Soundwalk

OK! so this is dated wrong because I somehow posted this under a Drift 1 blog title when it was really supposed to be posted to my research blog. The original posting date on this is september 14th


Soundwalk
On the sound walk, I was much more able to listen when the group dispersed and we sat by ourselves. Even though we weren’t speaking amongst ourselves when we were walking through the downer forest, it was still more difficult to listen to distinct sounds because we were hearing so many other things. When we were sitting and listening, I as able to hear noises coming from pockets in different areas of the environment.

I found I was making sound even when I was attempting to be completely silent. The sound of my breath became stronger and the more I tried to quiet myself, the more my own heartbeat was distracting.

When my ears were plugged I could hear almost nothing except my heart and my breath. The sounds that were near me that were loud enough to hear were muffled. And the distant sounds of airplanes and automobiles were the only external sounds that were distinguishable. It seemed the sounds that were lower in pitch we heard best when my ears were closed.
When I unplugged my ears, every sound became more distinct and unique. It became easy to label sounds with their source.
I heard: Buses coming off stop signs and switched gears, I heard little rodents carrying things or scuffling their paws against the bark of the tree branches, I heard bird chirping, low, indistinguishable chatter and tennis playing alternating as the ball bounced against the court followed by yelping and laughing, the wind gusts moving the leaves to brush against other leaves and the tree branches, jazz music including horns and guitar, clock towers chiming on top of churches, airplanes roaring overhead.
I knew where most of the sounds came from, or at least the direction they came from. A lot of the noises I could pinpoint exactly what was happening and place an imagined visual on the action that caused the noise. (Example: the bus switching gears) Some noises I couldn’t figure out where they were coming from. Like the music; I knew it was coming from the dorms, but I couldn’t decide if it was coming from inside someone’s room? It sounded to strong of a sound to be in boundaries.
I think overall the sounds that I heard were not manipulated and consistent with the environment. I liked the idea of remaining in the environment and waiting for something to happen. Something sooner or later would cause a reaction that would inevitably make a noise, and that noise would be recorded. I liked that I was an inactive part or this experience. I enjoyed simply being the spectator of the event.
I have a grave appreciation for sound and noises, mostly because I am so intrigued by how our senses can be manipulated by an outside source and with that, provoke feelings. I hope it will aid my creative outlook and make me a better observer and originator.