Arduino Interactive Art/Sound Piece #1

As part of a graduate course in physical computing, I created an interactive art/sound project using Arduino and a motor shield. The assignment was simply to "make something cool with your Arduino that implements your motor shield and movement of some type."  While I initially struggled to conceptualize a creative implementation, I eventually settled on working with a toy piano and creepy clown doll, in a piece entitled:

"The Music of Lost Souls"
This interactive art/sound piece represents a metaphorical connection between the living and the dead. By "reading the energy" of an approaching hand, the piano and clown (representing the lost souls of the world) begin to play and move by themselves.

The finished project. Note the small white dot on the left-hand side in front of the keys - this is the photocell resistor, which is used to activate the stepper motor (controlling the device playing the notes inside) and servo (moving the clown).

The Arduino, breadboard, servo, and Arduino power supply were mounted on the back of the piano. The two yellow wires going into the breadboard are from the photocell resistor. A 12v wall wart supply is being used to power the Motor Shield. 

Here is the stepper motor with attachment inside the piano. As the motor spins, the zip ties (placed in various positions) strike the metal rods that correspond to different notes of the piano.

Close-up of stepper motor and attachment with zip ties.