Musical Rhythmic Teaching Block System

U.S. Patent : Pending

Inventor : Alicia Jonas

About Alicia Jonas: Alicia Jonas is an experienced music educator, pianist and composer. She is a Graduate from the Warsaw Conservatory of Music, and was trained at The Juilliard School and Mannes School of Music in New York City. Alicia Jonas has lectured, performed and published internationally. She has participated as a judge in various auditions and contests. Ms. Jonas actively contributes to EPTA Piano Journal and has been recognized for her innovative training method by many distinguished musicians from respected institutions. She is also a certified Steinway Educational Partner. Click here for more information on Alicia Jonas.

As attorney for the inventor of the innovative new method for Teaching Musical Rhythm we are currently seeking investors and manufacturing companies to license, purchase patent rights or enter into a royalty agreement for this timely invention. Interested parties can reach the attorney at the contact numbers listed at the bottom of this page.

The present invention relates generally to teaching music and, more specifically, to a set of magnetically attached blocks marked for standard rhythmic notes and rest values for use in teaching the rhythmic system of music. A user may place appropriate blocks together to form musical sequences and practice educational exercises. On each block two opposing sides are fitted with magnets for connecting to one another. The blocks are either colored black to represent notes or white to represent rests. The remaining four sides of the primary blocks have markings that are based on the quarter note value and its rhythmic equivalent. Other blocks of the present invention make up a full set, representative of values such as eighth notes, sixteenth notes and their equivalents, while also varying in size, matching their rhythmic proportion to said primary blocks. Typically a complete set of the present invention consists of 50 blocks that can all be connected to one another magnetically.

Exercises & Games

Exercise 1

The Missing Block:

The teacher takes a measure of music and 'removes' one duration (a note or rest). The student then is required to search the blocks to find the 'missing' duration.

Game 1

Completing the Measure! (for two to four players):

Object: to 'fill in' a single measure with a variety of duration blocks.

All blocks are placed into a container, box, or bag so that the blocks can not be seen. First, a meter is chosen, (4/4, 6/8, 2/4, etc.), then each player takes a turn reaching into the container and removing one block. The player may not look into the container that contains the blocks but may of course feel for the size of a particular block. Each player takes a turn and gradually 'fills-in' the chosen measure. After all players have drawn a block in turn, a new round may start. Players continue taking blocks until the first player completes the measure and is the winner! The durations (represented by the blocks) must fill the measure exactly, and not exceed the measure. Players may choose not to 'use' blocks if they do not fit into the measure.

Invention Objects & Goals

to provide a set of magnetic blocks having musical indicia for use in teaching the rhythmic system of music

to provide a set of magnetic blocks that can be easily utilized to put together and teach rhythmic patterns and time signatures

to provide a music learning tool that is fun, simple and easy to use

to provide a set of magnetic blocks having two opposed sides that contain magnets for inter connection to one another

to provide a set of magnetic blocks having four of its sides forming a primary block having indicia relative to the value of a quarter notes and its rhythmic equivalent

to provide a set of magnetic blocks having coloration of either black or white with black blocks representing notes while the white blocks are representative of rests

to provide a set of magnetic blocks representing other rhythmic values such as eighth or sixteenth notes and their rhythmic equivalent and having a size representative of said values

Patent Drawings

The following pictures are meant to display possible physical characteristics of the present invention and are not to be taken in a limiting sense. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 present invention 26 time signature block

12 music block 27 musical note block

14 primary block 28 musical note

16 musical indicia 30 time signature/rest

18 magnet 32 eighth note

20 gray block 34 sixteenth note

22 white block 36 quarter note

24 side of 12 38 rhythmic value related to the music blocks

patent drawing

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention 10. The present invention is a musical rhythmic system of music blocks 12 that are designed to aid students to understand the rhythmic system. The primary blocks 14 are based on a value of a quarter notes 36 including eighth notes 32 and sixteenth notes 34. Each primary block has four sides containing musical indicia 16 symbolizing a quarter note and its rhythmic equivalent. Other blocks 12, making up a full set, have musical indicia 16 representing other rhythmic values like eighth notes, sixteenth notes and their rhythmic equivalent. These blocks 12 vary in size, matching their rhythmic value and always in proportion to the primary block. Blocks 12 are represented in two colors, grey 20 and white 22, imitating the piano keyboard. Grey blocks 20 represent value of the notes 28 while white blocks 22 represent value of rests. Other blocks 12 represent time signatures 30. All blocks can be connected together by the user 24 with magnets 18 to create a musical line or phrase. A complete set consists of fifty blocks.

