Display Played Note Names and Pitch Classes Above Piano Display

[brylie]

To enhance our piano learning tool's educational value and user interaction, we propose adding a feature to display played note names and pitch classes. This feature will show the names of the notes being played (including the octave) in real time in the grey area above the piano display. We could also display pitch classes for each note, which can aid in musical and harmonic analysis, such as determining chords or intervals.

Objectives

• Implement a real-time display of note names as they are played.
• Include the octave number with each note name (e.g., C4, G#3).
• Optionally, display pitch classes alongside note names for deeper musical analysis.
• Ensure the display is clear, non-intrusive, and dynamically updated as notes are played.

Implementation Details

1. Note Name Generation: Develop a system to translate MIDI note numbers into corresponding names and octaves.
2. Pitch Class Calculation: Optionally, include logic to calculate and display the pitch class for each note.
3. User Interface: Design a section in the grey area above the piano keys where these names and classes will be displayed.
4. Dynamic Updating: Ensure this area updates in real-time as notes are played, with a clear and legible font.

Requirements

• Update the PianoDisplay.gd script to handle the new display feature.
• Design considerations for the UI to ensure readability and aesthetic integration with the existing layout.
• Testing for accuracy, performance, and usability, particularly in scenarios with rapid note-playing.

Impact

• This feature will significantly enhance the learning experience by providing immediate visual feedback on note-playing.
• It will assist users in understanding musical structures and relationships between notes.
• For advanced users, the pitch class display can be a powerful tool for musical analysis.

Next Steps

• Assign team members to develop the note name and pitch class display logic.
• Design and implement the UI component for this feature.
• Integrate this feature with the existing system and conduct extensive testing for accuracy and performance.