Improved Means for Teaching Music.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
Improved Means for Teaching Music.
I ALBERT JAMES PRATT of Darlinghurst, Thurlow Road, Torquay Devon,
Organist and Teacher of Music, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to improved means for teaching music, and has for its object
to provide devices or means for imparting to children a knowledge of the rudiments
of music, in a pleasant and at the same time, efficient manner.
According to my invention I provide a number of cubes upon the faces of each
of which are suitably displayed a stave of five lines either in the bass or treble
clef, and also various notes, which are so arranged as to be easily and readily
explained.
In order that the said invention may be the more readily understood, I have shewn
same upon the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein :
Fig. is a view of one of the cubes marked in the treble clef, and
Fig. 2 a cube marked in the bass clef.
According to my invention, I provide a number (preferably twelve) of cubes
fashioned of wood, metal or any other suitable material, upon the sides of each of
which are printed or otherwise displayed a stave of five lines, either in the treble or
the bass clef, and also the lines (if in the treble clef) E, G, B, D, F and
spaces F. A. C. E.
Assuming that I employ twelve cubes, I mark six of them in the treble clef in
the above manner, while the remaining six cubes I mark in the bass clef and
employ the following notes:
Lines G. B. D. F. A, spaces A. C. E. G.
These notes are printed or otherwise displayed in semi-breves, minims, crotchets,
quavers, semi-quavers, and demi-semi-quavers, with their corresponding rests, in the
manner shewn in the two examples a and b.
The cubes so marked, can be played with, and arranged or built up in a similar
manner to ordinary building blocks into various block figures, in their true and
correct musical positions of lines and spaces, both treble and bass, that is to say :-
All the notes of the treble clef, both lines and spaces can be arranged in the correct
order, next to one another, those of the bass clef being also arranged in various
forms, while all semi-breves in the treble clef can be grouped together, to be
followed by the grouping of all minims, crotchets, quavers, semi-quavers, and
demi-semi-quavers.
This can also be done in different form with the cubes of the base clef.
Many and various designs and figures can be arranged with good and pretty
effect with the various cubes of different notes. Both treble and bass cubes can
also be arranged together in different figures and in correct order, and with twelve
of the cubes, upwards of a hundred designs can be formed, the various treble and
bass notes being in their correct positions of the staves, both lines and spaces, in
semi-breves, minims, crotchets, quavers, semi-quavers, and demi-semi-quavers.
By the use of these musical cubes, a child is thoroughly instructed in the names
and lengths of the various notes of the staves, with their corresponding rests, both
in the treble and bass clefs, in an easy and pleasant manner.
1

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improved means for teaching music, consisting of cubes having displayed
upon their faces, staves and various notes with their names and corresponding rests,
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 95th day of Act 1904
HUGHES & YOUNG,
12, Basinghall Street, London.