patent drawing

FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the present invention 10. The present invention is a musical rhythmic system of music blocks 12 that are designed to aid students to understand the rhythmic system. The primary blocks are based on a value of a quarter notes. Each primary block has four sides containing musical indicia 16 symbolizing a quarter note and its rhythmic equivalent. Other blocks 12, making up a full set, have musical indicia 16 representing other rhythmic values like eighth notes, sixteenth notes and their rhythmic equivalent. These blocks 12 vary in size, matching their rhythmic value and always in proportion to the primary block. Blocks 12 are represented in two colors, grey 20 and white 22, imitating the piano keyboard. Grey blocks 20 represent value of the notes while white blocks 22 represent value of rests. Other blocks 12 represent time signatures. All blocks can be connected together by magnets 18 to create a musical line or phrase. A complete set consists of fifty blocks.

patent drawing

FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3 is a sample of a musical block of the present invention 10. Shown are a primary block 14 and the four musical indicia 16 that appear on one of the gray blocks 20. Four sides 24 of the blocks 12 contain musical indicia 16 while the remaining two opposing sides 24 are magnetic 18.

patent drawing

FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4 is a sample of a musical block of the present invention 10. Shown are a time signature block 26 and the four musical indicia 16 that appear on one of the white blocks 22. Four sides 24 of the blocks 12 contain time signatures 30 while the remaining two opposing sides 24 are magnetic 18.

patent drawing

FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5 is a sample of a musical block of the present invention 10. Shown are a primary block 14 and the four musical indicia 16 that appear on one of the gray blocks 20. Four sides 24 of the blocks 12 contain musical indicia 16 while the remaining two opposing sides 24 are magnetic 18.

patent drawing

FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6 is a sample of a musical block of the present invention 10. Shown are a block 12 and the four musical indicia 16 that appear on one of the gray blocks 20. Four sides 24 of the blocks 12 contain musical indicia 16 while the remaining two opposing sides 24 are magnetic 18.

patent drawing

FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7 is a sample of a musical block of the present invention 10. Shown are a time signature block 26 and the four musical indicia 16 that appear one of the white blocks 22. Four sides 24 of the time signature block 26 contains musical indicia 16 in the form of time signatures 30 while the remaining two opposing sides 24 are magnetic 18.

patent drawing

FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8 is a sample of a musical block of the present invention 10. Shown are a time signature block 26 and the four musical indicia 16 that appear on one of the white blocks 22. Four sides of the time signature block 26 contains musical indicia 16 in the form of time signatures 30 while the remaining two opposing sides are magnetic 18.

patent drawing

FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9 is a sample of a musical block of the present invention 10. Shown are a time signature block 26 and the four musical indicia 16 that appear one of the white blocks 22. Four sides of the time signature block 26 contains musical indicia 16 in the form of time signatures 30 while the remaining two opposing sides are magnetic 18.

patent drawing

FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10 is a sample of a musical block of the present invention 10. Shown are a time signature block 26 and the four musical indicia 16 that appear on one of the white blocks 22. Four sides of the time signature block 26 contains musical indicia 16 in the form of time signatures 30.

patent drawing

FIGURE 11
FIGURE 11 is a sample of a musical block of the present invention 10. Shown are a time signature block 26 and the four musical indicia 16 that appear on one of the white blocks 22. Four sides of the time signature block 26 contains musical indicia 16 in the form of time signatures 30.

patent drawing

FIGURE 12
FIGURE 12 is a sample of a musical block of the present invention 10. Shown are a time signature block 26 and the four musical indicia 16 that appear on one of the white blocks 22. Four sides of the time signature block 26 contain musical indicia 16 in the form of time signatures 30.

patent drawing

FIGURE 13
FIGURE 13 is a sample of a musical note block 27 of the present invention 10. Shown are the musical indicia 16 on the gray block 20 representing musical notes 28.

FIGURE 14
FIGURE 14 is a sample of a time signature block 26 of the present invention 10. Shown are the musical indicia 16 on the white block 22 representing time signature/rest symbols 30.

patent drawing

FIGURE 15
FIGURE 15 is a sample of a musical note block 27 of the present invention 10. Shown are the musical indicia 16 on the gray block 20 representing musical notes 28.

FIGURE 16
FIGURE 16 is a sample of a time signature block 26 of the present invention 10. Shown are the musical indicia 16 on the white block 22 representing time signature/rest symbols 30.

patent drawing

FIGURE 17
FIGURE 17 is a sample of a time signature block 26 of the present invention 10. Shown are the musical indicia 16 on the white block 22 representing time signature/rest symbols 30.

FIGURE 18
FIGURE 18 is a chart of rhythmic values 38 related to the musical blocks of the present invention. Time in music is represented by rhythmic values 38. These note values are related mathematically. The largest musical note 28 in common use today is the whole note. The chart below describes the relationships of the other notes.