Improvements in Apparatus for use in Teaching Music.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1896
2003
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for use in Teaching Music.
JOHN CHARLES WARD of "The Retreat" Haverstock Hill in the County of
Middlesex Organist &c., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in Staff Modulators whereby the
teaching of sight singing from the staff and the relation of keys may be effected
the more conveniently.
For this purpose I employ a band of suitable material-hereinafter described as
linen, upon which certain groups of notes are represented without the stave.
This band passes over a board sufficiently rounded at the top as to allow of the
linen sliding freely when either end of it (the linen) is depressed.
In some cases I also employ sliding tapes passing through slits in the linen for
bringing into view sharps, flats, naturals, or blank spaces as may be required by
the teacher.
In conjunction with the foregoing I employ flexible tapes which serve the double
purpose of representing the stave lines, and of keeping the linen in position by
exercising a gentle pressure.
I also use in conjunction with the above, a reversible slide shewing on one side
a clef and all the sharps following in their order; and on the other side likewise
the clef and all the flats. This slide passes behind the stave out of sight when
not in use, but on being drawn out it exposes to view first the clef, and then one,
two, or more sharps (or flats) according to the distance to which it may be drawn
out.
In some cases I employ substantially an endless band of linen which passes
under the board as well as over it, and also rollers with blind cords; but these
are but modifications of my invention as above set forth, the use of which enables
the teacher to demonstrate the identity of differing keys in music with the
minimum amount of trouble by simply drawing down the one end or the other
of the linen so as to bring the same printed matter into divers positions on the
staff, and to alter the signatures with facility and celerity.
December 22nd 1896

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object improvements in staff modulators whereby the
teaching of sight singing from the staff and the relation of keys may be effected
the more conveniently.
For this purpose I employ a band of suitable material hereinafter described as
linen, upon which certain groups of notes are represented without the stave.
This band passes over a board sufficiently rounded at the top as to allow of the
linen sliding freely when either end of it (the linen) is depressed.
In some cases I also employ sliding tapes passing through slits in the linen for
bringing into view sharps, flats naturals, or blank spaces as may be required by
the teacher.
In conjunction with the foregoing I employ flexible tapes which serve the
double purpose of representing the stave lines, and of keeping the linen in position
by exercising a gentle pressure.
I also use in conjunction with the above, a reversible slide showing on one side
a clef and all the sharps following in their order; and on the other side likewise
the clef and all the flats. This slide passes behind the stave out of sight when
not in use, but on being drawn out it exposes to view first the clef, and then one,
two or more sharps (or flats) according to the distance to which it may be drawn
out.
In some cases I employ substantially an endless band of linen which passes
under the board as well as over it, and also rollers with blind cords; but these
are but modifications of my invention as above set forth, the use of which enables,
the teacher to demonstrate the identity of differing keys in music with the
minimum amount of trouble by simply drawing down the one end or the other
of the linen so as to bring the same printed matter into divers positions on the
staff, and to alter the signatures with facility and celerity.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of the device for indicating accidentals.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A suitable frame is constructed preferably of wood and composed of top and
bottom members A and B respectively and side members C. Across this frame from
side to side are stretched strips of suitable material D which represent the stave
lines, and behind these and over the top member A of the frame is arranged a
band E of linen or other suitable material. This band is provided at its ends
with rods or stiffeners G to which are attached cords H and J by means of which
the band may be moved up or down behind the stave lines D. The stiffeners G
act as stops since they cannot pass the battens M. The band E carries represen-
tations such as K of groups of notes arranged as shown in three columns and
repeated at proper intervals above each other. Bands or curtains K are arranged
so that they may be moved laterally in order to conceal one or more of the columns
of notes on the band E; these bands pass behind the stave lines D being retained
in position by loops Figure 3 arranged at the back of the curtains, through
which the strips D representing leger lines pass.
A slide L movable in top and bottom guides in the battens M on the framing
of the apparatus, has marked upon its two sides representations of the treble,
tenor and bass clefs, together with letters for the interpretation of the notes of the
stave and also "sharps" and "flats" so arranged that by drawing out the slide
more or less the signature of any key may be indicated. As shown in Figure 1
the slide is drawn out so as to expose a single sharp, being the signature of the
key of G major, the band E being placed accordingly so that the chord of the
tonic, or Doh cord, of that key is indicated, the columns of notes at each side then,

page_text: owing to their position on the band E relative to the central column, indicate
respectively chords of the Dominant and Subdominant.
Hinged to the bottom member B of the frame of the apparatus is a board or
card N upon the upper portions of which are indicated the solfa names and
corresponding numerals of the notes of the chords of the major mode, shown in the
columns of notes above, a flap N' hinged to the card N contains on its reverse side
the corresponding names and numerals of the cords of the minor mode. This
flap N' may conveniently he attached to the card N by two cords N° N, which pass
through both flap and card and are connected at the back of the latter by an
elastic strip N. The object of this arrangement is to enable the flap N when
raised for the purpose of substituting the names of the minor chords for those of
the major chords, to be retained in this position.
In order to introduce accidentals when required these symbols are provided on
slips suspended by cords from the top member A of the frame. These slips
may conveniently be constructed of two strips of paper or card stuck together
back to back and slightly opened out so as to have a V-shaped section, as shown
at O in Figure 1. The object of this arrangement is to enable the slips to
automatically retain themselves in position, when placed behind a stave line
strip D, which object they effect by the slight spring of their two parts. The slips
may be provided with a projecting tongue if desired, as an additional means of
retaining them when in position; preferably each slip carries a different sign on
each side.
Or the slips O may be constructed as shown in Figure 4 by folding a piece of
paper or card and passing a tongue 02 formed at one end through a slit cut in the
other end the folded piece having a bulging appearance as shown which enables
it to hold itself with a spring action when placed behind the strips D.
It will be seen that by hinging the card or flap N to the main frame of the
apparatus the latter may be folded up. The band E may conveniently have
indicated upon it, by markings such as E, the course followed in passing from a
chord indicated by one column of notes to the chord in the next column.
The slide L may be formed double and if desired the spare space utilized as
desired.
If preferred in order that the band E may contain more matter it may be made
larger and its ends joined by an elastic or other lacing so as to form an endless
band which may pass round top and bottom rollers operated by suitable cords.
The frame C may also be made larger and provided at the top with a fixed or
movable screen or extension.
It is obvious that the details of the apparatus may be considerably varied
without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In apparatus for use in teaching music the combination with a supporting
frame carrying representations of stave lines of a movable band E and a slide L
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for teaching music the employment of curtains K for the
purpose described.
3. In apparatus for use in teaching music the combination with a movable
band E of a frame carrying stave lines DD' and curtains such as K for the
purpose described.
4. In apparatus for use in teaching music a slide such as L with signs so
arranged that by uncovering more or less of it the key signature may be changed
substantially as described.
5. In apparatus for use in teaching music the employment of a slide such as L
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.

page_text: 6. In apparatus for use in teaching music the combination with a frame
carrying fixed stave lines of an extension N with or without a supplementary flap
such as N hinged to it and a movable band such as E substantially as described.
7. In apparatus for use in teaching music the employment of "accidental" slips
such as substantially as and for the purpose described or illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
S. The complete apparatus for use in teaching music substantially as described
or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.