I’m designing a light and music sculpture that will make synthesized sounds when someone plucks fiber optic strings. The strings will be like these: Side-Glow Fiber Optics – The Fiber Optic Store
I have a design for the synthesis portion using a Nano and a VS1053 breakout, but am scratching my head about design of a sensor which will generate a trigger signal when a string is plucked. A simple on/off would fine for this, although velocity-sensitive would certainly be cool! Anyone got ideas for me? Thanks!
Maybe do a Google search for a plucking sensor ...... 
I'd use a vibration sensor, reed switch or the like.
Then plot out what the pluck happens.
I believe that you'll be looking for a peak, but knowing it's still vibrating may expand your musical capabilities.
I am scratching my head about how you will mount the fibers and how you will apply tension to them and how much tension before the just stretch or break.
Here's an idea...
Edit to add termination concepts:
Also, in lieu of springs and the thimble and clip concept shown above, tensioning could be done with a guitar peg mechanism:
Or, maybe just pass the fiber thru a hole in a wood peg, and then wrap the fiber around the peg. Insert peg in a tight-fitting hole. Turn the peg to tension or de-tension.
Putting aside for the moment how you're going to mount the fiber properly, a piezo sensor may work. Some of them even come with a convenient eyelet on the end.
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