Abstract: A vibrato training tool aids positioning of a violinist's or violist's hand to a location where the player can perform vibrato with support so that the technique is learned more efficiently. For instance, the student wears a glove having a spacer coupled to it that aligns to rest against a bout of the violin so that the fingers can practice the vibrato movement while the student's wrist is supported against the violin or viola body, such as at the bout. An oscillation indicator swings freely relative to the glove to provide a visual indication of the vibrato motion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for counterbalancing an instrument, such as a violin, is described. The apparatus includes a curved, flexible balancing section comprises a series of pockets into which weights can be placed. The curve causes the weights to tend to be positioned toward the center of the user's back, stabilizing the apparatus.

Abstract: A wrist alignment system for attachment to a stringed musical instrument comprising a neck and a nose, the system comprising a device comprising a three-dimensional smooth body comprising a substantially flat planar end, a substantially oblong end opposite the flat planar end, a top rounded edge, a substantially flat bottom edge and integral first and second attachment elements, the first attachment element attached to the flat planar end, the second attachment element attached to the substantially flat bottom edge, the first and second attachment elements being substantially arcical in shape and comprising two gripping ends adapted to removably attach the device to the neck and the nose of the instrument, respectively, wherein the device places a player's wrist in substantially vertical alignment with the corresponding forearm of the player and allows rotation of the wrist for placement of the player's fingers on the fingerboard.

Abstract: A device is provided for assisting beginning players of an unfretted stringed instrument that can be removably attached to the shoulder of an unfretted stringed instrument and is sized such that the device extends out from the shoulder of the instrument a distance of approximately the distance between the first position and third position of the stringed instrument and such that its thickness is approximately the thickness of the body of the instrument.

Abstract: A wrist alignment device for attachment to a stringed musical instrument, the instrument comprising a neck portion comprising a fingerboard on one side of the neck portion and a nose portion contiguous with the neck portion, the device comprising a three-dimensional oblong body comprising a flat planar end and curved sides, the body removably attachable to a side of the neck portion that is opposite the side comprising the fingerboard and at an area where the neck and the nose portion meet, the device sized to come into contact with a ball portion of the hand of a player of the instrument, placing the wrist in a perpendicular position relative to the neck without inhibiting rotation of the wrist as is necessary for proper placement of the fingers on the finger board.

Abstract: Training devices for facilitating proper bow holds on bow sticks of bowed stringed instruments. An exemplary training device may include a fingers stabilizer having a body with one or more thumb opening walls that define a thumb opening in the body. The thumb opening walls and/or the thumb opening may guide a thumb to the bow stick and position an end of the thumb at an approximate intersection of a bow stick frog and a bow stick shaft. The body may also include a finger separator that helps position an index finger and a middle finger on the bow stick. The fingers stabilizer may also have contact areas for positioning a ring finger and a pinky finger on the bow stick.

Abstract: The shoulder rest for a violin and a viola is formed in the manner that the basis of the shoulder rest (1) is partially rolled up in the opposite direction and that enables maximal adjustment to physiological characteristics of the violinist. The strain leg holder (2) is rotated for 180° C. in each direction in the way that the shoulder rest length is reduced from the functional shoulder rest length for one fourth.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a position training device for kinesthetic musical instrument instruction comprising an instrument component and a bow component. The instrument component comprises a main instrument shaft oriented along a main instrument axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, a chin piece attached to the proximal end of the main instrument shaft, and an instrument orthotic grip attached to the distal end of the main instrument shaft and oriented along the main instrument axis. The instrument orthotic grip has a thumb depression, an index finger depression, a middle finger depression, a ring finger depression, and a pinkie finger depression formed thereon. The bow component comprises a main bow shaft oriented along a main bow axis and having a first end and a second end, a bow orthotic grip attached to the first end of the main bow shaft and oriented along the main bow axis, and a bow tip piece attached to the second end of the main bow shaft.

Abstract: The Vibrato trainer comprises: a stem; an attachment assembly for securing said stem to a tuning peg of a musical instrument; and a base; a plurality of pads attached to said base to assure stable placement of said base against said musical instrument; one or more elastic bands attached to said base for securing said base to said musical instrument; and one or more guide posts for guiding the hand and wrist, said guide posts removably attached to said stem. In use the attachment means is attached to the tuning peg of a stringed instrument and the base is placed against the back of the instrument so that the stem is parallel and beneath the finger board of the instrument. So that guideposts contact the wrist to provide a physical reminder that the trainee's wrist is out of position.

Abstract: It takes great effort by players of a bowed string musical instrument to manipulate proper bow-to-string pressure that directly affects the quality of the sound generated. This invention is a training device that provides bow-to-string pressure reading as feedback to players. The device consists of a rib cage, a base unit, and a liquid crystal display unit. The rib cage emulates strings and transfers bow pressure to the base unit. The main components of the base unit include a pressure sensor and microcontroller circuit board. The liquid crystal display unit displays reading sent by the microcontroller board.

