New and Improved Method of Teaching Children Music by Means of Models of the Music Stave, Notes, and other Music Characters.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 7th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New and Improved Method of Teaching Children Music by Means of
Models of the Music Stave, Notes, and other Music Characters.
I, Miss BARBARA ELIZA MACDONALD, residing at Craigkennochie Terrace,
Burntisland, Fifeshire, Scotland, Spinster, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
A box of fourteen compartments containing flat models of the six different kinds
of music notes, single and in groups, made of a hard substance and painted in several
colours: also similar models of the different characters used in music and the
numbers and letters required in naming and counting the notes.
These models are used with a folding board, on the inner side of which is drawn
a representation of the music stave, proportionate to the size of the model notes,
with treble and bass clefs.
The above, with directions for use, it is believed, will prove at once a simple and
an effective method of teaching children the rudiments of music: for, while being
attracted, interested and amused with the models, they will easily acquire a thorough
knowledge of the names and relative value of the notes, the use of the rest, dot, etc.,
and learn to form bars to count the different kinds of time.
Dated this 20th day of February 1890
BARBARA E. MacDONALD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New and Improved Method of Teaching Children Music by Means of
Models of the Music Stave, Notes, and other Music Characters.
I, BARBARA ELIZA MACDONALD of Craigkennochy Terrace, Burntisland Fife-
shire, Scotland, Spinster, 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 :-
This invention which relates to a new and improved method of teaching children
music by incans of models of the music stave, notes and other music characters, has for
its object to provide a simple and effective method of teaching children the rudiments
of music, and which owing to its being attractive, interesting and amusing also
provides an easy method for enabling the children to acquire a thorough knowledge
of the names and relative value of the notes, the use of the rest, dot, and other
characters to form bars, and to count the different kinds of time.
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings-
Figure 1, Sheet 1 of which is a plan of the box for containing the model
notes and other characters, having its lid removed, and shewing a few examples of
these models.
Figure 2, Sheet 1, is a section of same on line X Y of Figure 1.
And Figures 3 and 4 Sheet 2 are plan and elevation of the model board for use
with the said models.
Referring to the said drawings I construct a suitable box A. (Figures 1 and 2)
which may be made of wood, pasteboard or other suitable material and which is so

page_text: formed as to have fourteen compartments a, for containing the flat models B, of the
various kinds of music notes (single and in groups) also the various kinds of
characters used in music and the numbers and letters required in naming and
counting the notes; and if desired the said box A may be provided with an end
compartment a', for containing a model pointer B₁; the said flat models B, are
preferably made of a hard substance, such as cardboard, vulcanite or other suitable
material and are painted in several colours.
These models are used with a folding board C (Figures 3 and 4) which may be
made of wood cardboard or other suitable material and which is provided on its inner
side with a representation of the music stave D, having treble and bass clefs d, d¹,
the said staves and clefs being made proportionate to the size of the model notes
and other characters B.
The mode of using the said models and so teaching the children music is as
follows :-
The children being taught are at first given only the stemless model notes, and
are directed to place them one by one on the treble lines of the board C, naming
each note as it is placed on the line. This is repeated until they can quickly name
the notes up and down all over the stave. The same is done with regard to the
spaces, after they have in this manner learnt all the treble and bass notes within
the limits of the stave, they are given specimens of the different kinds of notes, the
teacher naming them and pointing out the differences in form.
The names of the various kinds of notes having been acquired their relative value
is then taught by placing a semibreve on the board and directing the children to
put down its value in minims, crotchets, etc. This being repeated with regard to all
the other species of notes until they have acquired a thorough knowledge of their
relative values, after which they begin to arrange the notes in bars which they
count and read either verbally or by using the numbers and letters; when they are
familiar with the use of these and the other characters such as the dot, rests,
flats, sharps, etc., various exercises may be given according to the children's
capacity.
While it is not intended that the children should attach any importance to the colour,
but recognise the notes by their form, in order to give them an attractive appearance
the notes and other characters are painted in different colours-probably four in
number, viz.-black, blue, red and yellow.
It is to be understood that the said model notes, characters board and box may be
made of any convenient size, and that any number of models of the same note or
character may be provided, and though the model notes B, shown in the drawings
are single ones, it is to be understood that notes formed or constructed in groups are
also provided.
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 :-
First. In teaching children music, the employment of model music notes and
other characters in combination with a board having representations of the music
stave and treble and bass clefs thereon, all substantially as and in the manner herein-
before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Second. The general arrangement and construction of the box A, having com-
partments a; the model music notes and other characters B, and folding board C,
with representations of the stave D, and treble and bass clefs d, d', all substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described with reference to, and shown in
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of September 1890
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.