Abstract: A song text information input system allows a user to easily input song text control information for controlling the display manner of song texts on the screen without having preknowledge of specific rules for control and use of character codes. The system displays a song text input window that contains a song text expansion area and switch buttons corresponding to a change-line switch and a change-page switch respectively. Using a keyboard, the user is able to sequentially input characters of a song text, which are displayed in the song text expansion area on the screen. As for entry of the song text control information, the user operates specific keys of the keyboard or clicks the switch buttons with a mouse to input special marks such as a change-line mark ‘/’ and a change-page mark ‘<’, which correspond to specific control character codes.

Abstract: There are provided an electronic musical instrument having a performance guidance function and a performance guidance method which enable a player to easily carry out a smooth and ideal performance even if the player is a beginner, and a storage medium storing a program for executing the same method. The electronic musical instrument has a plurality of display devices arranged in association with the performance operating elements, respectively, each comprising a pair of display elements corresponding to left and right hands of the player, respectively. Automatic performance data of a musical composition is input, for which the player is guided for performance.

Abstract: A music teaching instrument adapted to teach a player the notes of a musical scale so that the notes will be remembered. The instrument includes a sound system having a memory in which is stored audible tones of the musical scale, and means to reproduce a tone extracted from the memory so that it can be heard by the player. A keyboard is provided having a row of keys corresponding to the tones of the scale. Switching means are associated with the keys and are coupled to the sound system whereby when a key in the row is actuated by the player, a corresponding tone is then reproduced. A row of puppets is behind the row of keys, each puppet being normally inactive and in registration with a respective key. Means responsive to actuation of a key serve to activate the corresponding puppet, whereby the puppet then appears to be voicing the tone being reproduced.

Abstract: When the student selects a music piece or tune, for example of an 8-beat rhythm, the display panel exhibits a plurality of rhythm study pieces of music of the 8-beat rhythm. Among the displayed plural pieces, the student selects a desired one arbitrarily, and then the apparatus displays a tablature, a musical notation suitable for the instrument, for example, the guitar, corresponding to the selected rhythm study piece. The tablature indicates, for example, the string and the fret positions to depress among the six strings of the guitar, together with the indication of the stroke direction by means of arrows or other marks at every manipulating timing. The student practices the guitar according to the displayed tablature and indications.

Abstract: A performance evaluation apparatus presents a reference performance of a music piece for practice. The user inputs manual performance operations in tempo with the presented reference performance. The apparatus compares the inputted manual performance and the reference performance, and outputs an evaluation report as to the correctness of the manual performance with respect to the reference performance. In one embodiment, the apparatus is provided with an outputting condition designating device for the user to designate whether to output an evaluation report after the practice performance is over. In another embodiment, the apparatus is provided with an evaluation span designating device for the user to designate performance spans about which the user's practice performance is to be evaluated. The apparatus outputs an evaluation report according to the user's designation.

Abstract: A music teaching instrument adapted to teach a player the notes of a musical scale so that the notes will be remembered. The instrument includes a sound system having a memory in which is stored audible tones of the musical scale, and means to reproduce a tone extracted from the memory so that it can be heard by the player. A keyboard is provided having a row of keys corresponding to the tones of the scale. Switching means are associated with the keys and are coupled to the sound system whereby when a key in the row is actuated by the player, a corresponding tone is then reproduced. A row of puppets is behind the row of keys, each puppet being normally inactive and in registration with a respective key. Means responsive to actuation of a key serve to activate the corresponding puppet, whereby the puppet then appears to be voicing the tone being reproduced.

Abstract: A piano roll score, a word input/edit area and a word continuous display area are displayed. Note bars corresponding to notes of a melody are displayed on the piano roll score. The word input/edit area is divided into input cells having a length corresponding to a tempo number of each note. A pointer is moved to the input cell and a mouse is left-clicked to display an editor area. A letter(s) or character(s) is input by using a word processor function. The pointer is moved to the input cell and the mouse is right-clicked to display a command select box. A display command is selected from the command select box and input, the display command controlling a display style of a song-word character train in the word continuous display area. A dictionary database is used to search a song word by using the number of syllables and a part of speech as search keys. A sentence syntax is selected by using a sentence syntax template.

Abstract: A digital sheet music display system capable of storing and retrieving a large number of musical scores and capable of displaying a musical score in a format identical to paper sheet paper. The digital sheet music display system is lightweight and highly portable and provides the musician, music teacher, and music student with state-of-the-art technology right at their fingertips.

