Portable piano keyboard computer
A piano keyboard computer includes a piano-type keyboard adjacent to a display screen. The system allows music tutorials, visualizations and other applications. A docking system allows additional devices to be placed on, adjacent to, or near the piano keyboard computer. The additional device then communicates with the piano keyboard computer to add functionality such as additional speakers, controllers, etc. The piano keyboard computer can act as a controller for other devices.
1. A method for providing a music tutorial, the method executing on a computer system including a display screen adjacent to a piano-type keyboard, the method comprising the following acts performed by one or more digital processors:
playing back a musical composition;
displaying an image cue on the display screen to prompt a user to press a key on the keyboard;
determining if the prompted key has been pressed; and
in response to the determining, displaying a visual effect on the display screen, wherein a first visual characteristic of the displayed visual effect is independent of any characteristic of the pressing other than the identity of the pressed key.
2. A method for providing a music visualization, the method executing on a computer system including a display screen adjacent to a piano-type keyboard, the method comprising the following acts performed by one or more digital processors:
determining when a key on the piano-type keyboard has been pressed; and
in response to the determining, displaying on the display screen a visualization associated with the pressed key, wherein the visualization is displayed in spatial association with the pressed key, and wherein a visual characteristic of the visualization is independent of any characteristic of the pressing other than the identity of the pressed key.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the spatial association includes displaying the visualization above, and in vertical alignment with, the pressed key.
4. An apparatus comprising:
a piano-type keyboard having a substantially flat top surface;
a display screen adjacent to and above the keyboard;
one or more processors coupled to the keyboard and to the display screen;
a substantially flat area adjacent to and below the top surface of the keyboard for placing an additional device comprising at least one of an audio speaker and an audio controller; and
a processor-readable storage device including one or more instructions executable by the processor for communicating with the additional device;
wherein the additional device does not comprise the display screen.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual effect is displayed in spatial association with the pressed key.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a second visible characteristic of the visual effect is determined by an audible characteristic of the pressed key.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein one of the first visible characteristic and the second visible characteristic is uniquely associated with the pressed key.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the audible characteristic of the pressed key comprises one of the force and duration of the pressure exerted by the user on the pressed key.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second visible characteristic comprises a rate of motion of the visual effect across the display screen.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein a second visible characteristic of the visual effect is determined by an audible characteristic of the pressed key.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second visible characteristic is uniquely associated with the pressed key.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the audible characteristic of the pressed key comprises one of the force and duration of the pressure exerted by the user on the pressed key.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second visible characteristic comprises a rate of motion of the visual effect across the display screen.
14. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the additional device comprises a speaker.
15. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the additional device comprises a hardware controller.