Activity 2.2: creating soundscapes – use of voice

Introduction

Students create soundscapes (sounds that provide a particular environment or atmosphere). Soundscapes can be created with vocals, instruments and percussion, but in this activity they will be created using the dramatic element of 'voice'.

Duration

10 minutes

Resources

Open space large enough for students to move comfortably and safely – possibly able to be blacked out for atmosphere and mood

• Activity stepsShow details
  1. Tell students that they will be using voice to create an atmospheric soundscape that could accompany a dramatic role-play.
  2. Have them think about the Rex Walheim video. What sounds did they hear on that video?
  3. As stimulus for the activity, collect the students' memories of sounds in the video (voices, technology and environment).
  4. Discussion questions could include: Do noises exist in space? If you could 'hear' things in space what would you hear?
  5. Have the students imagine comets, stars, a moon turning, nebula, spacecraft and space stations. What might they sound like?
  3. Begin with an introductory exercise – students work as an entire ensemble. Suggest the following sounds that they all make together – astronauts shaking inside a space shuttle, a comet zooming by, the sounds of living inside a space station.
  4. Have students work in groups of four or five – a collection of voices. Each group chooses one of the following ideas – the blast off, inside the space shuttle, docking at the space station, Mission Control, a passing comet or the explosion of a star. Ask the students to keep their group's choice secret!
  4. Students work on creating a series of sounds that create the moment they have chosen – it could go for about 15–20 seconds.
  5. To present the soundscapes, students might feel more confident if everyone sits and closes their eyes, ready to listen.
  6. The other students guess what each soundscape is and perhaps imagine what the scene could look like with the soundscape that is created.