System and method of instructing musical notation for a stringed instrument Number:7,521,619 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

Title: System and method of instructing musical notation for a stringed instrument

Abstract: A system and method of instructing a user to read musical notation through interaction with a graphical user interface and an input instrument representative of a stringed instrument comprising a plurality of modes of instruction which progressively direct and alter characteristics of the user interface to more closely resemble standard musical notation. The graphical user interface includes a virtual fingerboard having linear arrays representing frequency ranges and note positions. The note positions and linear arrays may be coded indexed to a chromatic scale and may directly correspond to fingerboard positions on an input instrument. A game object is directed toward the virtual fingerboard in accordance with a music file is incorporated in the graphical user interface which contains data corresponding to notes in sequence that have a rhythmic pattern of arrangement coinciding with the virtual fingerboard. An evaluation of the user's performance is provided based on striking the input instrument.

Patent Number: 7,521,619 Issued on 04/21/2009 to Salter

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Inventors:	Salter; Hal C. (Seffner, FL)
Assignee:	Allegro Multimedia, Inc. (Seffner, FL)
Appl. No.:	11/737,734
Filed:	April 19, 2007

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Related U.S. Patent Documents

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	Application Number	Filing Date	Patent Number	Issue Date
	60745763	Apr., 2006
	60793353	Apr., 2006

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Current U.S. Class:	84/477R ; 84/470R; 84/479R; 84/483.2; 84/485R
Current International Class:	G09B 15/00 (20060101); G09B 15/02 (20060101); G10H 1/00 (20060101)

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Primary Examiner: Fletcher; Marlon T
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Advantia Law Group Starkweather; Michael W. Webb; Jason P.

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Parent Case Text

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This invention claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120, to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/793,353 filed on Apr. 19, 2006 and Provisional Patent Application No. 60/745,763 filed on Apr. 27, 2006, which are each incorporated by reference herein.

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Claims

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What is claimed is:

1. A method of instructing a user to read musical notation through interaction with a graphical user interface and an input instrument representative of a stringed instrument, comprising the steps of: a) generating the graphical user interface, having a first mode, including a virtual fingerboard positioned substantially along a vertical extreme of the interface, the virtual fingerboard including: a first linear away representing a first string having a first frequency range; a second linear array representing a second string having a second frequency range, wherein the second frequency range overlaps the first frequency range associated with a string; and a plurality of note positions, each note position having a corresponding fingerboard position on the input instrument; wherein the first linear array, the second linear array, and the plurality of note positions form a grid; b) displaying the first linear away and the second linear array in a second mode such that portions of the first linear away and the second linear array having overlapping frequency ranges are substantially vertically aligned; c) incorporating a music file into the graphical user interface, wherein the music file contains data corresponding to an arrangement of a plurality of musical notes in sequence, having a rhythmic pattern, and represented by at least one game object; and d) directing the game object in substantially vertical and substantially straight trajectory, toward a note position on the virtual fingerboard corresponding to the musical notes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating the virtual fingerboard interface according to a third mode, wherein the virtual fingerboard interface is rotated approximately ninety (90) degrees such that the virtual fingerboard is positioned substantially on a left side of the interface, and the game object continues to move along the substantially straight trajectory toward the virtual fingerboard.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a third linear away and not displaying the first linear away and the second linear array according to a fourth mode, wherein the third linear array includes a third frequency range, the third frequency range substantially including both the first frequency range and the second frequency range.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the third linear array according to a fifth mode, wherein at least two different note frequencies are displayed along a substantially similar trajectory.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the game object comprises a visual note group indicator configured to visually indicate to a user a simultaneous play of two or more notes.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the visual note group indicator comprises a visual connector, configured to visually connect the two or more notes in a note group.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a playing field, wherein the vertical axis of the playing field simultaneously represents string selection and timing.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising coding the virtual fingerboard, the coding being indexed to a chromatic scale.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising coding each fingerboard position on the input instrument, indexed to the coding of the virtual fingerboard.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the coding comprises colors.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying at least one fingerboard position indicator along the top portion of the input instrument configured to provide to a user a reference of the plurality of fingerboard positions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fingerboard position indicator is color coded indexed to the color coding of the virtual fingerboard.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising awarding a value to the user based on the user striking the corresponding note position on the input instrument approximately simultaneously with the collisions.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising colliding the game object with the corresponding note position according to the rhythmic pattern of the arrangement.

15. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program code for instructing a user to read musical notation through interaction with a graphical user interface and an input instrument representative of a stringed instrument and configured to execute on a processor, the program code including instructions for performing the steps of: a) generating the graphical user interface, having a first mode, including a virtual fingerboard positioned substantially along a vertical extreme of the interface, the virtual fingerboard including: a1) a first linear array representing a first string having a first frequency range; a2) a second linear array representing a second string having a second frequency range, wherein the second frequency range overlaps the first frequency range; and a3) a plurality of note positions, each note position having a corresponding fingerboard position on the input instrument; a4) wherein the first linear array, the second linear array, and the plurality of note positions form a grid; b) displaying the first linear away and the second linear array in a second mode such that portions of the first linear away and the second linear array having overlapping frequency ranges are substantially vertically aligned; c) incorporating a music file into the graphical user interface, wherein the music file contains data corresponding to an arrangement of a plurality of musical notes in sequence, having a rhythmic pattern, and represented by at least one game object; and d) directing the game object in substantially vertical and substantially straight trajectory, toward a note position on the virtual fingerboard corresponding to the musical notes.

16. A system for instructing a user to read musical notation through interaction with a graphical user interface and an input instrument representative of a stringed instrument, the system comprising: a) a display module configured to display data; b) an input instrument module representative of a stringed instrument in communication with the display module, the input instrument module having a fingerboard, the fingerboard including a plurality of note positions, each note position being color indexed to a chromatic scale; c) a control module in communication with the display module, and comprising instructions for directing the display module; d) a graphical user interface module, the graphical user interface module comprising instructions for: d1) generating a virtual fingerboard positioned substantially at a top portion of the interface, the virtual fingerboard including: d1a) a first linear array representing a first string having a first frequency range; d1b) a second linear array representing a second string having a second frequency range, wherein the second frequency range overlaps the first frequency range; and d1c) a plurality of note positions, each note position having a corresponding fingerboard position on the input instrument, wherein the first linear array, the second linear array, and the plurality of note positions form a grid; and d2) displaying the first linear away and the second linear array in a second mode such that portions of the first linear array and the second linear array having overlapping frequency ranges are substantially vertically aligned.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a music data storage module in communication with the control, and configured to store music data.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the graphical user interface module further comprises instructions for coding the virtual fingerboard, the coding being indexed to a chromatic scale.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the input instrument further comprises at least one fingerboard position indicator along the top portion of the input instrument configured to provide to a user a reference of the plurality of fingerboard positions.

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Description

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to systems and methods of instructing music, specifically to systems and methods of instructing musical literacy and musical performance for stringed instruments.

2. Description of the Related Art

Current standard musical notation has incrementally evolved from indicating a small series of notes with extended fingers. As musical theory evolved and western culture explored musical performance there developed a need to indicate a greater variety of notes and timings. Additionally, performers and composers established standard modes of notation to facilitate recording and performing for those having expertise in musical notation. Accordingly, musical notation has become a powerful and useful way to communicate through music. However, this tool has become very difficult for those without expertise to learn.

In particular, musical instrument interfaces are very different from standard musical notation. Accordingly, it is difficult for a new user to draw a correlation between actions performed on the instrument and instructions on a page. This is particularly true for stringed instruments. Stringed instruments generally include an array of strings arranged to allow a user to sound multiple strings at the same time while selecting notes by effectively shortening string length. Further, such strings are generally tuned to provide an overlapping frequency range between strings to facilitate a particular style of play. Even more, in a typical instruction session, a student faces an instructor and watches how the instructor plays. The student must then mentally invert the viewed actions before practicing. Accordingly, a student of stringed instruments faces great difficulties in learning to read music and in learning to play.

More, common methods of instructing musical notation and musical performance typically require a substantial investment in time and effort before substantial results may be observed. Accordingly, many give up learning the language of music. As a result, while music is a natural human expression, few are able to feel confident enough to participate at any level higher than audience.

The difficulties in learning to perform music and read musical notation are many. Indeed, a beginning student may spend considerable time and effort in simply becoming familiar with even the basic motions of playing a musical instrument. Some of these challenges facing beginning students include: learning notes and pitches, hand and fingering positions, and reading and understanding the music and music notation associated with the particular instrument. In many cases, the challenges a beginning student faces may considerably decrease a student's enjoyment and desire to put in the necessary time and effort to become proficient.

Beginning students of stringed musical instruments, such as the violin, guitar, cello, etc., face the additional challenge of coordinating hand positions, pitches, with the printed music. Indeed, even if a student already knows how to read music, they still must learn which finger to use on which string, and in which hand position along the fingerboard they should place their fingers in order to produce the desired notes. Accordingly, many tools have been developed to further automate or otherwise facilitate musical instrument instruction.