Abstract: An audio-acoustic proficiency test method transduces, captures, measures, compares, analyzes, records, and reports on the actual performance of at least one performer's produced orderly sound sequence (pitch and rhythm). It also issues proficiency performance certificates, certified copies of the audio-acoustic performance, performance growth and statistics, or player rewards in game modes, lessons or practice scheduling and training through a transport means selected from the group of the Internet, television, and a computer network. The apparatus comprises a performer or sound generation source, transducer, central processing unit, random access memory, archival storage unit, output printer, user display and user input devices.

Abstract: An electronic device and method for objective testing of proficiency in the performance of scales, arpeggios, and other standard musical exercises, and for evaluating the results according to recognized standards of perfect pitch and rhythm. A combination of microprocessor, digital signal processor, memory, and user interface (2, 5, 8, 3) creates and stores a test sequence as played by a musician, and also the same test sequence as produced by the testing device, the latter being made audible during the test (6). The microprocessor then analyses and compares the two versions of the test sequence, sending various kinds of reports to the output printer or video display (7).

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for, and novel methods of representing the content of a musical score in an animated format that graphically prompts the user of a keyboard instrument. The graphic format elucidates features of the score in a way that may also be useful as a supplement to conventional keyboard instruction. The animation is displayed on the screen of a computer monitor together with a live video image of the user's hands on a musical keyboard. Viewing only the images on the monitor, the user guides his fingers to the keys targeted by the animation. He is thus able to play the proper keys on the real keyboard without diverting his eyes from the monitor. In the preferred embodiment, the system provides a real time display of both the score information, keyboard and the user's hand placement relative to the keyboard. Preferably, the display of the musical score includes a note position depicted in a horizontal relationship to the keyboard, and includes a temporal indication for the notes.

Abstract: An explanation for a function selected for a help display is displayed in text on a display screen, and a light-emitting element disposed to correspond to a switch for performing the selected function is operated to blink or light, so that the trouble of finding an operation element when a desired function is performed can be reduced.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for displaying musical score data in a display area. In the apparatus, a specifying device specifies a display range of original musical score data. An extracting device extracts musical score data included in the display range from the original musical score data and extracts musical information precluded from the display range but influencing the extracted musical score data from the original musical score data. A determining device determines whether a supplementary display is necessary or not in accordance with the specified display range. A setting device divides the display area into a main display area and an auxiliary display area when the supplementary display is necessary. A display device displays the extracted musical score data in the main display area and concurrently displays the extracted musical information in the auxiliary display area. The display area may be divided into a plurality of display sub areas.

Abstract: An application program for generating performance data of a user input musical score performs a modifying process of modifying only a note with a musical sign such as a turn sign, so that as the generated performance data is reproduced, unnatural musical sounds are generated. For example, as a player uses a turn rendering with an acoustic piano or the like, there is a tendency that a key depression force for a note just after the turn rendering also becomes weak. With conventional techniques, however, this state cannot be automatically realized. In order to generate performance data whose notes are coupled naturally, output performance data is first generated at Steps SP10 or SP18 for a note (subject note) with a turn sign. Then, a velocity of performance data for a note (related note) positioned immediately after the subject note is weakened at Step SP12 or SP20.

Abstract: Keyboard musical performances are converted to MIDI signals which are coupled to a plurality of remote venues where the music is recreated in a plurality of live real time performances.

Abstract: The system of musical notation includes a series of alphabetic characters “C”, “D”, “E”, “F”, “G”, “A” and “B” representing tones C through B, and a series of alphabetic characters “H”, “I”, “J”, “K” and “L” representing tones C♯ (D♭), D♯ (E♭), F♯ (G♭), G♭ (A♭) and A♯ (B♭), respectively. A timing grid is divided horizontally into an upper register section, a middle register section and a lower register section. The middle register section accommodates characters A, L, B, C, H, D, I and E, with character C representing the middle C tone of a keyboard instrument. The upper register section accommodates characters representing tones higher in pitch than tone E, the lower register section, accommodates characters, representing tones lower in pitch than tone A.

Abstract: A system for associating musical notation with keys on a musical instrument includes musical notations marked on a surface. The musical notations comprise a plurality of musical notes, with each of the musical notes having a color. The color of each of the musical notes corresponds to a color assigned to a particular key to be pressed on the musical instrument. Each color is represented by one of the twelve tones. Also included is a plurality of stickers for coupling to the keys of the musical instrument. Each sticker has one of twelve colors corresponding to the color of one of the tones in an octave of keys of the musical instrument. Illustratively, one of twelve colors is exclusively assigned to each one of the twelve tones in an octave of keys on the musical instrument.

