An Improved Method of and Means for Facilitating Instruction in Violin Playing.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1892-4ccepted, 25th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Facilitating Instruction in
Violin Playing.
I, EDGAR ALBERT DUCK, of the Board School, Deri, in the County of
Glamorgan, Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention consists in a method of facilitating instruction in violin playing
and comprises the use of a model finger-board for the said purpose.
According to this invention the player by referring to the said model finger-
board is enabled to see the positions the finger points should occupy on the strings
of a violin to produce certain notes or sounds. The finger-board, which is shaped
to agree approximately with that of a violin, is fitted with strings corresponding
with those of a violin. Upon each of the strings are movable studs or beads
capable of adjustment to any point on the strings. Behind the strings the face of
the finger-board bears a table of the letters employed to denote musical sounds.
The natural notes are indicated by dots of a given colour arranged on lines
extending along the board, the proper letters being placed against the dots. The
flats and sharps are indicated by dots on the lines and by letters and the proper
symbols arranged, in a different colour to that adopted for the natural notes, at
opposite sides of the said lines, the flats being on the opposite sides to the sharps.
The beads or studs are adjusted on the strings to points coinciding with the notes
used to form the scale of the required key; and the player, having the model in
view and a violin in hand, acquires by practice and observation a knowledge of the
correct position of the finger points on the strings to produce the sounds desired,
or, in other words, the player is guided in fingering any scale in any of the positions
or shifts.
T
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1001
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Facilitating Instruction in
Violin Playing.
1, EDGAR ALBERT DUCK, of the Board School, Deri, in the County of
Glamorgan, Schoolmaster, 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 consists in a method of facilitating instruction in violin playing,
and comprises the use of a model finger-board for the said purpose.
According to this invention the player by referring to the said model finger-
board is enabled to see the positions the finger points should occupy on the strings
of a violin to produce certain notes or sounds. The finger-board, which is shaped
to agree approximately with that of a violin, is fitted with strings corresponding
with those of a violin. Upon each of the strings are movable studs or beads
capable of adjustment to any point on the strings. Behind the strings the face of
the finger-board bears a table of the letters and symbols employed to denote musical
sounds. The natural notes are indicated by dots, circles or other suitable figures
of a given colour or distinctive character arranged on lines extending along the
board, the proper letters being placed on or against the said dots, circles or figures.
[Price 8d.1

page_text: The positions of the flats and sharps are indicated by dots, circles or other suitable
figures of a different colour or distinctive character to that adopted for the natural
notes. The proper letters and symbols appertaining to the flats and sharps are
arranged along the aforesaid lines, the flats being indicated at opposite sides to the
sharps. The beads or studs are adjusted on the strings to points coinciding with
the notes used to form the scale of the required key, and the player, having the model
in view and a violin in hand, acquires by practice and observation a knowledge of the
correct position of the finger points on the strings to produce the sounds desired, or,
in other words, the player is guided in fingering any scale in any of the positions
or shifts.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 represents a front view of my finger-board for use in imparting instruction
in violin playing. In this view the strings and beads are not shown. At Fig. 2
which is also a front view of the board the strings and beads are shown.
The finger-board, which bears some resemblance in shape to that of a violin and
is fitted with strings to correspond, bears on its face the letters and symbols
employed to denote the sounds or notes. The natural notes are indicated in the
drawing by unbroken circles arranged on lines extending along the board, as shown.
The positions for the flats and sharps are indicated by broken or dotted circles, the
letters and symbols appertaining to the flats appearing on the opposite sides of the
lines to those appertaining to the sharps. This method of indicating the notes may
be varied, as for instance, by adopting dots, circles or other suitable figures of
one colour for the natural notes, and dots, circles, or other suitable figures of
another colour for the sharps and flats. The strings are of such thickness in
relation to the bore of the beads a strung on the strings that the beads, while easily
movable, readily remain at the points to which they are moved on the strings. The
beads or studs are moved on the strings to points coinciding with the notes comprised
in any scale required, as indicated by the letters and symbols, and the player having
the model board in view and a violin in hands acquires by practice and observation
a knowledge of the correct positions of the finger points to produce the sounds
desired, or, in other words, the player is guided in fingering any scale in any of the
positions or shifts. For producing flat notes the finger points should be placed
slightly lower than for producing the corresponding sharps.
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 :-
An improved method of facilitating instruction in violin playing comprising as
an adjunct thereto a model finger-board with dummy strings and adjustable beads
arranged over a table of letters and symbols denoting musical sounds or notes, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying sheet of
illustrative drawings.
Dated this 12th down of M-1000
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.