In particular, with the advent of the computer, musical notation and other instruction software has been developed with the purpose of simplifying and instructing a person to play and enjoy stringed musical instruments. Electronics and computer-related technologies such as MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) have been increasingly applied to musical instrument over the years; thus greatly enhancing the ability for learning, creating, playing, and understanding stringed instrument musical compositions.

Many advances have been made in facilitating musical performance and in learning musical notation. Examples include, but are not limited to, the references described below, which references are incorporated by reference herein:

U.S. Pat. No. 7,174,510, issued to Salter, discloses a musical keyboard is connected to a computer. The computer implements a graphical user interface for teaching users to play the musical instrument. A computer readable music file, such as a MIDI file, is used to drive the creation of game objects that travel from a point of origination along a path toward a key of a virtual keyboard. In one form, when a user presses a key of the musical keyboard within a certain time window of arrival of the game object at the corresponding key of the virtual keyboard, the user is awarded with an audio presentation, a visual presentation and/or with game points.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,119, issued to Mladek, discloses a stringless fret instrument to be played as on a twitch instrument consists of the neck on which there are frets located transversely to a lengthwise axis of the neck, between which there are situated, in rows parallel with the axis of the neck, digital tone push-buttons, and of the body equipped with the management of the synthesizer accompaniment, a loudspeaker and a direct current charger. Above each row of digital tone push-buttons, there is a flexible rope situated in a lengthwise rabbet created in the neck parallel with the lengthwise axis of the neck movable in the direction to digital tone push-buttons, fixed at least on the neck behind the side digital tone push-button. The management of the synthesizer accompaniment consists of three mutually parallel rows of keys each of which consisting of four tone keys.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,026,538, issued to Komano et al., discloses a tone generation apparatus is removably attachable to a plug-in board for generating a tone on the basis of performance information and extending the tone generating function of the tone generation apparatus. Tone color name information and tone color parameter name information of tone color data possessed by the attached plug-in board is stored in a nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory can also store tone color data of a custom voice obtained by editing original tone color data of the plug-in board.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,767, issued to Fiks et al., discloses a musical learning system including an instrument and method is disclosed. The instrument is comprised of a rectangularly shaped box designed for convenient handling by an operator in a manner analogous to other musical instruments such as a piano, a guitar, or a horn. Thirteen movable buttons on the top surface of the box sound eight natural notes and five notes of sharps and flats when pressed by the operator, the sounds being produced by either a built-in, acoustic or electronic sound system. Removable attachments having instructive musical notations are temporarily secured above and below the buttons can be used in a predetermined sequence. In addition, in the electronic version, an "octave-up" switch enables an operator to sound a note one or more octaves higher for each of the buttons; and a "mute" bar allows the operator to silence a note being produced, if desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,515,211, issued to Umezawa et al, discloses a display device is supplied with basic screen display data for displaying a basic screen including a plurality of chord names to be indicated on the basic screen, and displays the basic screen on the basis of the basic screen display data. For example, the basic screen may be one listing names of chords to be used in a selected music piece in accordance with progression of the selected music piece. There is provided a memory storing, for each chord, playing-manner screen display data for displaying a playing manner screen indicative of a model playing manner corresponding to the chord. On the basis of an instruction by a user, a desired chord is selected from among the plurality of chord names indicated on the basic screen displayed on the display device, and the playing-manner screen display data corresponding to the selected chord name are read out from the memory. The display device displays, along with the basic screen, the playing manner screen indicative of the model playing manner corresponding to the selected chord name on the basis of the playing-manner screen display data read out from the memory. The display device may simultaneously display playing manner screens for a plurality of different chords. Also, the display device may display the playing manner screen in a highlighted fashion.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: 2006/0191399, by Miyaki, discloses a fingering guidance image for guiding a fingering upon performing a chord of a stringed instrument to a user is displayed on a display device. This fingering guidance image includes a musical instrument image indicating a guitar, a depressed pointer arranged at the position in the musical instrument image that is depressed upon performing a chord and a fingering image indicating fingers in the form of performing a chord, among which the fingering image is made to be a transmitting image.

Many inventions heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages which include: difficulty of use, especially for younger users; a high learning curve; failure to provide an intuitive interface; failure to enhance and create learning enjoyment; failure to provide sufficient guidance and/or skill enhancing effects; and/or so forth.