Abstract: A music performance assisting system analyzes a set of music data codes representative of a series of notes and rests forming a tune, and selectively assigns the notes to the five fingers of each hand of a player, wherein the music performance assisting system temporarily assigns notes of each of plural note groups to the fingers in accordance with rules of a fingering for obtaining candidates of a finger pattern, and, thereafter, evaluates the candidates on the basis of rules of a desirable fingering so as to determine the optimum use of fingers so as to decrease the data base and speed up the data processing.

Abstract: A performance training apparatus reads out a plurality of items of melody data each including a part, outputs all the plurality of items of melody data excluding an item of melody data including a particular part with a delay of a predetermined time compared to the item of melody data including a particular part. A light emitting element provided for each of operation elements of a keyboard is turned on to progress of performance of the item of melody data including a particular melody part for guiding operation of a corresponding operation element. All the delayed items of melody data each including a different melody part excluding an item of melody data including a particular melody part are fed along with performance data produced by the performer's performance to an external sound source to produce a musical sound.

Abstract: A music organizer and entertainment center provides a center having a microprocessor, sound card functions and high-volume data storage and retrieval units for playing back music according to a variety of predetermined categories. Music can be played back in random form or can be played back according to a particular pre-selected order. The categories are provided by service provider who delivers selected titles and/or songs to the end user. The songs are typically loaded using a custom CD-ROM provided from the service provider. The music is provided in data-compressed form and is decompressed and processed through a sound card during playback. The categories can include a variety of parameters such as title, artists, date, speed, dance characteristics, subjective energy level and music style, such as easy-listening, upbeat, etc.

Abstract: A removably attachable musical instrument and illuminator positioning accessory is disclosed which comprises at least one laser beam emitter which serves to generally illuminate a particular portion of the instrument, and to particularly illuminate the area surrounding the point of contact between the musician's fingers and the instrument.

Abstract: A succession of music note data are provided. Those music note data which partially overlap in duration are corrected so that they completely overlap in duration. The corrected music note data are used for music navigation. As a result, the apparatus can properly guide a player to play chords or operate a plurality of keys at the same time.

Abstract: An adaptor module includes a graphical user interface having a video display and a touch responsive overlay. The graphical user interface displays graphical images representing parameters of an electronic musical instrument and generating control signals. A computer system is also included in the adaptor module for driving the graphical user interface. A music stand for supporting sheet material, wherein the graphical user interface forms part of the music stand. The graphical user interface can be mounted in an opening in the music stand and can provide a touch screen that is flush with the music support surface or recessed. The computer system is adapted for receiving signals from the electronic musical instrument.

Abstract: Plural key-displaying elements are provided in corresponding relation to plural keys. A series of performance information is divided into plural phrases, namely sections, and for each of the phrases, the displays corresponding to keys to be performed within the phrase are together lit, so as to guide a player about keys to be depressed. There is provided a phrase dividing device or program for automatically dividing a series of performance information into phrases on the basis of the contents of the information, so that a phrase-by-phrase key-depression instructing display can be effected. All the displaying elements corresponding to keys to be depressed within a phrase are lit, and as the performance progresses, the displaying element corresponding to each of the keys to be next depressed is changed from the lit state over to a blinking state.

Abstract: An electronic musical apparatus for effectively displaying musical information such as notes and beats is configured using a keyboard, a visual display (e.g., liquid crystal display) and a storage device. A keyboard pattern, a bass staff and a treble staff are displayed on a screen of the visual display. Herein, the keyboard pattern is displayed at a lower base area of the screen while the bass staff is displayed at a lower left area of the screen, and the treble staff is displayed at an upper right area of the screen. In addition, a right end of the bass staff and a left end of the treble staff are located approximately in proximity to a center of the keyboard pattern which corresponds to a key of middle C note in a horizontal direction on the screen. Based on performance data stored in the storage device, keys of the keyboard pattern are respectively displayed to show a progression of notes of a tune.

Abstract: Prestored melody data is read out as the performance of the melody progresses. When event data contained in the read melody data represents a key to be depressed for a melody performance, the key represented by the event data is indicated to a performer. When the performer does not depress the key even when a timing when the key is to be depressed has passed, reading the melody data is stopped until the key is depressed. When the performer depresses the key before the timing when the key is to be depressed, relevant event contained in the melody data to be read out in a time period between the time when the key was actuated and the time when the timing at which the key is to be depressed comes is rapidly read out. When the event data rapidly read out contains volume control event data, the processing of the event data is changed such that the volume of the musical sound to be produced is minimized.