Abstract: It takes great effort by players of a bowed string musical instrument to manipulate proper bow-to-string pressure that directly affects the quality of the sound generated. This invention is a training device that provides bow-to-string pressure reading as feedback to players. The device consists of a rib cage, a base unit, and a liquid crystal display unit. The rib cage emulates strings and transfers bow pressure to the base unit. The main components of the base unit include a pressure sensor and microcontroller circuit board. The crystal display unit displays reading sent by the microcontroller board.

Abstract: A chin rest for a musical instrument comprises a body, a first support, a second support, a chin pad and a third support. The first support extends from a first end portion of the body and has at least one clamping member for engaging an upper rim of a musical instrument body. Similarly, the second support extends from a second end portion of the body and has at least one clamping member for engaging the upper rim of the musical instrument body in a position spaced from the first support. The chin pad includes a chin receiving surface for receiving a chin of a performer of the musical instrument, and is coupled to the body. The third support may contact a position along the upper rim of the musical instrument, e.g., between the first and second supports when the chin rest is mounted to a corresponding instrument.

Abstract: An apparatus for teaching the playing of an unfretted stringed instrument, such as a violin or viola, is comprised of a clip and a guide member. The clip is adapted to be releasably attachable to the neck of the instrument near its body. The guide member extends from the clip. The guide member is sized, shaped and positioned to require the player to maintain a substantially straight hand, arm and wrist alignment when playing the instrument. If the player's string hand and wrist are improperly bent while playing the instrument, the player will feel interference from the apparatus. The apparatus is used to teach proper hand, finger, wrist and arm alignment to a student.

Abstract: The Vibrato trainer comprises: a stem; an attachment assembly for securing said stem to a tuning peg of a musical instrument; and a base; a plurality of pads attached to said base to assure stable placement of said base against said musical instrument; one or more elastic bands attached to said base for securing said base to said musical instrument; and one or more guide posts for guiding the hand and wrist, said guide posts removably attached to said stem. In use the attachment means is attached to the tuning peg of a stringed instrument and the base is placed against the back of the instrument so that the stem is parallel and beneath the finger board of the instrument. So that guideposts contact the wrist to provide a physical reminder that the trainee's wrist is out of position.

Abstract: A teaching device for bowed string instruments includes a base connected to a finger support by a stem. The base is used to attach the teaching device to a bow for a bowed string instrument. The base has an outer end and an inner end and a central opening therebetween that receives the bow. The central opening has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bow when the base is attached to the bow. The finger support has hollow body with a closed lower end and an open upper end and a central cavity between the two ends. The central cavity has a longitudinal axis that is positioned at an angle of less than 90° to the longitudinal axis of the base. The player's little finger is positioned within the central cavity of the finger support, which forces the little finger into an angled position with respect to the bow and teaches a player how to maintain a proper grip on the bow.

Abstract: Improved Stringed Instrument Stand with an L shaped bracket having a centrally located clevis joint, a hinged flat stand member, and a retaining clip, the L shaped member capable of retaining a washer, the washer having a plurality of engagement fingers that are able to engage with one of a plurality of mating linear engagement receptacles. The washer has a centrally located aperture that allows the retention of a strap holding screw of a stringed instrument. The washer is able to be placed higher or lower within the L shaped bracket thereby allowing stringed instruments having different body thickness's to be accommodated by the bracket without having to drill additional holes in the body the stringed instrument. A hinged flat stand member folds open to help hold the instrument in an upright position when being placed on a flat surface and folded closed when the instrument is being played.

Abstract: An endpin restraint is provided for a stringed musical instrument having an endpin projecting from the bottom thereof for engagement with a floor surface. The restraint includes an endpin holder adapted to receive the endpin of the musical instrument. An anchoring rod is adapted to be positioned behind front legs of a chair upon which a musician is seated to play the musical instrument. An adjustment strap interconnects the endpin holder and the anchoring rod. With this arrangement, the endpin holder prevents the endpin from sliding across the floor surface and causing damage to a free end of the endpin and the floor surface, and stabilizes the endpin so as to hold the musical instrument in a desired position.

Abstract: A violin shoulder rest that facilitates the optimal positioning of a violin relative to a violin player's body for increased comfort and reduced physical stress, and facilitates the optimal positioning of a microphone relative to the violin to achieve the desired volume and tonal qualities of the sound produced by the instrument. The violin shoulder rest includes an elongated base conformable to a violin player's body, clamping members coupled at opposing ends of the base for clamping the shoulder rest to a violin, and a securement mechanism to secure the respective clamping members to the base. The violin shoulder rest accommodates at least one electrical signal input, and amplification circuitry or other signal processing circuitry for pre-amplifying or otherwise processing the electrical signal input. The violin shoulder rest is configured to mount a positionable microphone subassembly adjacent a respective signal input connector.

