising coaxial elements assembled along a central axis and rotatable with respect thereto, characterized in that said coaxial elements are arranged according to a series of geometric stable configurations alternate to a series of geometric unstable configurations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS(S) 
         [0016]    The features of the present invention will be more apparent in the following description of some practical embodiments shown by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a music teaching device in a stable configuration corresponding to a given rhythmic music piece, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows the device in  FIG. 1  during the step of transition between two stable configurations; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a cylinder belonging to the device in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  FIGS. 1 and 5  show perspective views of a prism belonging to the device in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a front view of the rear base of a prism belonging to the device in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows a partial front view of the front base of the prism in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  shows a section view taken along line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  shows an exploded view of the main components of the device in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  shows a section view of the device in  FIG. 1  according to an axial plane passing through a vertex of the base polygonal of the aligned prisms; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  shows a music teaching device in a stable configuration corresponding to a given rhythmic music piece, in accordance with a variant embodiment of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  shows the device in  FIG. 11  during the step of transition between two stable configurations; 
           [0027]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show perspective views of an element belonging to the device in  FIGS. 11 and 12 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  shows a top plan view of the element belonging to the device in  FIGS. 11 and 12 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  shows a bottom plan view of the element belonging to the device in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    With reference  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  9  and  10 , an embodiment of a music teaching device  1  comprises a cylinder  10  with axes thereof coinciding with a central axis  111 . Coaxial elements  20   a,    20   b,    20   c  and  20   d  comprised between two disks  40  adapted to assemble axially said coaxial elements  20   a,    20   b,    20   c,    20   d  are rotatably associated to such a cylinder  10 . 
         [0031]    The cylinder  10  ( FIG. 3 ) is delimited by two faces,  11  and  12 , crossed in the center by a threaded hole  13 , used to fix a respective disk  40  by means of a screw (not shown). 
         [0032]    With reference to  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8 , each coaxial element  20   a,    20   b,    20   c  and  20   d  is a right prism constructed by rectangles having sides  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26  and  27  of a base polygonal for base and the height  28  itself of the prism for height. 
         [0033]    Each prism  20   a,    20   b,    20   c  and  20   d  is rotatably associated to the cylinder  10  by means of a cylindrical central hole  29 . A first base  220  of each prism is provided with a series of spherical cap shaped hollows  30 , equally distributed on a circumference  31  comprised between the hole  29  and the circumference  32  inscribed in the base polygonal, preferably in number equal to the number of sides of the base polygonal. 
         [0034]    A second base  221  of each prism  20   a,    20   b  and  20   c  is provided with cylindrical blind holes  33  respectively aligned with the hollows  30 . It is worth noting that the prism  20   d  does not have holes  33 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , an elastic spring  34  occupies the seat of each hole  33 , pressing a ball  35  against the base  220  of the adjacent prism. 
         [0036]    The cylinder  10  supports and maintains the prisms  20   a,    20   b,    20   c  and  20   d,  comprised between the disks  40 , aligned with an axial play which is totally recovered by means of the thrust of the springs  34  on the respective balls  35 , pressing on the base  220  of the adjacent prism in turn. The thrust of the springs  34  is prevalently axial, parallel to the rotation axis of the prisms. The elastic thrust between the prisms is maximum by effect of the compression of the elastic springs  34  during the transition between two stable configurations of the prisms. The elastic thrust is minimum when the balls  35  fit into the respective hollows  30  at the stable configurations of the prisms. 
         [0037]    Each prism  20   a,    20   b,    20   c  and  20   d  is stably aligned with an adjacent prism when the balls  35  between the two prisms are wedged into the respective hollows  30 , allowing the alignment of the rectangular faces of the two right prisms. 
         [0038]    The combination of the various aligned, stable positions of the right prisms allows to compose musical pieces which are suitable for studying and learning a musical instrument. 
         [0039]    The mechanical device  1  allows to compose various music pieces, in particular rhythmic pieces, by stably maintaining the alignment of the prisms  20   a,    20   b,    20   c  and  20   d,  by virtue of the balls  35  stably accommodated in the respective hollows  30 . 
         [0040]    Similarly, the rhythmic musical piece may be modified by turning one or more prisms with respect to a reference prism, by manually applying a torque sufficient to move the balls  35  from the respective hollows  30 . 
         [0041]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device  1  is formed by four elements with octagonal base right prisms allowing to compose  2401  rhythmic musical pieces ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ). 
         [0042]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show a device  100  in accordance with a variant of embodiment of the invention. Such a device  100  comprises a plurality of coaxial elements  500   a,    500   b,    500   c  and  500   d  rotational about an axis  112 , each comprising a prism  200   a,    200   b,    200   c  and  200   d  surmounted by a cylinder  60   a,    60   b,    60   c  and  60   d  ( FIGS. 13 and 14 ). 
         [0043]    Two further elements may be provided, a supporting disk  601  provided with a threaded central hole (not shown in the figures) adapted to fix the device  100  by means of a screw, and a closing element  602 , respectively. 
         [0044]    Each prism  200   a,    200   b,    200   c  and  200   d  is a right prism with rectangles having sides  201 ,  202 ,  203 ,  204 ,  205 ,  206 ,  207  and  208  of a base polygonal for base and the height  209  itself of the prism for height. 
