THE COLORTONE MUSIC SYSTEM (C)

1-18-93

Introduction

The Colortone Music System (CMS) is a music notation method

which uses colored symbols to indicate duration and pitch of a
tone. The color of the symbol identifies one of seven tones in
the diatonic scale while duration is specified by the length of
the symbol. This product utilizes computer graphics technology
to provide an innovative approach to the art of music reading and
expression and the visualization of harmony.
CMS is a considerably simplified alternative to the
traditional music notation system. Since the CMS display is
aligned in the same horizontal order as a keyboard, music
translation is much easier enabling students to learn repertoire
rapidly. Also, the colored symbols emphasize sight as well as
sound enabling greater perception of harmony and texture.
While the theory of the CMS applies to all musical devices,
this version pertains only to keyboard instruments.

Theory

The use of color in symbolic association is widely present

in our society in such applications as traffic control, parts
encoding, clothing, etc. Historically the physical and
psychological relationships between colors and sounds have been
the subject of numerous studies. CMS merges color and sound into
a system which simplifies the reading, expression and perception
of music.
It is noted that there are similar harmonic relationships in
both color and sound. Just as light refracted through a prism
yields the seven ordered colors of the rainbow (red, orange,
yellow, green, turquoise, blue, violet), so does sound form
naturally into the seven notes of the diatonic music scale (do,
ra, me, fa, so, la, te). Also, three primary units are observed
to dominate each spectrum. In the color array red, yellow and
blue can be mixed to generate the other four while the foundation
of music harmony rests on the tonic, dominant, and subdominant
scale degrees.
This relationship between music and color suggests that if
the seven notes of the scale have their counterpart in the seven
colors of the rainbow, it would be possible to substitute one for
the other and thus musical harmony could be "seen" with its
aspects "looking" like they sound and the very abstract nature of
this art far easier to understand and more self-evident.
After extensive experimentation, a music-color association
was integrated into a geometrically correlated design resulting
in the development of the CMS. The color, diatonic scale degree
assignments are as follows:

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 red tonic (I)
green supertonic (II)
violet mediant (III)
yellow subdominant (IV)
blue dominant (V)
orange submediant (VI)
turquoise subtonic (VII)

Comparison

The chart below contrasts elements of CMS versus traditional

music notation.

CMS traditional

accidentals white bar to right sharp, flat, double

or left of note sharp, double flat

clefs none treble, bass

dynamic marks volume triangle 11 symbols

fingering user selected no's 1 - 5 placed

near note

hand position user selected r.h., l.h., or clefs

harmony color correlated position correlated

key signature notes identical 15: 0-7 sharps,

in all scale keys 1-7 flats

measure indicated by marked by vertical

pulsating base line bars along staff

media durability software paper

meter note size relative indicated by time

to timespan of piece signature

note (sound) 7 colors duplicated 88 notes in staff

across 7 octaves

note (value) determined by size 1 of 7 symbols

pitch denoted by position function of vertical

on horizontal scale position on staff

rest absence of color in 1 of 7 symbols

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 note field

tempo controlled by scrolling specified by clock

speed of display related integers

time signature note size relative indicated by 2

numbers

transposition function of scale function of notes

Product Description

This product is available in three forms: pedestal (crt),

portable (lcd), or software only.
The pedestal unit utilizes an embedded microcomputer system
packaged in a small box (pedestal). With a color crt monitor
placed on top, this pedestal/monitor unit is designed to sit
horizontally on the keyboard instrument. The display is
controlled with a four-unit, flexible keypad which can be placed
up to three feet from the system. An introductory "Book 1" is
resident in the basic unit. Additional repertoire is available
in cartridges which plug into the pedestal or on software
diskettes.
By placing a colored liquid crystal display into the
pedestal described above, a crt monitor is not needed and the
portable unit takes on the dimensions of a book which sets
vertically on a music stand.
If an IBM AT compatible personal computer is available with
VGA graphics, the user need only install software to run the full
CMS display. Four function keys of the computer keyboard are
programmed to control this configuration.

OPERATION (personal computer version)

The program is started by typing CMS and pressing ENTER at

the DOS prompt.

Color Learn

The color learn screen is displayed showing title, flashing

color-learn bar and scale template. The flashing bar is a useful
aid in learning to correlate color with scale degree.
The following computer keys may be pressed to access other
functions:

F2 -select tempo of flashing bar

F3 -access piece menu.
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 F4 -help

Piece Menu

The piece menu displays book title and lists the piece
repertoire with corresponding composer. Note that selection of
item 0 will return to the color learn screen.
The function key options are now:

F1 -move pointer up
F2 -move pointer down
F3 -start piece
F4 -help
alt-F1 -quit

Piece Display

This screen displays the notes of the selected piece in CMS

format scrolling from top to bottom. The base line at the lower
boundary indicates relative note position, gauges note duration
and pulsates at the beginning of each measure.
The note colors identify which of the seven scale degrees
are to be played at the base line. These degrees correspond to
the music keyboard key indicated by the selected scale template
in the lower right of the screen. The blocks hanging below the
base line indicate locations of the red notes (tonic) in each
octave. The more prominent block corresponds to the most central
tonic key on the music keyboard. An accidental is indicated by a
white bar at the right (sharp) or left (flat) of the note.
The tone duration should extend as long as the note is
touching the base line during the scrolling process. The gaps
between notes indicate a rest. Absence of a gap implies the
notes will be played without any interruption.
At the beginning of each measure, the base line will
illuminate momentarily as the measure counter (lower left corner)
is incremented. Hand and finger note assignments are not
specified in this system, but are determined by observation of
the color pattern.
Control keys may be utilized to select the scroll rate
(tempo) along with changing parameters of gap and note width,
relative note length and keyboard scale template. If a note
width is maximized beyond a horizontal boundary, wraparound will
occur at the opposite boundary causing display confusion.
Computer key assignments for this screen are as follows:
F1 -halt/scroll display
halt mode
F2 -step display

F2 -select scroll tempo

F3 -restart piece
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 F4 -help
alt-F2 -access piece menu
alt-F3 -set parameters/restart piece
parameter mode
F2 -select parameter
(note gap, note width, relative note
length, keyboard scale template)
F3 -change parameter
F4 -help
alt-F3 -restart piece

Example Practice Session

-At DOS prompt type CMS, ENTER.
-When the color learn display appears, practice responding
to the random color pattern by playing a corresponding
tone in a central octave of the music keyboard. The
keyboard template will help identify the correct key.
-Press F3 to bring up the piece menu.
-Press F2 until piece #2 is highlighted then press F3 to
start piece.
-As the piece scrolls down, press F2 to select slowest
tempo.
-When the leading bar (blue) touches the base line
press F1 to halt the display. Six bars should be
visible on the screen. Practice playing this section
several times and then press F1 and try to play as far
as possible into the scrolling piece. When it
becomes difficult to keep pace, press F1 again to halt or
F3 to restart the process until the piece is mastered.
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