Improvements in and Connected with the Teaching of Music, also Applicable in the Teaching of Letters, Signs, and Figures, and in Appliances therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 31st Aug., 18
Improvements in and Connected with the Teaching of Music, also
Applicable in the Teaching of Letters, Signs, and Figures, and in
Appliances therefor.
I, ALEXANDER ADAMSON, of 79 Commercial Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Teacher
of Music, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My said invention has reference principally to the teaching or giving lessons to
children and adults in music, individually or collectively in classes, in a new or
improved manner, simultaneously sounding the individual notes by the voice or on .a
harmonium or other instrument, and showing the visible signs and symbols thereof,
either in the Sol-Fa notation, or the ordinary staff notation, in a new or improved
manner at one position in front of the teacher, and by the ineans or use of new visible
and silent indicating appliances or arrangement of apparatus, (which I term the
"Teacher's Auxiliary or Silent Indicator") which will be. a great improvement both
for rivetting the attention of the pupils, and ease and comfort to the teacher, by
enabling him to have his face turned towards his pupils, instead. of his back. as
heretofore, while requiring to point to the ordinary signs and symbols of the notes on
the wall or black-board or wall-sheet, or. requiring to use the signs given by the
motion and position of the teacher's hand. This improved system and apparatus is
also applicable to teaching children lessons in the alphabet, and numerical figures, by
enabling the teacher to instantly show the sign or form of the letter or figure while
pronouncing it, so as to identify the sounds with the visible signs representing these;
the system and apparatus being also applicable to teaching the signs for words, such
as geometrical or mathematical forms or signs along with their corresponding name
sounds; all which will be a great improvement on the modes and means heretofore
employed in teaching by signs on the black-board, to which the teacher has to point,
with his back or side to the face of the pupils.
And the nature and novelty of my invention consist all as follows:-Instead of.
using the ordinary musical modulator scale or notation on the wall or black-board as i
heretofore, which requires the teacher to point to it, while sounding the notes with

page_text: his voice or playing them on an instrument, I print or mark the signs of the notes in
the staff or Sol-Fa musical notation, the letters of the alphabet, numerical figures,
words, or other simple lessons intended for teaching classes of children or adults on
both sides of cards, tickets, pieces of sheet-metal, paper, or other like suitable
material. These cards are placed in a set of movable recessed cases or holders in a
small mechanical box placed in front of the teacher; each case is raised by mechanism
and a set of keys within the box, actuated by the teacher to bring the cards to view in
front of the class or pupils as he desires, and in front of himself, all as will hereinafter
be described.
Under one arrangement of the mechanism or instrument for carrying my invention
into practice, I fit the mechanism within a small portable case or box suitable for
being placed on a table or portable and adjustable stand in front, or at the side of
and convenient for the teacher to actuate it. "In the front part of this case I mount a
hand key-board provided with a set of keys corresponding to the notes of a harmonium,
piano, organ, or other instrument within the range of the human voice, at any higher
or lower pitch or wider compass as required, representing all the diatonic and
chromatic notes within such compass as desired, and on each of these keys would
preferably be printed or indicated, the musical notes, letters, or figures, corresponding
to their visible signs to be brought into view and taught the pupils. The keys of this
keyboard would preferably be inclined downwards towards the back of the case, and
be each fulcrumed a short distance from the front ends, on a separate stud, or other
fulcrum and be actuated or pressed down in the same manner as the keys of a
harmonium, piano, or organ, or other keyed instrument, while the other ends of the levers
would be made to raise or bring to view the card with the sign or symbol on it
corresponding to the note, letter, or figure of the particular key of this indicating
instrument and of the note sounded by the teacher or by the instrument he plays,
or the letter or figure he required to be indicated. This raising of the cards by
the back ends of their respective key levers might by one arrangement be effected
as follows:
Near the middle of the case above the back ends of the keys would be formed
a deep recessed chamber preferably inclined lowest towards the front facing the
pupils, and fully the parallel depth and width of the cards to be raised in it.
