Apparatus and method for evaluating musical performance and client/server system therefor

A storage medium for use in an apparatus for evaluating a musical performance, said apparatus being of a data processing type comprising a computer, said medium containing a program that is executable by the computer, the program comprising:

• a module for providing a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a module for inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• a module for comparing said input performance data with said reference performance data;
• a module for outputting an evaluation report based on the comparison by said comparing module;
• a module for designating a condition whether to output an evaluation report according to a control operation by the user;
• and
• a module for controlling the function of said outputting module to output said evaluation report after said performance operations have finished, when said designating module is designating the condition to output an evaluation report.

A method for evaluating a musical performance comprising:

• a step of providing a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a step of inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• a step of comparing said input performance data with said reference performance data;
• a step of outputting an evaluation report based on the comparison by said comparing step;
• a step of designating a condition whether to output an evaluation report according to a control operation by the user;
• and
• a step of controlling the function of said outputting module to output said evaluation report after said performance operations have finished, when said designating module is designating the condition to output an evaluation report.

A server apparatus for evaluating a musical performance comprising:

• a connecting device for connecting said server apparatus to a communication network to be available for an access from a client apparatus;
• a reference performance data providing device which provides reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a manual performance data receiving device which receives, via said connecting device, a manual performance data representing inputted performance operations at the client apparatus;
• an evaluation device which compares said manual performance data with said reference performance data;
• an evaluation report output device which outputs an evaluation report based on the comparison by said evaluation device;
• an evaluation report output control device which controls said evaluation report output device to output said evaluation report after said performance operations have finished, when evaluation report outputting condition designating information received from said client apparatus via said connecting device is designating the condition to output an evaluation report;
• and
• an evaluation report transmitting device which transmits said evaluation report to said client via said connecting device.

A client apparatus for evaluating a musical performance comprising:

• a connecting device for connecting said client apparatus to a communication network to access a server apparatus;
• a reference performance data inputting device for inputting a music piece data including a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a reference performance data outputting device which outputs said reference performance data to said communication network via said connecting device;
• a manual performance input device for inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• a manual performance data outputting device which outputs said manual performance data to said communication network via said connecting device;
• an evaluation report outputting condition designating device which designates a condition whether to output an evaluation report according to a control operation by the user, and outputs information about the designated condition to said communication network via said connecting device such that said server apparatus outputs an evaluation report with respect to said manual performance data against said reference performance data after said performance operations have finished, when said information about the designated condition is designating the condition to output an evaluation report;
• and
• an evaluation report receiving device which receives said evaluation report from said server apparatus via said connecting device.

A client apparatus for evaluating a musical performance comprising:

• a connecting device for connecting said client apparatus to a communication network to access a server apparatus;
• a reference performance data receiving device for receiving via said connecting device a music piece data including a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a manual performance input device for inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• a manual performance data outputting device which outputs said manual performance data to said communication network via said connecting device;
• an evaluation report outputting condition designating device which designates a condition whether to output an evaluation report according to a control operation by the user, and outputs information about the designated condition to said communication network via said connecting device such that said server apparatus outputs an evaluation report with respect to said manual performance data against said reference performance data after said performance operations have finished, when said information about the designated condition is designating the condition to output an evaluation report;
• and
• an evaluation report receiving device which receives said evaluation report from said server apparatus via said connecting device.

A storage medium for use in a client apparatus for evaluating a musical performance, said apparatus being of a data processing type comprising a computer and having a connecting device to connect said apparatus to a communication network, said medium containing a program that is executable by the computer, the program comprising:

• a module for connecting said client apparatus to a communication network to access a server apparatus;
• a module for receiving via said connecting device a music piece data including a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a module for inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• a module for outputting said manual performance data to said communication network via said connecting device;
• a module for designating a condition whether to output an evaluation report according to a control operation by the user, and outputs information about the designated condition to said communication network via said connecting device such that said server apparatus outputs an evaluation report with respect to said manual performance data against said reference performance data after said performance operations have finished, when said information about the designated condition is designating the condition to output an evaluation report;
• and
• a module for receiving said evaluation report from said server apparatus via said connecting device.

A method for evaluating a musical performance on a client apparatus having a connecting device for connecting said client apparatus to a communication network, said method comprising:

• a step of connecting said client apparatus to a communication network to access a server apparatus;
• a step of receiving via said connecting device a music piece data including a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a step of inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• a step of outputting said manual performance data to said communication network via said connecting device;
• a step of designating a condition whether to output an evaluation report according to a control operation by the user, and outputs information about the designated condition to said communication network via said connecting device such that said server apparatus outputs an evaluation report with respect to said manual performance data against said reference performance data after said performance operations have finished, when said information about the designated condition is designating the condition to output an evaluation report;
• and
• a step of receiving said evaluation report from said server apparatus via said connecting device.

A musical performance evaluating apparatus comprising:

• a reference performance data providing device which provides a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a manual performance input device for inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting input performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• an evaluation device which compares said manual performance data with said reference performance data;
• an evaluation report output device which outputs an evaluation report based on the comparison by said evaluation device;
• an evaluation report output span designating device which designates at least one evaluation report output spans about which an evaluation of said inputted performance operations are to be made within the length of said reference musical performance;
• and
• an evaluation report output control device which controls said evaluation report output device to output said evaluation report with respect to said at least one evaluation report output spans after said performance operations have finished.