Abstract: A playing support device for positioning and supporting a pluck musical instrument such as a guitar in a way which allows the performer to position the instrument in front of the body in a manner as if the instrument were being played in a sitting down position. The playing support device also assists in relieving pull on the shoulder caused by the support strap due to the weight of the instrument. The playing support device includes a cushion attachable to the instrument by adjustable straps which enable a comfortable placement of the cushion between the rear surface of the body of the instrument and the body of the player in the playing position.

Abstract: A support which positions a musical instrument or other device in front of a musician or user in a near-vertical orientation, while comfortably distributing the instrument's weight upon the musician's body. It comprises a strap made from a strip of flexible material which is passed over the shoulder of a musician. The ends are attached to a guitar at points of attachment located upon either side of the guitar's body, a departure from previous practice. Due to the selection of the points of attachment, the guitar is supported in a generally vertical orientation. The tuner head or upper portion of the guitar then extends to a position generally above the musician's shoulder. A shoulder pad of cushioning material is slidably affixed to the underside of the strap. An adjustable cord or strap is attached from the shoulder pad to the guitar's tuner head, whereby the cord can secure and stabilize the positioning of the tuner head and thus the vertical orientation of the guitar.

Abstract: A violin shoulder cradle is provided for supporting a violin or similar stringed instrument on the shoulder of a musician. The cradle broadly includes a base for coupling adjacent the back of the violin body and a shoulder rest. The shoulder rest is contoured to substantially conform to the musician's shoulder while maintaining the desired substantially horizontal orientation of the violin along its longitudinal axis while in use. The outer surface of the shoulder rest is generally sloped from the remote edge toward the proximate edge inwardly toward the base, and includes a waist section which is closest the base, rising toward the first end in a plurality of steps.

Abstract: In order to improve a chin rest for a musical instrument having a chin support and a holding device for holding the chin support on the musical instrument, with the holding device comprising at least one clamping element which is adjustable for clamping the chin support to the musical instrument in a clamping direction, such that it is easy and safe to use, it is proposed that the chin support be provided with an insertion guide for the at least one clamping element, and that the insertion guide be arranged and designed such that the inserting direction is at an incline to the clamping direction.

Abstract: A device for positioning a musical instrument such as a guitar, banjo or mandolin at a predetermined distance from a player's torso so as to improve the instrument's tone. The device includes an arcuate body with a pair of musical instrument-gripping arms affixed to the opposed ends of the arcuate body. A pair of resilient mats are affixed to the concave surface of the arcuate body adjacent each arm. A pair of resilient pads are affixed to the arms so as to overlap the adjacent mat.

Abstract: A universal body pad for string musical instruments such as violins or violas. The pad is made of a unitary body having a cushion portion and an arm portion that conform to a player's body. Both upper and lower surfaces of the cushion and arm portions of the pad frictionally engage with the player's apparel and shoulder, respectively. The upper and lower surfaces can be either smooth or uneven. The cushion portion is curved at its upper surface and recessed at its lower surface to support the instrument and allow non-slip contacts with the player's body or undergarment and the player's apparel or outer garment. The arm portion is extended from the cushion portion to allow additional non-slip contacts with the player's body undergarment and the player's apparel or outer garment. An additional layer, which is made of same or different material and configured with same or different surface pattern variations, may be added to the pad at its lower and upper surfaces for extra comfort and/or friction.

Abstract: A guitar or like instrument harness apparatus which suspends the instrument (50) upon a player (60) and enables precise control and subtle manipulation of the instrument position in relation to the body and in a closer accordance with the principles governing proper body mechanics. The apparatus utilizes three separate movable clamp anchors (40) designed to be attached about the main body of the instrument (50). The apparatus contains male end quick-lock-release clasps (42). Two separate strap assemblies; a double-shoulder strap assembly (20) and a double-back strap assembly (30) interconnect with each other and assume position on the player (60). The front ends of the shoulder straps (26) are separately connected to a chest cross member (22) which contains sliding strap displacement guide members (28) for controlling the displacement of the shoulder straps (26) upon the player's shoulders.

Abstract: The device consists of a chin rest which simulates the chin rest portion of a violin and rests on the shoulder of the violin player and underneath the chin. The hollow tube with markings extends from the chin rest portion of the device. A second tube telescopes into and out of the first tube and includes a marker that slides along a groove that is in juxtaposition to the markings on the first or hollow tube.

Abstract: A grand piano having a lower lid attached thereto by hinges, and a lid designed for attachment to the bottom of a grand piano. The lid completely covers the bottom of the piano case when latched in a closed position. In its closed position, the lower lid protects the soundboard from damage (such as during transportation of the piano) and mutes the piano's sound. The lower lid of the invention is designed so that, when released from its closed position and pivoted downward into an open position, it will reflect sound from the soundboard outward from the front of the piano. Preferably, the angular orientation of the lower lid in its open position is chosen to reinforce and focus the projection of sound within a desired frequency range (for example, midrange sounds) to a desired target region. Such optimal angular orientation can be determined experimentally.