Notasium, Durham's new music-based play space, opens

Notasium, a new indoor play space in Durham, started welcoming its first visitors this week.

The space, built, in part, thanks to an online fundraising campaign earlier this year, features about 3,000-square-feet of play area, along with lots of rooms in the back for individual and group music lessons and adult and child music classes.

Two Triangle dads, Stephen Norman-Scott and Preston Clarke, are behind the business ... and have spent some long days getting the space ready for play.

All of the elements are made or designed by them, using some innovative materials like conductive paint so kids can play notes on all sorts of things.

Play pieces include a bounce house that looks like two drums; a giant guitar fretboard that kids can climb up, playing notes along the way, and slide down; karaoke rooms; a beat kitchen where kids can bang on all sorts of pots and pans; a stage; and a special area for young children. There's also a long bar where parents can watch their kids play, if they'd like, and sip some coffee.

They're still working out a few kinks, but Clarke and Norman-Scott are thrilled to invite families in to take a look. Notasium's website has all of the information on hours and prices. An official grand opening will likely be scheduled in a few weeks.