Each card or ticket would be arranged and set in a transverse grooved frame of
its own, to slide in vertical guides at each edge, as close as the grooved frames
could be mounted and made to slide to each other. The front cards nearest and
facing the pupils would preferably represent the low notes, and the back ones
nearest the teacher and key-board the high notes, or vice versa, as nearly sequentially
as convenient, and each grooved moving card frame would have an actuating
vertical stem or wire on it, near the centre passed down through guide holes in a
guiding bar, which might be covered with serge or other soft material so that the
spindles and frames with the tickets in them would rise and fall in a silent manner.
The lower ends of these vertical wires would be attached or connected to horizontal
lateral wires, (or it might be levers) of various lengths and forms, connected to
and actuated by the back ends of the keys or digitals. The keys of this new
indicating instrument would be actuated by the fingers of the teacher, and could be
placed so that he could actuate the keys, either with bis right or left hand as
convenient, and raise to view on the top of the case in front a card with the
musical sign on both sides representing the note either in the tonic Sol-Fa or the
Staff Notation, corresponding to the note sounded by the teacher with his voice or
played by the right or left hand on his musical instrument. This enables the teacher
to use his right or left hand to play on a harmonium or piano, or other adjacent key-
board instrument, the musical notes corresponding to those he shows on the new
Dummy or Silent Auxiliary Indicator. In addition to using this instrument as
described with cards or tickets indicating the visible signs of musical notes by the
Tonic Sol-Fa and Staff notations for teaching these simultaneously with their sounds,
the raising and lowering frames could all be filled with portable cards having printed
on them alphabetical letters, words, or numerical figures or signs, or combinations of

page_text: these or of geometrical signs or symbolic objects, representing the terms when teaching
their sounds simultaneously, so as to identify the sounds or terms with the forms of
the figures representing these in the pupils' minds.
Stationary cards could be placed on the top of the case, on one or both sides of the
card compartment, having printed or written on them the tunes or names of the
lessons which the teacher has to go over for each particular class.
Although the separate portable case of the Auxiliary or Silent Indicator has been
described, with the sets or rows of raising and lowering frames and cards, it will be
evident that equivalent frames or cards and signs might be projected laterally out of a
case, by levers and rods by the like action of the keys of its key-board. And although
a separate key-board has been described for actuating these raising and falling or
oscillating frames with their cards, it will be understood that light raising and falling
rods or wires might be similarly actuated by the actual keys of the harmonium, piano,
organ, or other instrument used by the teacher to sound the notes corresponding to the
signs and frames moved and brought into view.
Dated this oth
1009

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with the Teaching of Music, also
Applicable in the Teaching of Letters, Signs, and Figures, and in
Appliances therefor.
!
:
I, ALEXANDER ADAMSON, of 79 Commercial Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Teacher
of Music, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Two Sheets
of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention has reference principally to the teaching or giving lessons to
children and adults in music, individually or collectively in classes, in a new or
improved manner, simultaneously sounding the individual notes by the voice or on a
harmonium organ, piano, or other instrument, and showing the visible signs and symbols
thereof, either in the Sol-Fa notation, or the ordinary staff notation, in a new or im-
proved manner at one position in front of the teacher, and by the means or use of new
visible and silent indicating appliances or arrangement of apparatus, (which I term the
"Teacher's Auxiliary or Silent Indicator”) which will be a great improvement both
for retaining the attention of the pupils, and ease and comfort to the teacher, by enabling
him to have his face turned towards his pupils, instead of his back as heretofore, while
requiring to point to the ordinary signs and symbols of the notes on the wall or black-
board or wall-sheet, or requiring to use the signs given by the motion and position of
the teacher's hand. This improved system and apparatus is also applicable to teaching
children lessons in the alphabet, and numerical figures, by enabling the teacher to
instantly show the sign or form of the letter or figure whilo pronouncing it, so as to
identify the sounds with the visible signs representing these; the system and apparatus
being also applicable to teaching the signs for words, such as geometrical or
mathematical forms or signs along with their corresponding name sounds; all which
will be a great improvement on the modes and means heretofore employed in teaching
by charts or signs on the blackboard, to which the teacher has to point, with his back
or side to the face of the pupils.
