Is arduino what I need for functional art project?

Projects General Guidance
9

There are MP3 players that can do what you want.
the rMP3 here

and these MP3 players as well
http://www.mdfly.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&zenid=4llb4k256nj8c0u4l72bfhb0s2&keyword=mp3