         [0045]    Each cylinder  60   a,    60   b,    60   c  and  60   d  is arranged in the center of the upper base of each prism  200   a,    200   b,    200   c  and  200   d  and has a diameter smaller than that of the circumference  302  inscribed in the base polygonal. An upper base portion  65  of each prism not occupied by the cylinder is provided with a series of pins  300  which are equally distributed on a circumference  301  comprised between the base perimeter of the cylinder and the circumference inscribed in the base polygonal  302 . Preferably, the number of pins  300  are equal to the number of sides of the base polygonal. 
         [0046]    Furthermore, the upper surface  61  of each cylinder  60   a,    60   b,    60   c  and  60   d  comprises a portion  62  made of magnetic material, preferably circular crown shaped ( FIGS. 13 and 15 ). Alternatively, the magnetic portion  62  occupies the upper entire surface  61  of the cylinder. 
         [0047]    Each prism  200   a,    200   b,    200   c  and  200   d  ( FIGS. 14 and 16 ) has a cylindrical central hole  210  complementary to the cylinder  60   a,    60   b,    60   c  and  60   d  on the lower base. Such a hole  210  includes a bottom surface  63  coated with ferromagnetic material. The remaining lower base portion  64  of the prism outside the hole  210  is provided with a series of hollows  303  aligned with the pins  300 , respectively. 
         [0048]    A variant is in all cases possible including a portion  62  made of ferromagnetic material and the bottom surface  63  coated with magnetic material. 
         [0049]    The elements  500   a,    500   b,    500   c  and  500   d  are assembled to each other by exploiting the magnetic attraction between elements. Considering, for example, the elements  500   a  and  500   b,  the cylinder  60   b  of the element  500   b  couples to the cylindrical hole  210  of the element  500   a  above and will be engaged to it by means of the magnetic force which will be created between the portion  62 , present in the cylinder  60   b,  and the bottom surface  63 , present in the hole  210  of the element  500   a.    
         [0050]    Each element  500   a,    500   b,    500   c  and  500   d,  is stably aligned with an adjacent element when the pins  300  of each element underneath are coupled to the respective hollows  303  of the element above, allowing the alignment of the rectangular faces of the right prisms  200   a,    200   b,    200   c  and  200   d.    
         [0051]    The combination of the various aligned, stable positions of the right prisms  200   a,    200   b,    200   c  and  200   d  allows to compose musical pieces which are suitable for studying and learning a musical instrument. 
         [0052]    Also in this case, the mechanical device  100  allows to compose various musical pieces, in particular rhythmic pieces, by stably maintaining the alignment of the coaxial elements  500   a,    500   b,    500   c  and  500   d,  by virtue of the pins  300  stably accommodated in the respective hollows  303 . 
         [0053]    Similarly, the rhythmic musical piece can be modified by turning one or more prisms with respect to a reference prism, by manually applying a torque sufficient to move the pins  300  from the respective hollows  303 . 
         [0054]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device  100  formed by four elements with octagonal base right prisms allows the composition of 4096 rhythmic musical pieces ( FIGS. 11 ,  12 ). 
         [0055]    Advantageously, the device  100  allows to vary the number of elements  500   a,    500   b,    500   c  and  500   d  easily. 
         [0056]    The device  1 ,  100  is made starting from the assumption that 90% of the music currently circulating is developed in the tempo named 4/4 (in which there are 4 beats of 1/4 value in each measure). Each of the 4 disks is a beat (rhythmic pulsation), and the sum of the value of the notes (or respective pauses) represented on each face always corresponds to 1/4 for each face. Consequently, all combinations of musical phrases which can be produced will have a 4/4 tempo. For example, if a device  1 ,  100  with three prisms instead of four were made, it will produce only scores with a measure of 3/4. 
         [0057]    Each face thus has the same value, i.e. the sum of the notes or of the pauses is equal for all faces. 
         [0058]    Thus, the tempo type in which the phrases are produced changes by varying the number of prisms, while the number of combinations in a bar are increased or decreased by varying the number of faces. Each combination produced by the device will correspond to a different written score. 
         [0059]    The device  1 ,  100  produces thousands of combinations of rhythmic phrases which are read exactly as on a paper score; thus, phrases lasting for several measures may be produced by arranging several devices  1 ,  100  side by side. 
         [0060]    One of the most apparent advantages of the invention is that of providing a quantity of musical rhythmic phrases which could fill hundreds of book pages in a pocket-sized object. For example, 65536 rhythmic musical pieces which could be represented on over 1000 paper pages can be composed with  16  faces per prism. 
         [0061]    Furthermore, for students of percussion instruments, the device may represent combinations which include variables such as fingering (the hand to be used to play a respective note is shown) and accents (the notes to be played louder are indicated), which is a genuine breakthrough for studying such instruments in addition to providing practically unlimited applications. 
         [0062]    Finally, an identification number may be provided on each face to remember the studied combinations. 
         [0063]    The operating principle of the device  1 ,  100  may be applied to computerized simulation systems, for example software applications for smartphones, computers and the like.