And the nature and novelty of my invention consist all as follows:-Instead of
using the ordinary musical modulator scale or notation on the wall or blackboard as
heretofore, which requires the teacher to point to it, while sounding the notes with his
voice or playing them on an instrument, I print or mark the signs of the notes in
the Sol-Fa or staff musical notation, the letters of the alphabet, numerical figures,
words, or other simple lessons intended for teaching classes of children or adults on
both sides of cards, tickets, pieces of sheet-metal, paper, or other like suitable material.
These cards are placed vertically in a set of movable recessed holders in a small
mechanical guide box or frame placed in front of the teacher; each holder is raised by
mechanism within the box and a set of horizontal keys projecting outwards in front of
the box, and depressed or actuated by the teacher, to bring the cards up to view in

page_text: front of the class or pupils as he desires, and in front of himself all as will hereinafter
be described.
Under one arrangement of the mechanism or instrument for carrying my invention
into practice, I fit the mechanism within a small portable case or box suitable for being
placed on a table or portable and adjustable stand in front or at the side of and
convenient for the teacher to actuate it. In the front part of this case I mount
a hand key-board provided with a set of keys corresponding to the notes of a
harmonium, piano, organ, or other instrument within the range of the human voice, at
any higher or lower pitch or wider compass as required, representing all the diatonic
and chromatic notes within such compass as desired, and on each of these keys there
might be printed or indicated, the musical notes, letters, or figures, corresponding to
their visible signs to be brought into view and taught the pupils. The keys of this
keyboard would preferably be inclined downwards towards the back of the case, and
be each fulcrumed a short distance from the front ends, on a separate stud, or other
fulcrum and be actuated or pressed down in the same manner as the keys of a
harmonium, piano, or organ, or other keyed instrument, while the other ends of the
levers would be made to raise or bring to view the card with the sign or symbol on it
corresponding to the note letter, or figure of the particular key of this indicating
instrument and of the note sounded by the teacher or by the instrument he plays, or
the letter or figure he required to be indicated. This raising of the cards by the back
ends of their respective key levers might by ono arrangement be effected as follows:-
Near the middle of the case above the back end of the keys would be formed a deep
recessed chamber preferably inclined lowest towards the front facing the pupils, and
fully the parallel depth and width of the cards to be raised in it. Each card or ticket.
would be arranged and set in a transverse or longitudinal grooved frame of its own,
to slide in vertical guides at each edge, as close as the grooved frames could be
mounted and made to slide to each other. The front cards nearest and facing the
pupils would preferably represent the low notes, and the back ones nearest the teacher
and key-board the high notes, or vice versa, as nearly sequentially as convenient, and each
grooved moving card frame would have an actuating vertical stem or wire near the
centre attached to it or arranged under it, so as to lift the wires passing down through
guide holes in a guiding bar, which might be covered with serge or other soft
material so that the spindles, or holders when these are used with the tickets in them
would rise and fall in a silent manner. The lower ends of these vertical wires would
bo so attached or connected to horizontal lateral wires or levers of various lengths and
forms connected to and actuated by the back ends of the keys or digitals. The
keys of this new indicating instrument would be actuated by the fingers of the teacher,
and could be placed so that he could actuate the keys either with his right or left
hand as convenient, and raise to view on the top of the case in front a card with the
musical sign on both sides representing the note either in the tonic Sol-Fa or the staff
notation, corresponding to the note sounded by the teacher with his voice or played by
the right or left hand on his musical instrument. This enables the teacher to use his
right or left hand to play on a harmonium or piano, or other adjacent_key-board
instrument, the musical notes corresponding to those he shows on the new Dummy or
Silent Auxiliary Indicator. In addition to using this instrument as described with
cards or tickets indicating the visible signs of musical notes by the Tonic Sol-Fa and
staff notations for teaching these simultaneously with their sounds, the raising and
lowering frames could all be filled with portable cards having printed on them alpha-
betical letters, words, or numerical figures or signs, or combinations of these or of
geometrical signs or symbolic objects representing the terms when teaching their
sounds simultaneously, so as to identify the sounds or terms with the forms of the
figures representing these in the pupils minds.
