Abstract: An optical tone generator comprises sensing means responsive to light of different respective colors for selectively producing respective output signals corresponding to such respective colors, and a tone generator responsive to the sensing means for emitting a tone corresponding to the signal produced by the sensing means. In a preferred embodiment, fiber optic light conduits are disposed within an elongated baton for manual translation along a line of discretely changing colored strips to produce tones corresponding to the various colors. This device is particularly advantageous for teaching musical composition because it permits a child to vary pitch, duration and tempo by readily perceived variations in color, length and speed, respectively.

Abstract: A sound reproducing device is disclosed for reproducing sound recorded on an optical sound track, having a manually movable wheeled vehicle with means provided for regulating its speed along such track, a light source substantially restricted to red and infrared light mounted on the vehicle for directing light onto such track, a plurality of light conduit means for transmitting light, the conduit means having input ends mounted on the vehicle and arranged in a substantially linear array transverse to the track for permitting manual movement of the source and the input ends along the optical sound track so as to receive light from the source incident upon a strip of the sound track. The conduit means have output ends arranged in a compact array and a maximum linear dimension substantially less than the length of the linear array.