The History of Muto Music Method

It adapts to the music and the people that live both in the modern age and in the future.
The eternal ‘music method’ starts moving.

A secret story on the birth of Muto Music Method

MUTO Notation Method (Cromatic Notation), Rapian and Wholetone were not suddenly born.

Around 1970, the late head developed ‘Adjaga’, that became a base of analog tuner featuring indicator needle. When tuned, the needle swings. He got patent with the equipment for ‘seeing sound with eyes’. Then he launched it as hit product.
Succeeding to his thought, we then started considering that ‘it may be necessary to be able to see the difference of notes intervals’ ‘we may be able to learn music more simply and instinctively if we can grasp the distance between notes precisely <sight> and <by sense of touch> with fingers.

In the case of 5 line notation and piano, when you try to grasp the pitch instinctively, you face gap and always get confused. This is because whole tones and halftones are mixed up as the notes are arranged in the whole tone scale (diatonic). Moreover when # and ♭ are being used, the gap becomes much bigger. It gets very difficult to recognize the distance (interval) between notes…
If you would like to sing a song, this is even more important.

For example, anybody can change keys at Karaoke without any knowledge of music. Likewise, isn’t it possible for us to create a method that enables us to play with moving back and forth among all the keys naturally both in the notation and the instruments…?

In the process of having various ideas and thoughts, we reached to the belief that ‘we need notation and instruments that we can handle instinctively and easily.’ This belief realized the ‘Muto Music Method.’

Now we stand in the age when we enjoy the drastic change, while the economy, industry and financial world are facing new era. ‘The current common sense is to overturn the existing common sense.’

In this situation, Muto Music Method is trying to create ‘new standard’ of music that keeps evolution with Muto Notation Method and Muto Chromatic Keyboard.

Long awaited publication!
The Scorebook of Chromatic Notation (3 line notation)

You can grasp type of scale at a glance. That is ‘Chromatic Notation’.

In 2012, finally the circumstance got to be ready for us to be able to publish a score of ‘Chromatic Notation,’ that is symbol of Muto Music Method. In the beginning, we are scheduled to publish ‘BEYER’, which is a standard of piano education and ‘HANON, ‘CZERNT’. Then we are going to release the works of great composers such as ‘Bach’, ‘Mozart’ and ‘Chopin’.

Chromatic Notation is ‘human friendly notation’ , because anyone – old and young, men and women, professionals and amateurs - can grasp the notes instinctively. Unlike 5 line notation, you do not fail in reading and you do not have to spend too much time in understanding them. Other than piano, it is most suitable method to write notes of all genre, such as singing and stringed instruments.

The History of the keyboards produced based on the Muto Music Method

The first generation Chromatic Keyboard: Rapian

After a lot of trials and errors, I produced first Rapian (when I was 20 years old). I drew the diagram of keyboard on the sponge and put it on the real piano keyboard. Also I attached buttons similar to keys of computer onto the circuit board.

Before settling down to the idea of whole tone key arrangement, I tried to make comb- shaped Chromatic Keyboard, although it was simple version with disposable chopsticks attached one by one.

Then in 1987, I wond the grand prix at World Invention EXPO proudly. Mass media such as NHK and others picked up the news and reported on the newspapers. In the following year, 1988, it was introduced in the ‘Keyboard Magazine’ (Feb. 2001 issue, Ritto Music) in the large scale. In the beginning, Rapian was launched with being modified at its keyboard part of upright piano.

Rapian was evolved to the attachment type that is to be placed on the piano keyboard (see the photo on the left).
Dr. Moog, who was the authority in the music industry, got great interest in Rapian. When he came over to Japan, he visited me and asked questions. That article was introduced on the ‘Keyboard’ magazine (September 1989 issue) in the states. It created great public attention in the world.

Afterwards, the inventor (myself) traveled across the states to evangelize Rapian, under the supervision of Dr. Moog. At the press reception held at a hotel in Atlanta, Dr. Moog himself introduced Rapian attachment type on the stage.

With intensive studies during ten odd years since the invention of Rapian, Muto Chromatic Keyboard is introduced with new style of key-layout, that is ‘halftone key arrangement + whole tone key arrangement .’ --- It is called Wholetone Revolution.

Wholetone Revolution

Rapian is a predecessor of Wholetone Revolution. The key-layout was greatly advanced with Wholetone Revolution as newly developed ‘halftone arrangement + whole tone arrangement’ concept was introduced. While Rapian needed major work such as modification of piano, Wholetone Revolution is pursuing the quality of keyboard at the shape of key-top, key-pitch and key touch and ideal sound range of performance. It is the model that realized 88 keys based on the 66 keys MIDI synthesizer.

CHROMATONE CT-312

Chromatone has been improved in its function that played note is indicated on the Chromatic Notation of the LCD display, and also with its additional functions such as metronome, rhythm style, recording function and auto accompaniment functions.
Moreover, newly invented Position Quick Control (PQC) function is added. PQC controls root note with left hand in real time, so that player can slide the playing phrases and chords with right hand freely. You cannot miss its attractiveness with the stylish design that evokes next generation device and the built-in speaker.

Chromatone has same key-pitch with piano. And it pursued functions and cost performance as entry model at Muto Music Method. This model has 71 keys successfully based on the MIDI keyboard of 61 keys.

The application software designed for iOS and Android Tablet and Smart Phones (including iPad & iPhones) !
You can experience the key arrangement of Chromatic Keyboard.

‘iPad’, the complete new device, was launched, featuring Multi-touch Interface so that anyone can operate instinctively. It was released in May 2010 in Japan. iPad got big attention and obtained explosive popularity. As its application software, ‘Chromatone lite for iPad’ was released for free after 2 months from the launch of iPad. Although it is free application software, it has substantial functions. 128 sound types are provided. This ranked into the top 10 as iTunes free application software in the 4 consecutive weeks and got public attention. In the following year, we released ‘Chromatone for iPad’ which further extended the functions of lite version. The recording function, that is newly added, enables users to record the phrase when being out of home or studio. This takes advantage of mobile device. Also metronome function/ setting memory function/ changing panel color function/ position mark moving function are added. ‘Chromatone for iPad’ has been completed as the application softwar so that you can experience the Muto Chromatic Keyboard easily.

In March 2012, we released Android version, ‘Chromatone for Android’ with the support of NTT docomo. This is compatible with the different types of tablets and smart phones.
The functions are equal to the iPad version.

A message for all the people who love music

We would like you to learn our method actually at any rate.

The essential factor is to have ‘flexible mind and will to improve’. Just try our method for a few months or just only for a few hours and touch upon Muto Music Method.
And we wish all the people who want to live with music to use our method. The more people use it, the average level of music will be dramatically improved. And music keeps evolving seamlessly without any borders.

The potential of the method becomes the basis of new music, and will be the common sense in the coming age.