Stationary cards or exercise books could be placed on the top or front of the case on
one or both sides of the card compartment, having printed or written on them the
tunes or lessons which the teacher has to go over for each particular class.
Although the separate portable case of the auxiliary or silent indicator has been
described with the sets or rows of raising and lowering holders or lifters and cards, it

page_text: will be evident that equivalent frames or cards and signs might be projected laterally
out of a case, by levers and rods by the like action of the keys of its key-board. And
although a separate key-board has been described for actuating these raising and
falling or oscillating holders or lifters with their cards, it will be understood that light
raising and falling rods or wires can be similarly actuated by the actual keys or
digitals of the harmonium, piano, organ, or other instrument used by the teacher to
sound the notes corresponding to the sign cards moved and brought into view.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
Two explanatory Sheets of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures where shown.
Figure 1 on sheet 1 shows a general perspective view of a simple form of one of my
portable Teacher's auxiliary hand instruments for teaching music, to a small scale;
and Figures 2 and 3 show a transverse vertical section and a horizontal section
respectively of the instrument shown in Figure 1, but to a large scale, to show the
details more clearly of the construction and mechanism all in accordance with a simple
adaptation of my improvements. Figure 4 shows a perspective view to a small scale
of a more complex construction of portable hand instrument, of greater compass for
teaching music, than that shown in Figures 1 to 3, and with a movable card case or
box A for holding and guiding the cards a so as to be able to shift the box A, and
cards to various keys over the movable lifters of the keys K, k, without requiring to
re-set the cards a in the case A, to suit the different keys, and enable the Teacher to
display the names or signs of the notes in any key required. And Figures 5 and 6
show a transverse vertical section and a part plan or horizontal section respectively of
the instrument shown in Figure 4, but to a large scale to show the details of con-
struction more clearly. Figure 7 on Sheet 2 shows a transverse vertical section taken
on the line 1-1 of Figure 8, of an arrangement of my improved Teachers
auxiliary instrument or mechanism as mounted over the keys K, k, of an Harmonium H,
so as to be actuated by these, or be raised out of action when the Harmonium is to be
played or used in the ordinary way without the teaching arrangement of cards and
mechanism. And Figures S and 9 are respectively a front sectional elevation, and
a plan partly in section with the enclosing covers B1, B3, and front board B removed,
to show the arrangements of the cards a, and the mechanism for raising them by the
action of the keys K, k, of the Harmonium H.
Figures 10 and 11 show a front and end elevation respectively of the movable guide
box A containing the cards a, suitable for either of the arrangements of my improve-
ments shown in Figures 4 to 6 or 7 to 9.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, on Sheet 1, the portable teacher's auxiliary hand key-
board instrument liere shown consists of a deep recessed narrow chamber A, into
which the movable, or raising and lowering cards are fitted in slides a¹ divided so that
the cards a lie at an angle, with their centres exactly over the back ends K', of a set of
key levers K, k, mounted in a lower keyboard box B B', under and in front of the
slide card chamber A, the keys K, k, in this case projecting out beyond the keyboard B,
each key being fulcrumed near their front edges by pins through stud props
The long back ends of these levers project downwards at an angle towards the
back end where they are connected to the lower end of a lifter or lifting rod b the
upper end of which is connected by a slit or holder a" or other equivalent to the lower
end of the card a, to raise it as the keys Kork are depressed. The chamber A with
its vertical slides a¹ for containing and guiding the cards a, is made a fixture in this
case, and the upper end of the lifting rods & moving the cards is guided in slits "in
in the bottom bar A², and a strip of soft felt is fitted above and below the back ends
of the levers K', to prevent noise in stopping the motion of the levers at their upper
and lower positions, and under the keys K, k, at the front end of these levers. The
cards a have printed or marked on them, preferably on both sides, the signs of the
notes in the Sol-Fa or staff musical notation, corresponding to those of the keys K, k
to which they are attached, for the full and half tones respectively. The length of the
instrument may be made of any convenient size, according to the compass and

page_text: corresponding number of keys desired. This instrument Figures 1 to 3, is shown as
made to include two octaves and one note from E, below the mid C natural, to F, in
the treble above, and the card with the d is shown raised to indicate the DOH, equivalent
to the key of the mid C natural shown depressed in Figures 1 and 2.
