Abstract: A removable device for positioning a user's forearm and hand in relation to a guitar is provided. The removable device comprises: (i) a first strap overlying a first portion of the guitar and having attached thereto a first pad and a second pad; (ii) a second strap overlying a second portion of the guitar and joined to the first strap via a first connector, wherein the first connector is coupled to the guitar at a first point; and (iii) an adjustment mechanism overlying a third portion of the guitar and joined to the first strap, the second strap, the first connector, and a second connector, wherein the second connector is coupled to the guitar at a second point.

Abstract: A wrist training assembly that is intended for use by releasably clamping it to a piano keyboard with a predetermined amount of clamping force. The assembly is releasably locked in place but the clamping and locking functions are separated so that the finish and structure of the piano are protected. The assembly is rapidly installed and uninstalled from a wide variety of pianos without alteration to either the pianos or the assembly. The keyslip of the piano has a first face that faces and is spaced from the keys to define a channel between the piano keys and the first face. A training bar member is mounted to a clamping unit so that it extends a predetermined distance from and generally parallel to the channel. Preferably, two spaced apart mounting hook members are pivotally mounted to the training bar member and adapted to engage with the first face of the keyslip.

Abstract: A musical teaching device has a carriage to be placed in juxtaposition with a piano keyboard. The carriage has a pair of gloves slidably attached to move along the length of the carriage. The fingers of the gloves include signaling devices to indicate proper movement. The carriage and gloves are connected to a controller that commands proper hand positioning and finger movement to play a musical score loaded in the controller. The controller is powered by a computer program.

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: A training shoe is disclosed. The shoe, preferably a soft shoe such as a slipper is designed to emit audio and/or physical stimuli which assists the user in learning dance or other steps. The shoe comprises electromechanical members which are responsive to electrical output signals to control movement to guide a user to perform the appropriate dance steps. In preferred embodiments, the shoe also comprises a loudspeaker through which music is played. In alternate embodiments, the electromechanical members are responsive to audio stimuli such as the music from the loudspeaker on the shoe or from other musical sources.

Abstract: A pair of gloves with integral weights on the back of the hand and on the back of the fingers is provided to provide muscle strengthening for specific tasks, such as in practicing a musical instrument. Such use gives the user the perception of lighter hands resulting in quicker hand movement and increased dexterity.

Abstract: An exercise device for musicians is provided which effects the forcible spreading of the fingers and thumb of the hand by a series of rings mounted upon two track-like members, upon the first track being four finger rings, and upon the second track being a ring for the thumb, each ring being movable along its track and having locking device for the purpose of positioning the thumb and fingers into forcibly spread-apart positions, and locking that position such that the musician can increase the operable reach of the hand.

Abstract: A keyboard instrument is provided, comprising a keyboard housing having a top and a bottom; a handle attached to and extending from the bottom of the keyboard housing; a keyboard having a plurality of keys operatively attached to the top of the housing; a plurality of keyboard controls, mounted on the keyboard housing; a sound component housing; at least one speaker mounted in the sound component housing; a synthesizer, mounted within the sound component housing; and keyboard, sound component and communications circuitry. The instrument may include a volume expression control mounted in the handle, enabling user to control volume expression while maintaining the instrument in a horizontally oriented plane.

Abstract: An exercise device is formed from a generally single-piece, stiff frame having loops at the end of the frame for holding two non-adjacent fingers in a fixed position while leaving the remaining fingers free to exercise. This frame may be combined with a riser secured to the black keys on a piano for the purpose of exercising the hand and fingers. The riser is usable separately from the exercise device.

Abstract: A playing aid is disclosed to be mounted on the hand for positioning the thumb and fingers to enable the playing of selected intervals of musical pitches on a keyboard instrument such as a piano, organ, synthesizer and the like. The thumb and fourth finger are rigidly held apart a predetermined amount by a pair of grips interconnected by a raised bridging portion adapted to elevate the remaining fingers above the plane of the grips. The device enables simultaneous depression of at least a pair of keys corresponding to selected tonal intervals.

Abstract: A make-break contact assembly useful in the art of musical education comprises switch means and is mounted upon expandible strap means intended to encircle the head of a student to pass adjacent to the chin area and lower jaw and to be responsive to jaw movements to expand or contract the strap means to precipitate the make contact and break contact electrical states of the contact assembly, respectively, selectively indicative of a proper jaw position resulting in proper mouth-playing orientation or an improper jaw position resulting in improper mouth-playing orientation, and visual signalling differentiating between proper and improper jaw positions.