Drawdio

Drawdio is an electronic pencil that lets you make music while you draw. It’s a great project for beginners: an easy kit with instant gratification. Invented by Jay Silver, it’s a very simple musical synthesizer that uses the conductive properties of pencil graphite to create sounds. The result is a fun toy that lets you draw “musical instruments” on any piece of paper.

The kit comes with all electronic components, PCB, hardware, and a 2B pencil. It works with any pencil (the softer, the better), and is ridiculously fun for all ages. Reviewer Sue from Boston writes: “I have never soldered anything until this kit. It took about an hour to put together, going slow. Once I finished and tested it out, the shrill sound it produces made my cat hiss at me and run out of the room. I’d recommend this to any beginners out there.”

Reviewer Barry from Emeryville, Calif., writes: “I built a Drawdio and showed it around my physics class (which happens to be studying electrical circuits) and got a great response. One of my guys even started brainstorming a musical instrument, something really big and loud based on the resistance of a long copper pipe. Good times!”