What is needed is a system and method of instructing and displaying musical notation for a stringed instrument that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available systems and methods of instructing and displaying musical notation. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a method, apparatus, device, and/or system of instructing musical notation and/or musical performance for stringed instruments.

In one embodiment, there is a method and/or computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program code for instructing a user to read musical notation through interaction with a graphical user interface and an input instrument representative of a stringed instrument and configured to execute on a processor. The program code and/or method includes instructions for instructing a user to read musical notation through interaction with a graphical user interface and an input instrument representative of a stringed instrument. The method and/or program code may comprise one or more of the following steps: generating the graphical user interface, having a first mode, including a virtual fingerboard positioned substantially along a vertical extreme of the interface. The virtual fingerboard may include: a first linear array representing a first string having a first frequency range; a second linear array representing a second string having a second frequency range, wherein the second frequency range overlaps the first frequency range; and/or a plurality of note positions, each note position having a corresponding fingerboard position on the input instrument. The first linear array, the second linear array, and the plurality of note positions may form a grid. The method may additionally include: displaying the first linear array and the second linear array in a second mode such that portions of the first linear array and the second linear array having overlapping frequency ranges are substantially vertically aligned; incorporating a music file into the graphical user interface, wherein the music file contains data corresponding to an arrangement of a plurality of musical notes in sequence, having a rhythmic pattern, and represented by at least one game object; and/or directing the game object in substantially vertical and substantially straight trajectory, toward a note position on the virtual fingerboard corresponding to the musical notes.

In another embodiment, there is a system and/or apparatus for instructing a user to read musical notation through interaction with a graphical user interface and an input instrument representative of a stringed instrument. The system and/or apparatus may comprise: a display module configured to display data; an input instrument module representative of a stringed instrument and in communication with the display module. The input instrument module may have a fingerboard, the fingerboard including a plurality of note positions, each note position being color indexed to a chromatic scale; a control module in communication with the display module, and/or comprising instructions for directing the display module; and/or a graphical user interface module. The graphical user interface module may comprise instructions for: generating a virtual fingerboard positioned substantially at a top portion of the interface. The virtual fingerboard may include: a first linear array representing a first string having a first frequency range; a second linear array representing a second string having a second frequency range, wherein the second frequency range overlaps the first frequency range; and/or a plurality of note positions, each note position having a corresponding fingerboard position on the input instrument; wherein the first linear array, the second linear array, and/or the plurality of note positions form a grid. Further, the graphical user interface module may include instructions for displaying the first linear array and/or the second linear array in a second mode such that portions of the first linear array and/or the second linear array having overlapping frequency ranges are substantially vertically aligned.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawing(s). Understanding that these drawing(s) depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawing(s), in which:

FIG. 1 is an operational view of a system for instructing and displaying musical notation for a stringed instrument, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for instructing and displaying musical notation for a stringed instrument, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for instructing and displaying musical notation for a stringed instrument, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the modes of instruction according to a method for instructing and displaying musical notation for a stringed instrument, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a graphical display, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a graphical display, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a graphical display, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a graphical display, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a graphical display, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a graphical display, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates a graphical display, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a system for instructing and displaying musical notation for a stringed instrument, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a system for instructing and displaying musical notation for a stringed instrument, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a system for instructing and displaying musical notation for a stringed instrument, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the operation of a system and apparatus for instructing and displaying musical notation for a stringed instrument, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a fingerboard of a system and apparatus for instructing and displaying musical notation for a stringed instrument, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a fingerboard of a system and apparatus for instructing and displaying musical notation for a stringed instrument, according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 18-23 illustrate graphical displays according to embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing(s), and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "one embodiment," "an embodiment," and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, different embodiments, or component parts of the same or different illustrated invention. Additionally, reference to the wording "an embodiment," or the like, for two or more features, elements, etc. does not mean that the features are related, dissimilar, the same, etc. The use of the term "an embodiment," or similar wording, is merely a convenient phrase to indicate optional features, which may or may not be part of the invention as claimed.

Each statement of an embodiment is to be considered independent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identical language characterizing each embodiment. Therefore, where one embodiment is identified as "another embodiment," the identified embodiment is independent of any other embodiments characterized by the language "another embodiment." The independent embodiments are considered to be able to be combined in whole or in part one with another as the claims and/or art may direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly.

Finally, the fact that the wording "an embodiment," or the like, does not appear at the beginning of every sentence in the specification, such as is the practice of some practitioners, is merely a convenience for the reader's clarity. However, it is the intention of this application to incorporate by reference the phrasing "an embodiment," and the like, at the beginning of every sentence herein where logically possible and appropriate.

