This Kansas City musician invented an instrument that conjures sound from painting

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Children are often the first to pick up a brush and give Coloratura a try. Ivory thinks there may be something about the mix of art, music and technology that could have therapeutic benefits.

She remembers the time a little girl approached her after about 15 minutes of painting.

“She says, 'This is so soothing, this really helps my anxiety.' And I just wanted to hug her — oh, my God. Like, 'I'm sorry that you have anxiety when you're so young, but I'm glad that you found something that you connect with,'" Ivory says.

For the past few months, Ivory’s been demonstrating Coloratura around town at maker fairs and pop-up events, and she's actively looking for other opportunities to showcase her invention.

"Even though I initially designed it for myself, I really want to share it with other people," Ivory says. "I think it's a different way to think about music, to think about art and just to think about yourself as a creative person."