Abstract: A keyboard, having a plurality of keys arranged so as to be pivotable upward and downward and a plurality of light emitters arranged under the keys in one-to-one correspondence therewith, selectively causes the light emitters to emit light, thereby teaching keys to be depressed. A base resin, which forms each of the plurality of keys, has transparency and contains a pigment which colors the base resin and a light scattering agent having a light diffusion property. By virtue of the use of the pigment and the light scattering agent, a surface color which confers a refined feature on the keys can be realized, and accordingly a product with an excellent appearance can be attained. Moreover, by virtue of the blending of the pigment and the light scattering agent, the keys can shine uniformly without a difference in brightness when their corresponding light emitters are lighted, and a keyboard instrument player can fully recognize by his/her eyes that the keys shine.

Abstract: A music navigator provides a visual image indication or presentation of fingering motion of a hand in playing notes. In an embodiment, the music navigator employs a fingered music storage and a hand image device. When music is played on a keyboard instrument, the music navigator reads fingered music data and selects appropriate hand image data indicative of fingering motion (e.g., turning over or under of a finger) in playing a current note for visual display. In another embodiment, the music navigator provides a sequence of hand images representative of fingering motion in playing notes in a motion picture manner.

Abstract: A musical workstation system produces a display presentation in one of a musical composition responsive to musical composition data and responsive to one or both of input variables and a selected operating mode. The system is comprised of (1) means to provide the musical composition data (such as local storage (ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, hard disk etc.), or via a communications interface to an external device (such as another music workstation, a master controller, a computer), a memory, a selection subsystem, a controller, and a display subsystem. The memory selectively stores the received original musical compositions. The selection subsystem determines a selected operating mode and display format. The controller, responsive to the selection subsystem, provides means for selectively controlling the storing of the musical composition data in memory and selectively processing (e.g.

Abstract: A keyboard instrument is configured such that a flat panel-like display unit such as a liquid crystal display for displaying character information and/or images is provided on an instrument main body and that speakers, a recording/reproducing unit for multi media such as sound and/or image recording media, a microphone and a "karaoke" reproduction unit are connected to the display unit so as to improve the function of displaying a notation and/or lyric at the time of a performance, a performance function such as an ensemble performance or "karaoke" performance, and a tuning function.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument, a controllable auto-player function controls to read out note data for an auto-play at the timings responsive to external instructions by an operation means, producing tones based on the readout note data. A display means displays in advance the tone generation timings of the respective tones to be generated on the basis of the note data with notation using a row of graphic patterns and their spacings. The graphic pattern changes to another pattern to indicate the note that has been instructed for tone generation.

Abstract: An electric tutor is assembled with an upright piano having a keyboard and a key stop rail laterally extending over the rear end portions of the black/white keys, and includes a comb-like flexible indicator attached to the key stop rail, wherein the comb-like flexible indicator has flexible insulating strips connected to a rigid printed board attached to the key stop rail by means of connectors and lying on the black/white keys, optical indicators attached to the flexible insulating strips and signal lines printed on the back surfaces of the flexible insulating strips for selectively supplying driving signals to the optical indicators for radiating light, thereby guiding the fingers of a player in accordance with a music score.

Abstract: In performance data storing tracks, there are stored, in a mixed condition, actual performance data including pairs of pitch data designating a pitch of a tone to be performed and volume data of audible level designating a volume of the tone and fake performance data including pairs of pitch data designating a pitch of a predetermined performance tone and tone volume controlling data of non-audible level and fake performance data including pairs of pitch data designating a pitch of a predetermined performance tone and volume controlling data of non-audible level. Besides, the fake performance data for the predetermined performance tone is stored so as to be read out in advance of the actual data for the performance tone. The read-out fake performance data can be identified from the non-audible level of its volume designating data. In response to the fake performance data, a predetermined preliminary indication is made for preannouncing a key or other performance operating member to be operated.

Abstract: A portable light control keyboard for electrically energizing illuminating devices using piano keys, wherein each piano key, when depressed, activates switches so as to provide power to a receptacle into which an illuminating device such as a light or bank of lights is connected. The portable light control keyboard provides a visual rhythmic accompaniment to musical performances and productions.