A storage medium for use in an apparatus for evaluating a musical performance, said apparatus being of a data processing type comprising a computer, said medium containing a program that is executable by the computer, the program comprising:

• a module for providing a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a module for inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• a module for comparing said input performance data with said reference performance data;
• a module for outputting an evaluation report based on the comparison by said comparing module;
• a module for designating at least one evaluation report output spans about which an evaluation of said inputted performance operations are to be made within the length of said reference musical performance;
• and
• a module for controlling the function of said outputting module to output said evaluation report with respect to said at least one evaluation report output spans after said performance operations have finished.

A method for evaluating a musical performance comprising:

• a step of providing a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a step of inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• a step of comparing said input performance data with said reference performance data;
• a step of outputting an evaluation report based on the comparison by said comparing step;
• a step of designating at least one evaluation report output spans about which an evaluation of said inputted performance operations are to be made within the length of said reference musical performance;
• and
• a step of controlling the function of said outputting module to output said evaluation report with respect to said at least one evaluation report output spans after said performance operations have finished.

A server apparatus for evaluating a musical performance comprising:

• a connecting device for connecting said server apparatus to a communication network to be available for an access from a client apparatus;
• a music piece data inputting device for inputting a music piece data including reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a manual performance data receiving device which receives, via said connecting device, a manual performance data representing inputted performance operations at the client apparatus;
• an evaluation device which compares said manual performance data with said reference performance data;
• an evaluation report output device which outputs an evaluation report based on the comparison by said evaluation device;
• an evaluation report output span designating device which designates at least one evaluation report output spans about which an evaluation of said inputted performance operations are to be made within the length of said reference musical performance;
• an evaluation report output control device which controls said evaluation report output device to output said evaluation report with respect to said at least one evaluation report output spans after said performance operations have finished;
• and
• an evaluation report transmitting device which transmits the outputted evaluation report to said communication network via said connecting device.

A client apparatus for evaluating a musical performance comprising:

• a connecting device for connecting said client apparatus to a communication network to access a server apparatus;
• a reference performance data receiving device for receiving via said connecting device a music piece data including a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a manual performance input device for inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• a manual performance data outputting device which outputs said manual performance data to said communication network via said connecting device;
• an evaluation report output span designating device which designates at least one evaluation report output spans about which an evaluation of said inputted performance operations are to be made within the length of said reference musical performance, and outputs information about said at least one designated spans to said communication network via said connecting device such that said server apparatus outputs an evaluation report with respect to said manual performance data against said reference performance data;
• and
• an evaluation report receiving device which receives said evaluation report via said connecting device after said performance operations have finished.

A storage medium for use in a client apparatus for evaluating a musical performance, said apparatus being of a data processing type comprising a computer and having a connecting device to connect said apparatus to a communication network, said medium containing a program that is executable by the computer, the program comprising:

• a module for connecting said client apparatus to a communication network to access a server apparatus;
• a module for receiving via said connecting device a music piece data including a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a module for inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• a module for outputting said manual performance data to said communication network via said connecting device;
• a module for designating at least one evaluation report output spans about which an evaluation of said inputted performance operations are to be made within the length of said reference musical performance, and for outputting information about said at least one designated spans to said communication network via said connecting device such that said server apparatus outputs an evaluation report with respect to said manual performance data against said reference performance data;
• and
• a module for receiving said evaluation report from said server apparatus via said connecting device after said performance operations have finished.

A method for evaluating a musical performance on a client apparatus having a connecting device for connecting said client apparatus to a communication network, said method comprising:

• a step of connecting said client apparatus to a communication network to access a server apparatus;
• a step of receiving via said connecting device a music piece data including a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a step of inputting manual performance operations by a user and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• a step of outputting said manual performance data to said communication network via said connecting device;
• a step of designating at least one evaluation report output spans about which an evaluation of said inputted performance operations are to be made within the length of said reference musical performance, and for outputting information about said at least one designated spans to said communication network via said connecting device such that said server apparatus outputs an evaluation report with respect to said manual performance data against said reference performance data;
• and
• a step of receiving said evaluation report from said server apparatus via said connecting device after said performance operations have finished.

A musical performance evaluating apparatus comprising:

• a reference performance data providing device which provides a reference performance data representing a musical performance as a reference for evaluation;
• a playback device which plays back said reference performance data to present a reference performance;
• a manual performance input device for inputting manual performance operations by a user in tempo with said reference performance, and outputting manual performance data representing the inputted performance operations to be evaluated;
• an evaluation device which compares said manual performance data with said reference performance data;
• an evaluation report output device which outputs an evaluation report based on the comparison by said evaluation device;
• an evaluation report outputting condition designating device which designates a condition whether to output an evaluation report according to a control operation by the user;
• and
• an evaluation report output control device which controls said evaluation report output device to output said evaluation report after said performance operations have finished, when said evaluation report outputting condition designating device is designating the condition to output an evaluation report.