Using electrically conductive ink, a programmable Arduino board, and a Sparkfun MPR121 touch sensor, the MusicInk set is an ingenious way to engage children and teach them about music. By painting shapes onto paper the device is able to detect when the ink is touched and plays the corresponding musical instrument and note, (recorded especially by the London Philharmonic Orchestra).

Using Bare Conductive inks that allow for current to pass through the paint, the kit is designed to educate children about the fundamentals of music in a refreshing, visual way, that lets them get messy as they learn. The kit contains the paint, stencils of instruments, and all the necessary electrical components required to get your own illustrated orchestra up and running in no time.

The brainchild of Italian product designers Riccardo Vendramin and Gilda Negrini, with software engineering help from Luong Bui, the MusicInk set made its debut recently at Rome's Maker Faire.