A keyboard device for a keyboard instrument, capable of largely reducing noise generated when a hammer contacts a lower limit stopper during key release immediately after key depression. The keyboard device includes a keyboard chassis disposed on a keybed, keys pivotally supported on the chassis, hammers pivotally supported on the chassis below the keys and each vertically pivotally moved, an intermediate rail mounted on the chassis below a rotational shaft of the hammers and its vicinity in a state floating from the keybed, and a lower limit stopper mounted on the intermediate rail, such that each hammer is placed thereon via its placement-contact portion when in a key-released state and contacts the same from above via the placement-contact portion when pivotally moving downward in accordance with key release after being moved upward by key depression, whereby further pivotal motion of the hammer is stopped.

Finger-tracking systems and methods for virtual instruments playback. The described system tracks the position of user's ten fingers on a projection surface and can be used to play virtual instruments such as virtual piano, drums, and bells. The system tracks the movement of user's ten fingers while keeping them free of encumbrance or excessive postural constraints. More specifically, in one or more embodiments, a coded light based projector is used to send out location signal onto a flat surface, and ten light sensors are mounted on user's fingers to receive these signals and locate user's fingers. Based on their locations and relative distance to a fixed point, a printed music instrument can be used for virtual instrument music playback. With the described tracking system, various embodiments of virtual music instruments may be implemented, including a system and method for virtual piano playing as well as virtual Chinese bell playing on printed keyboard and printed Chinese bell set.

Finger-tracking systems and methods for virtual instruments playback. The described system tracks the position of user's ten fingers on a projection surface and can be used to play virtual instruments such as virtual piano, drums, and bells. The system tracks the movement of user's ten fingers while keeping them free of encumbrance or excessive postural constraints. More specifically, in one or more embodiments, a coded light based projector is used to send out location signal onto a flat surface, and ten light sensors are mounted on user's fingers to receive these signals and locate user's fingers. Based on their locations and relative distance to a fixed point, a printed music instrument can be used for virtual instrument music playback. With the described tracking system, various embodiments of virtual music instruments may be implemented, including a system and method for virtual piano playing as well as virtual Chinese bell playing on printed keyboard and printed Chinese bell set.

A handheld musical instrument for playing a variety of audio program, the handheld musical instrument comprising a body portion with one or more sensors and a handle portion coupled to said body part, wherein said handle portion includes one or more operational buttons to control the operation of said handheld musical instrument. The buttons being operated with a finger or thumb trigger.

A handheld musical instrument for playing a variety of audio program, the handheld musical instrument comprising a body portion with one or more sensors and a handle portion coupled to said body part, wherein said handle portion includes one or more operational buttons to control the operation of said handheld musical instrument. The buttons being operated with a finger or thumb trigger.

A modular approach to large string array electronic musical instruments such as specialized harps, zithers, sympathetic string arrays, the Harry Partch Kithara, the Harry Partch Harmonic Cannon, and other large string array electronic musical instruments is presented. A mounting frame is used to interchangeably secure a plurality of a plurality of musical instrument modules, each comprising a plurality of strings configured to vibrate and create electronic signals. An electronic interface is configured to transmit electrical signals from the plurality of musical instrument modules to an external system. The electronic interface can be configured to provide a multichannel output. The arrangement can further comprise either or both of at least one audio mixer and at least one signal processor.

The present disclosure is related to systems and methods for assisting a user in practicing a smart musical instrument. The method includes obtaining a real-time image of the user playing the smart musical instrument. The method also includes obtaining information associated with a current key being pressed and information associated with a plurality of reference fingerings from the smart musical instrument. The method also includes displaying the real-time image in real-time. The method also includes determining whether a current fingering associated with the current key being pressed matches with a reference fingering, of the plurality of reference fingerings, associated with the current key being pressed. In response to a determination that the current fingering associated with the current key being pressed does not match the reference fingering, the method further includes generating a reminder. The method still further includes displaying the reference fingering corresponding to the current fingering.

The present disclosure is related to systems and methods for assisting a user in practicing a smart musical instrument. The method includes obtaining a real-time image of the user playing the smart musical instrument. The method also includes obtaining information associated with a current key being pressed and information associated with a plurality of reference fingerings from the smart musical instrument. The method also includes displaying the real-time image in real-time. The method also includes determining whether a current fingering associated with the current key being pressed matches with a reference fingering, of the plurality of reference fingerings, associated with the current key being pressed. In response to a determination that the current fingering associated with the current key being pressed does not match the reference fingering, the method further includes generating a reminder. The method still further includes displaying the reference fingering corresponding to the current fingering.

An ergonomic, portable, electronic, string-like instrument that utilizes a string-like interface. The string-like interface is tactile for sightless playability and capable of advanced input such as force and pressure sensitivity. The string-like interface functions to select a note, trigger a selected note, select and play a note on the instrument or an external peripheral. The instrument is played using the techniques of multiple stringed instruments and the ergonomics allow the user to hold and handle the device consistent with playing techniques familiar to musicians of multiple instruments. It is internally or externally powered and connects directly to industry-standard musical hardware such as MIDI devices, amplifiers and multi-track recorders.

A foot pedal actuator is secured to legs of a portable musical instrument using a first elongate member having an aperture for a leg to pass through on one end, and an aperture for securing to a foot pedal actuator fastener aperture on the opposite end. A second elongate member has an aperture which is secured to the foot pedal actuator aperture on one end, and a rotatable attachment to the first elongate member along the span of the first elongate member. A third member similar to the first member and fourth member similar to the second member secure the four corners of the foot pedal actuator to two feet of the portable musical instrument, which pass through the leg apertures of the elongate members.