WATER HARP WITH OPTICAL SENSING OF THE BREAK OF FLOWING WATER STREAMS

A system for simulating operation of a stringed instrument using a combination of water and light steams. The system includes a nozzle configured for outputting a falling laminar water stream. The system includes a light transmitter configured to inject light into a first end of the water stream and a light receiver configured to receive the light injected into the water stream and, in response, generate a signal. The system includes a controller configured for processing the signal and, in response to a lack of the signal, for operating an audio system to play a musical note or audio file. The system may include an optical fiber with a first end proximate to the nozzle oriented to receive the light injected into the water stream at the second end of the water stream, and the light receiver can be a photodetector coupled to the second end of the optical fiber.