"
"
Referring to Figures 4 to 6 on Sheet 1, the portable Teacher's auxiliary hand
keyboard instrument here shown is of a more comprehensive character taking in five
notes more than two octaves, extending from the B below the line up to G four ledger
lines above the line. In this arrangement the card box A with its divided guide a¹
for containing and guiding the cards a, is made long and portable, having a greater
number of cards a with the signs of the notes on them, arranged in octaves and
resting on bottom ledges at A' at the sides, so that the cards can be raised by a
button at the top of their raising spindles (without attachment as in Figures 1
to 3). The spindles 6 in this case are preferably made in the form of a light tube
guided through a fixed tube or holes in the board A² under the card box A, which
in this arrangement slides with its cards in. the ends B2 of the case B B', to be able to
shift this case A to set the cards a to any diatonic or chromatic key or scale desired in
relation to the key levers K, k, which are ranged on the ordinary key board scale, the
card a shown up in this case being d set on the key of F. This setting of the card
case A to any different scale or key K, k, is arranged by a pin bolt P secured in a slide
at the right hand end B of the box, entering one of the holes p divided off to suit the
different keys or scales as shown particularly in Figures 4 and 6. In this arrangement
Figures 1 to 5, the keys K, k, are arranged level, as in a piano or harmonium each
oscillating on their centre pins, as dotted-in at K", and guide pins K, and having at
their upper back end a hopper, which acts on a sticker on the heel end
of a second lever K2, which is connected to the lifter by a link or connecting rod ³
so as to raise it and the card a when the front end of the keys K, k, are depressed.
Each lever K, 2, is fulcrumed on a horizontal stud or bracket 3, screwed to a rail at
the back B of the key-box, which bevels up at B³, towards the top of the card box A
and ends B, of the case B, which is covered by the double hinged lid B4, when the
instrument is not in use, and covered-in in front by a sliding board B₁ exposing the
keys K, k, for being actuated or depressed by the fingers to raise the cards a through
the back levers K, K. The ends of the case A not covered by the lid B', might be
covered in by the end lids A". In these Figures the C only of the notes of the keys
are marked in front, with the first and last of the set; and the back ends of the key
levers at Kwould be counter-weighted to raise the keys K, k, to their normal level
position ready for action, and allow the supplementary levers K and pressers band
cards a to fall. In some cases this instrument Figures 4 to 6, might be made with a
fixed card box A, A, analogous to that shown in Figures 1 to 3, either with or without
guide slides a¹ and have the cards a inserted and carried by spring clips a" at their
lower ends, on tubular or other stems a² inserted into the upper ends of the lifters b,.
which would thus raise and lower the cards a as these were actuated by the keys and
their levers as seen particularly in detail side and edge view in Figures 5 A. This
arrangement would allow of the cards being turned to any desired angle within
their box A facing the pupils, and with the other side of the cards a towards the
teacher actuating the keys. And these portable instruments might be set on the top
of the harmonium or piano, or to the one side, as most convenient for the position of
the pupils and the teacher, and enable him to have his face always turned towards the
class while teaching.
