Phrase Selection Logic for Musical Practice Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional automatic practicing apparatuses for keyboard musical instruments struggle to help users gradually increase the range of practiced music, making it difficult to maintain connections between musical phrases and expressions in a cohesive performance.

Innovation Solution

A musical performance apparatus with a processor that determines target phrases for practice, allowing users to select and connect additional phrases, enabling the practice of connections and expressions within a musical piece by displaying recommended connection destinations and scoring user performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If each phrase is practiced separately using conventional automatic practicing apparatus, then practice efficiency for individual phrases is improved, but the ability to maintain connections between phrases and expressions of the musical piece deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepractice efficiencyVSAvoidconnection between phrases
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the musical piece into multiple phrases and allows users to select specific phrases for practice. The system provides segmented practice by enabling selection of individual phrases or ranges of phrases, while maintaining the ability to practice connections between selected phrases and the overall musical expression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic phrase selection where users can flexibly choose which phrases to practice and in what order. The system adapts the practice range based on user selections, allowing dynamic adjustment between practicing single phrases, multiple phrases, or the entire piece, thereby maintaining both efficiency and musical coherence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the entire musical piece is practiced from the beginning, then connections between phrases are maintained, but the ability to focus on and repeatedly practice specific difficult phrases deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection between phrasesVSAvoidpractice efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables users to segment the musical piece into selectable phrases, allowing focused practice on specific difficult passages while maintaining the option to practice connections by selecting larger phrase ranges or the entire piece.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the practice parameter from fixed entire-piece practice to flexible phrase-range practice. Users can adjust the practice scope by selecting different start and end phrases, thereby optimizing practice efficiency for difficult passages while maintaining the ability to practice overall connections when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If conventional automatic practicing apparatus provides scoring for each phrase, then motivation through feedback is improved, but the ability to guide users to practice phrase connections and expressions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser motivationVSAvoidmusical expression context
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides scoring feedback for user performance on selected phrases, maintaining motivation through immediate evaluation. The system compares user input with model performance data and provides scores, while also providing information about recommended connection destinations to guide users toward better understanding of musical expressions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary guidance system that recommends connection destinations based on the currently practiced phrase. This intermediary information helps users understand how individual phrases connect to the overall musical piece, preserving musical expression context while maintaining the motivational scoring system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20230169943A1Musical performance apparatus, musical performance phrase determining method, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.06.01 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD
  • US20230169943A1 patent drawing
  • US20230169943A1 patent drawing
  • US20230169943A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A musical performance apparatus including at least one processor configured to: determine any phrase as a first phrase that is to be a performance target performed by a user from among a plurality of phrases included in a musical piece, and determine a set of phrases from the first phrase to a second phrase to be phrases that are to be the performance target performed by the user according to operation by the user in order to select the second phrase from the plurality of phrases.