Abstract: A display device displaying a plurality of information sets with a simple structure, and a keyboard instrument that has a key guide device including such a display device. The display is driven at cycles shorter than those discernible by human beings, and the time ratio of ON period to OFF period for the display is changed based on control data. More specifically, the ON state and OFF state are inverted each drive cycle, or the number of cycles during which the display is in ON or OFF state can selected, or the drive cycles are cyclically changed to turn ON the display means only in a designated cycle. In this manner, the luminance of and the hues of the display can be changed relative to the continuous lighting, and a plurality of information sets can be displayed based on this change. This display device may be employed as a fingering guide display device for a keyboard instrument, and position data for keys to be depressed and other playing guide information are displayed at the same time.

Abstract: A music organizer and entertainment center provides a center having a microprocessor, sound card functions and high-volume data storage and retrieval units for playing back music according to a variety of predetermined categories. Music can be played back in random form or can be played back according to a particular pre-selected order. The categories are provided by service provider who delivers selected titles and/or songs to the end user. The songs are typically loaded using a custom CD-ROM provided from the service provider. The music is provided in- data-compressed form and is decompressed and processed through a sound card during playback. The categories can include a variety of parameters such as title, artists, date, speed, dance characteristics, subjective energy level and music style, such as easy-listening, upbeat, etc.

Abstract: According to the present invention comprises a plurality of diatonic note playing fret or key, each said diatonic note playing fret or key having a diatonic note playing surface and playing a corresponding diatonic note. Also included is a plurality of diatonic sheets, each said sheet comprising a note color associated with a particular diatonic note, wherein each said diatonic note playing surface has at least one diatonic sheet secured to it such that the note color comprising the sheet corresponds to the diatonic note played by the diatonic note playing fret or key.

Abstract: A woodwind-styled electronic musical instrument comprises an instrument body of an elongated rod shape provided with a plurality of manipulating note keys arranged thereon for designating musical notes to be played, and a mouthpiece arranged at the top end of the instrument body and including a lip sensor for detecting a bite condition of the player. Musical tones are produced according to the designation by the note keys and to the bite condition. On the front surface of the instrument body in the slope area near the top end thereof are arranged a first and second LED'S. In a tight-lip control condition, the bite condition is detected to be neutral level when the lip sensor detects a middle extent of the bite degree, while in a loose-lip control condition, the bite condition is detected to be neutral level when the lip sensor detects a substantially zero extent of the bite degree.

Abstract: An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument, having selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds; a signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different digital audio sources, including the groups of sounds and the individual sounds a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of the audio signals generated by the generator; and, a controller responsive to operation of the control graphic for adjusting the controllable parameters of the generator and for selectively coupling different ones of the sources to the generator. The graphical user interface can comprise: a video display; and, a touch-responsive overlay. The controllable parameters can include multiple instrument sound selection and sound layer assignment, controlled responsive to operation of the at least one control graphic.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument having a keyboard range display device with which the positions of player's hands or fingers on a keyboard and the keys to be depressed as needed, are visually identified, comprises right hand and left hand range display means for displaying keyboard ranges to be covered by right and left hand fingers, and preferably, note-on position display means. Display data included in play data, is used to turn on each display means. A player immediately and intuitively perceives the range that is defined, so that he can easily move his fingers to correspond with the range. Even when the hands are near each other during a performance, the player can clearly identify the positions of the hands on the keyboard and the fingers to be used for key depression.

Abstract: A performance instructing apparatus is provided which reproduces a music piece according to automatic performance data, and displays a drawing of a display keyboard that is oriented in the same direction as a keyboard through which a player enters pitch information, and a key operation region corresponding to each key of the display keyboard. The key operation region represents a period from a point of time when the key is to be depressed by the player to a point of time when the key is to be released. The key operation region is scrolled such that the region approaches the display keyboard as the music piece is reproduced.

Abstract: An electronic piano includes an electronic keyboard; a graphical user interface, having a video display and a touch responsive overlay, for displaying graphical images representing controllable parameters of the electronic piano and generating control signals; a control system for the electronic piano and the graphical user interface; a piano housing supporting the electronic keyboard and providing a desk surface above the keyboard; and a music stand mounted to the desk surface for supporting sheet material, wherein the graphical user interface forms part of the music stand. The graphical user interface can be mounted in an opening in the music stand and can provide a touch screen flush with the music support surface or recessed.

