A method for generating a music file for recording user performance may include: detecting, by a sensor, an event indicating a status change of an execution device of the keyboard instrument; generating, by the sensor, a signal corresponding to the detected event; receiving, by a processor, the signal; and generating, by the processor, a music file based on the signal. In some embodiments, the execution device may include a weight lever. The weight lever may a concrete structure in the keyboard instrument to simulate a rebound force generated by hammer striking on string, by striking on an elastic structure. In some embodiments, a rebound force for a first weight lever may be different from a rebound force for a second weight lever by adjusting parameters of the elastic structure or the weight lever.

A performance system to allow a performer of an actual performance to more appropriately ascertain the progress of an automatic performance by a performance device. The performance system comprises a performance controller that causes a performance device to carry out an automatic performance of a musical piece, and a notification controller that causes a notification device to carry out an operation to visually notify a performer of an actual performance of a musical piece of the progress of the automatic performance.

Systems and methods for providing a piano system are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include receiving a plurality of key signals related to a first performance of a piece of music, wherein each of the plurality of key signals corresponds to motion of at least one key of a piano during the first performance; generating first performance information based on the plurality of key signals; receiving musical data related to a second performance of the piece of music; receiving musical data related to a second performance of the piece of music, generating second performance information based on the musical data; and providing content for presentation on a display device based on the first performance information and the second performance information. The methods can also include receiving at least one pedal signal corresponding to motion of a pedal of the piano during the first performance, and generating first performance information based on the pedal signal.

A sound producing apparatus includes: a plurality of sound producing members with differing oscillation frequencies; dampers each corresponding to a respective sound producing member and suppressing vibration by contacting the corresponding sound producing members; a damper operation mechanism that moves each damper, thereby controlling a state of contact of the damper with a corresponding sound producing members; a soundboard that undergoes sympathetic resonance with sound producing members; a vibrator that vibrates the soundboard; an acquisition unit configured to acquire an audio signal; a signal output unit configured to: generate a drive signal for driving the vibrator with a vibration corresponding to the acquired audio signal; and output the drive signal to the vibrator; and a damper control unit configured to drive the damper operation mechanism to change a state of contact between the sound producing members and their corresponding dampers, based on frequency distribution of acquired audio signal.

A musical-performance-information transmission method using a first instrument and a second instrument, wherein the first instrument produces sounds in accordance with a user's musical performance and generates musical-performance data in accordance with the produced sounds and the second instrument produces sounds by receiving the musical performance data via a communication means. In the musical-performance-information transmission method, a mixed-sound signal is generated in accordance with a mixture of sounds produced by the first instrument and sounds that are different from the sounds produced by the first instrument, a reference signal is generated in accordance with the sounds produced by the first instrument, and on the basis of the mixed-sound signal and the reference signal, the reference signal is removed from the mixed-sound signal, generating a separated signal, and sound is emitted on the basis of said separated signal.

A performance system to allow a performer of an actual performance to more appropriately ascertain the progress of an automatic performance by a performance device. The performance system comprises a performance controller that causes a performance device to carry out an automatic performance of a musical piece, and a notification controller that causes a notification device to carry out an operation to visually notify a performer of an actual performance of a musical piece of the progress of the automatic performance.

A sound producing apparatus includes: a plurality of sound producing members with differing oscillation frequencies; dampers each corresponding to a respective sound producing member and suppressing vibration by contacting the corresponding sound producing members; a damper operation mechanism that moves each damper, thereby controlling a state of contact of the damper with a corresponding sound producing members; a soundboard that undergoes sympathetic resonance with sound producing members; a vibrator that vibrates the soundboard; an acquisition unit configured to acquire an audio signal; a signal output unit configured to: generate a drive signal for driving the vibrator with a vibration corresponding to the acquired audio signal; and output the drive signal to the vibrator; and a damper control unit configured to drive the damper operation mechanism to change a state of contact between the sound producing members and their corresponding dampers, based on frequency distribution of acquired audio signal.

A keyboard musical instrument includes a string-striking mechanism (hammer), driver, sound receiver, analyzer, and adjuster. The hammer strikes a string responsive to a change in position of an associated key of keyboard. The driver drives the hammer under a driving condition in accordance with control data. The sound receiver generates an audio signal corresponding to a sound occurring in the vicinity of the hammer. The analyzer detects the hammer striking a string by analyzing the audio signal generated when the hammer operates. The adjuster adjusts the control data in accordance with results of the analysis. The analyzer detects hammer striking a string in accordance with an intensity of the audio signal occurring within a search range, which has a predetermined relationship along a time axis with regard to a time at which the hammer commences operation.

A keyboard unit includes: a key; a displacement member which is configured to be driven directly or indirectly with the key by a pressing operation of the key to be moved in a forward stroke direction; a detector which is configured to detect that an operation direction of the displacement member has changed from the forward stroke direction to a returning direction; and a generator which is configured to generate sound generation indication information based on information detected by the detector.

A keyboard unit includes: a key; a displacement member driven directly or indirectly with the key by a pressing operation to be moved; object detection sections including: detection sections, states of which become state change detection state when detecting changes instates of the key and the displacement member; and a generator, in a case that states of all the object detection sections become the state change detection state in the forward stroke of a key pressing operation, obtaining detection results of at least two sets of the detection sections, each set including two object detection sections, selecting at least one of the obtained detection results of the at least two sets of the detection sections, and generating sound generation indication information based on the selected at least one of the detection results.