::
Referring to Figures 7 to 9, which show the application to an Harmonium H, of
my new system of teaching music, in this arrangement the rods b, and levers, and
stickers K, for raising the cards a are made and connected substantially analogous
to that shown and described in reference to the portable arrangement Figures 4 to 6
and the parts lettered to correspond, so that they will not require special reference,
except in so far as the essential differences adopted in adapting the application of my
aid improvements to a Harmonium H, so as to be worked by the keys K, k, thereof
t will as desired. The keys K, k, of the harmonium are each mounted as usual on
heir back fulcrum pins K" on the rail K³, on their front guide pins K, all over their

page_text: reed box I, each with a pallet and blade or wire spring lever I', with the valve I on
one end of the lever, while the other end raises the keys K, k, to their level position
through a regulating screw I2, on the under side of each after they are depressed,
all so far in an ordinary manner. The supplementary levers K² in this arrangement
have their fulcrum brackets 3 secured on a raising and lowering back bar 4, working
in guide blocks k³, secured to the back frame H₁ of the harmonium, and kept down
in its lowest working position by blade springs i secured at their front ends ¹ to the
frame of the harmonium H. This bar is raised to take its fulcrums 3 of the
levers K² out of action by the back end of the beam hand levers 3, 3, fulcrumed
at 1, to a pin in the end frames of the harmonium H, when the front ends are
depressed by the fingers, and the retaining catches turned down to hold the front
ends of these levers down and the front end of the bar up, as seen dotted-in in this
position in Figure 7. In this arrangement the harmonium keys K, k, have a back
arm or lever K' secured on them over their fulcrums K₁ to actuate the levers K², by
their upper rounded projections or hoppers ¹, which act on the rounded heel or
sticker part 2 of the levers K², so as to raise the lifters b, 62, and cards a when the
keys K or are depressed. The card box A, A, slides within the upper part of a
frame B, B1, over a guide frame A and the centre of the key levers K, k, as is
shown detached in front and end elevation in Figures 10 and 11 and in this case the
box A, is set and secured in any position in the recessed frame B, B1, by a notched
plate pin its front bottom edge taking on to a projection P¹ secured in the front edge
of the guide rail A2, as seen particularly in Figures 7, 8, and 10, and equivalent to
the pin and holes p shown in the modification Figures 4 and 6, and similarly
divided off into spaces equal to the distance between the centres of the keys K, k, and
the cards a to suit the various scales or keys it is desired to set the card box A and its
cards a to, in relation to the keys K, &, of the Harmonium H, the letters on the front
board B and the pointer on the sliding box A, indicating the particular scale used for
the time being.
The cards a are guided in their slots a¹ over their raising rods and buttons b, b', in
this case by a projecting part a secured on the lower part of the card a, which works
between projections A', in front of the slits a¹ and inner front side of the frame A,
which stops the cards a in their highest and lowest positions; and for inserting the
cards a within their guide recesses a¹, the upper front part. A³ of the box A, folds down
on hinges A, as seen particularly in Figures 10 and 11. The cards a shown up in
Figure 8 are those indicating DOH, ME and SOH in the scale or key of C,
where the corresponding keys or digitals CE and G are shown down in Figure 8.
Although I have only shown and described this Teacher's auxiliary instrument as
applied to one keyboard instrument, namely, the Harmonium, it will be seen that it is
equally applicable in an equivalent manner so as to be actuated by the keys of the
American organ or by the keys of a piano, or other such like key-board instruments
used by Teachers for teaching music. And further that in place of making the cards
to represent the tonic SOL,-FA, notation as shown, they may be made to represent
the ordinary staff notation as indicated in Figure 5 A; or have on the cards the signs
or forms of the object being taught by the Teacher as the letters of the alphabet for
the sounds of the respective vowels and consonants or the names of geometrical
figures; or the forms of the figures themselves; or algebraic formula, all as being
taught by the oral instruction of the Teacher.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The system or mode and means of teaching music, letters, signs and figures
of sounds and objects consisting in raising cards or tickets, having printed or marked
on them the visible signs of the names or notes, by means of the movement of rods
and levers or other mechanism from a portable band keyboard, or that of a Harmonium,
Organ, Piano, or other keyboard instrument placed in front of the Teacher and facing
the pupils, substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Second. The construction and use of portable Teacher's auxiliary hand keyboard
instruments with arrangements of rods and levers or equivalent mechanism for moving or
raising and lowering cards or tickets having printed on them the visible signs of the
names or notes for teaching music, letters, signs, or figures, substantially as and for
the advantages herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Third. The application to, and use in Harmoniums, Organs, Pianos, or other key-
board instruments, of arrangements of rods and levers or equivalent mechanism,
for moving, or raising and lowering cards or tickets having printed on them the
visible signs of the names or notes for teaching music, letters, signs, or figures,
substantially as and for the advantages herein described, in reference to and shown in
the accompanying Drawings.