Abstract: An apparatus for composing a melody by switching musical phrases sequentially corresponding to key input signals, and playing the switched musical phrases smoothly. The apparatus selects musical phrase data, which consists of note data and phrase change information data from a memory corresponding to the key input signals, then reads selected phrase data and plays a musical phrase corresponding to the phrase data. If a key input signal is detected during the playing of a musical phrase, the apparatus selects phrase data corresponding to the signal at the timing that the latest phrase change information data is read after the detection. The note data has a predetermined scale note value and read timing. The phrase change information data has a predetermined read timing. The scale note value and the read timing are predetermined so that a melody becomes in rhythm and in tune when musical phrases are sequentially played according to the note data that are included in selected phrase data.

Abstract: When the action of key depression is paused in a semi-automatic play mode, the semi-automatic playing is switched to automatic playing. When the key depression is made in the automatic playing, the playing is shifted back to the semi-automatic playing. An electronic musical instrument includes a semi-automatic play timing controlling means responsive to a key-depression by a player for controlling the first timing for tone generation, and an automatic play timing controlling means responsive to a timing information contained in a musical playing data for controlling the second timing for tone generation. The automatic playing is enabled when the key depression is not detected within a predetermined duration of time in the semi-automatic playing with the first timing controlled by the semi-automatic play timing controlling means.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment provides an electronic learning aid which includes a housing having a hand pad that is sized and shaped to receive a child's hand. The hand pad has five finger portions with each having a finger switch embedded therein that is positioned to be actuated by the child's finger. An indicator is mounted in close proximity to and associated with each finger portion to indicate the appropriate finger to be depressed on the hand pad. A keyboard assembly, having an abbreviated keyboard, is also mounted on the housing. A light emitting diode is mounted directly beneath each white key so that each white key can be illuminated to indicate the appropriate key to be depressed. A microcomputer having a speech synthesizer provides instruction to the student and controls the operation of the electronic learning aid.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic musical instrument comprised of operators organized in repeating patterns of seven. The operators are electronically interpreted to correspond only to the valid notes of a selected scale. The repeating patterns of seven notes directly corresponds to the vast majority of mucis theory and thus constitutes an enormous simplification in the art of learning, performing and composing music. The present invention enables users of the electronic musical instrument to master chord and note progressions in any scale and mode by learning only a single set of note patterns, in contrast to the myriad scales, chord and note patterns which must be learned on traditional keyboard and pedal devices.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a plurality of performance operation elements such as a plurality of keys on a keyboard, wherein a series of memorized performance data indicative of the performance operation elements are successively read out in accordance with lapse of a time to instruct a performance operation element to be operated by a player on a basis of the read out performance data, and wherein the readout of the performance data is repeatedly designated to return a readout position of the performance data in a predetermined section to a previously read out position of the performance data.

Abstract: An electronic guitar music simulation system which includes a guitar shaped keyboard having multiple key switches corresponding to various musical notes. A control processor within the guitar shaped keyboard is utilized to detect each change in a key switch state and infrared transmitter then transmits a unique code corresponding to the change in state for each key switch. A battery powered infrared receiver unit receives each unique code and couples binary codes to the processor of a personal computer system, via an electrical connection to a parallel port of the computer system. A software module within the computer system then converts the binary code into a corresponding audio output signal which may be output via the computer system speaker. A power control circuit within the infrared receiver unit activates the infrared receiver unit only in response to a selected control signal from the computer system, preventing false activation of the infrared receiver unit.

Abstract: A musical data inputting apparatus comprising a touch panel for receiving a hand-writing operation thereon detects a figure and/or a symbol drawn on the touch panel by the hand-writing operation, and further recognizes intensity of depression or the number of depressions applied on the touch panel by the hand-writing operation. The apparatus recognizes musical data such as pitches and lengths of notes, a tonality and/or a time of music based on the detected figure and symbol and the recognized intensity and number of depressions of the hand writing operation. Musical data can be input without precisely writing the whole of the musical data themselves on the touch panel.

Abstract: Indicators are provided in corresponding relations to individual keyboard keys. For each of plural phrases of a given music piece, information is supplied that represents at least the highest-pitch note to the lowest note in the phrase. During performance of the music piece and on the basis of the supplied information, the indicators, for each phrase, indicates all notes within a range from the highest-pitch note to the lowest note of the phrase. Thus, the player can easily position his hands over accurate keys and thereby can comfortably carry out performance operations for each phrase. Notes to be performed in each phrase after a first note corresponding to predetermined performance timing in the phrase may be indicated in different manners (for example, by varying degrees of brightness) depending on performance timing differences, from the first note performance timing, of the notes.