# Need advice on music visualizer project for a 9 year old **URL:** \ **Category:** General Guidance\ **Created:** [December 2, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/need-advice-on-music-visualizer-project-for-a-9-year-old/1328158 "2024-12-02T17:54:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tsk1979](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/tsk1979/32/1100501_2.png) [@tsk1979](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/tsk1979)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/need-advice-on-music-visualizer-project-for-a-9-year-old/1328158/1 "2024-12-02T17:54:24Z")
I was looking at Piccolo, but it appears to be obsolete. Most music beginner projects I found need analog out into Audrino. Any advice or instructable on a simple LED music visualizer project where when the child plays the piano, a microphone picks it up and then flashes LEDs based on the music? Would work with any sound, not just music. ---
**Author:** ![gilshultz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/67e7ee/32.png) [@gilshultz](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/gilshultz)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 6:16pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/need-advice-on-music-visualizer-project-for-a-9-year-old/1328158/2 "2024-12-02T18:16:44Z")
> [@tsk1979](#): > > Would work with any sound, not just music. I believe you want what is refereed to as a color organ, here is a link you can check out. [https://www.instructables.com/Arduino-Color-Organ/](https://www.instructables.com/Arduino-Color-Organ/) ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/5/3/2/5327dbf7fbe49aae5042cff6415b06c9201aac02.png) Here is one without using an Arduino, it has been around for many years. [Light Organ - Color Organ - 5 Channel [XLO-5] – Xkitz Electronics](https://www.xkitz.com/products/light-organ-5-channel-xlo-5) ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/d/f/7/df76c0381409d9f454dd39180719101b508e5047.png) ---
**Author:** ![DVDdoug](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/dvddoug/32/671533_2.png) [@DVDdoug](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/DVDdoug)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 6:16pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/need-advice-on-music-visualizer-project-for-a-9-year-old/1328158/3 "2024-12-02T18:16:52Z")
There are lots of "sound sensors" or "microphone boards". If you are in the U.S., SparkFun and Adafruit are reliable suppliers. But there are different kinds of sound sensors so **make sure you get one that puts-out an analog audio signal.** It will put-out a biased line level signal that can feed-into an Arduino analog input. I have [this one](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12758). It works OK, but it's not sensitive to quiet sounds so it might have to be close to the piano. You should be able to find lots of audio visualizer "example projects", or just to get off the ground, take a look at my [World's Simplest Lighting Effect](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dance-party-light-adressable-led-strip-controlled-by-software-soundwave-analyser/547091/5). (It works with a microphone board or with direct audio.) You might also look-into the [MSGEQ7](https://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Components/General/MSGEQ7.pdf) chip. It would go between the microphone board and the Arduino. It gives 7-frequency bands of audio levels so you don't have to do the FFT/FHT frequency analysis in software. ---
**Author:** ![PaulRB](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/paulrb/32/216330_2.png) [@PaulRB](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/PaulRB)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/need-advice-on-music-visualizer-project-for-a-9-year-old/1328158/4 "2024-12-02T18:32:24Z")
+1 for the MSGEQ7 idea. For simplicity, I also suggest LED strips or matrix based on WS2812 LEDs. These can consume a lot of current, so use an external 5V power supply with them. I can't recommend any particular project that uses these 2 components, but at least you have some search terms to look out for. ---
**Author:** ![xfpd](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/xfpd/32/1120236_2.png) [@xfpd](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/xfpd)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 4:12am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/need-advice-on-music-visualizer-project-for-a-9-year-old/1328158/5 "2024-12-04T04:12:08Z")
> [@tsk1979](#): > > simple LED music visualizer project where when the child plays the piano, Meowsic for the young. > **[Amazon.com: B. toys- B. baby- Mini Meowsic- Mini Toy Keyboard – Baby Piano –...](https://www.amazon.com/B-toys-BX2004Z-Meowsic-Keyboard/dp/B091KC4YQ2)** > > Meows here, colors there, piano fun is everywhere with the Mini Meowsic! This mini cat keyboard is great for introducing little ones to the wonderful world of music. With big, light-up keys to press, 2 music modes to explore, and 10 different songs... Karaoke for the young at heart > **[Amazon.com: Karaoke Machine for Adults & Kids with Full-Screen LED Lights,...](https://www.amazon.com/Full-Screen-Portable-Bluetooth-Microphones-Adjustment/dp/B0DGFVKJWF)** > > Buy Karaoke Machine for Adults & Kids with Full-Screen LED Lights, Portable Bluetooth Speaker with 2 Wireless Microphones, Bass/Treble Adjustment, Supports REC/TWS/FM/AUX/USB/IF Card for Home Party: Portable Systems - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY... ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/need-advice-on-music-visualizer-project-for-a-9-year-old/1328158/6 "2025-06-02T04:13:03Z")
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