As used herein, "comprising," "including," "containing," "is," "are," "characterized by," and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional unrecited elements or method steps. "Comprising" is to be interpreted as including the more restrictive terms "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of."

MIDI defines an interface for exchanging information between electronic musical instruments, computers, sequencers, lighting controllers, mixers, and tape recorders as discussed in MIDI Manufacturers Association publication entitled, MIDI 1.0 Detailed Specification (1990). MIDI is extensively used both in the recording studio and in live performances and has had enormous impact in the areas of studio recording and automated control, audio video production and composition. By itself and in conjunction with other media, MIDI plays an integral role in the application of computers to multimedia applications.

In comparison to digital audio, MIDI files take up much less space and the information is symbolic for convenient manipulation and viewing. For example, a typical three minute MIDI file may require 30 to 60 Kilobytes on a disk, whereas a CD quality stereo audio file requires about two hundred Kilobytes per second or 36 Megabytes for three minutes. MIDI data may appear as musical notation, graphical piano-roll, or lists of messages suitable for editing and reassignment to different instruments.

General MIDI has standardized instrument assignments to greatly motivate the multimedia title producer. MIDI input and output ports are used to route time-stamped MIDI packets from one media component to another. MIDI ports act as mailboxes for the communication of MIDI packets across address spaces. Many interesting MIDI applications can be created by connecting media components that contain MIDI ports. For example, a MIDI player and a MIDI interface can be used to play a music device, like an electronic player piano or a guitar, connected to a computer. MIDI packets are sent from the MIDI player to the MIDI interface. The MIDI interface converts the MIDI packets to MIDI data that is sent to the player instrument piano or guitar for playback.

Additionally, certain MIDI files and songs are already broken up into `tracks` or channels which may be the equivalent of voice, or orchestral parts, or simply the treble and bass clefs. Players are able to select which tracks or combination of tracks are to be included in the game, again this will affect the score as to what percentage of the total song these tracks include. The selection of songs, then number or choice of tracks, and then tempo are the principle ways that the player can determine the level of the game, and the focus of the repetition. This is further taught in U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0137984, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Many of the functional units described in this specification have been labeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like.

Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of programmable or executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.

Indeed, a module and/or a program of executable code may be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.

The various system components and/or modules discussed herein may include one or more of the following: a host server or other computing systems including a processor for processing digital data; a memory coupled to said processor for storing digital data; an input digitizer coupled to the processor for inputting digital data; an application program stored in said memory and accessible by said processor for directing processing of digital data by said processor; a display device coupled to the processor and memory for displaying information derived from digital data processed by said processor; and a plurality of databases. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, any computers discussed herein may include an operating system (e.g., Windows NT, 95/98/2000, Vista, OS2, UNIX, Linux, Solaris, MacOS, etc.) as well as various conventional support software and drivers typically associated with computers. The computers may be in a home or business environment with access to a network. An embodiment of the invention may operate on a game console, such as those produced by Nintendo, Microsoft, and/or Sony. In an exemplary embodiment, access is through the Internet through a commercially-available web-browser software package.

As set forth in the specification, the system and method of the invention may facilitate the providing information to participants through multiple media sources and may allow one or more modules to receive information via similar multiple media sources. The multiple media sources may include, for example, chat room, radio, bulletin board, internet web pages, email, billboards, newsletters, commercials and/or the like. The present invention may be described herein in terms of functional block components, screen shots, optional selections and various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions.

For example, the present invention may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, the software elements of the present invention may be implemented with any programming or scripting language such as C, C++, C-Sharp, AJAX, Java, COBOL, assembler, PERL, Visual Basic, SQL Stored Procedures, extensible markup language (XML), with the various algorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements. Further, it should be noted that the present invention may employ any number of conventional techniques for data transmission, signaling, data processing, network control, and the like.

Additionally, many of the functional units and/or modules herein are described as being "in communication" with other functional units and/or modules. Being "in communication" refers to any manner and/or way in which functional units and/or modules, such as but not limited to, computers, laptop computers, PDAs, modules, and other types of hardware and/or software, may be in communication with each other. Some non-limiting examples include communicating, sending, and/or receiving data and/or metadata via: a network, a wireless network, software, instructions, circuitry, phone lines, internet lines, carrier signals, satellite signals, electric signals, electrical and magnetic fields and/or pulses, and/or so forth.

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