Listening to a place

Course Brief

Abstract

This is a course for anyone curious about sound, deep listening and composing soundscapes for public listening. Participants will be invited to engage with the historical, ecological and socio-cultural significance of Papnash Lake through the practice of listening, field-recording and soundscape composition. Participants will go on soundwalks, be introduced to field-recording techniques, build simple contact-mic and hydrophones and develop strategies for soundscape compositions. By the end of the make-a-thon, participants will create individual (or a collaborative) soundscape composition(s) that will be shared via a public exhibition, where local residents will be invited to engage with the work and share their responses.

On Papnash Lake, everyday rhythms like fishing weave into the soundscape

Key words

walking, listening, field-recording, composing, contextualising soundscapes

Course objective

1. Explore how listening—as distinct from visually dominant forms of knowledge—fosters attachment, care, and associations with a place.

2. Experiment with methods that reveal both the audible and the obscured, foregrounding marginalized voices, more-than-human voices, and hidden ecologies.

A winding path around Papnash Lake, where listening begins with footsteps

Learning Outcomes

1. Learning to listen and create soundscape compositions as a way to engage with the history, and ecology of a place, and ultimately to feel more connected to it.

2. Reflecting on personal relationship to sounds and the effect it has on oneself, their environment, community etc

3. Learning basic field-recording techniques, soundscape composition techniques and basic mic-building

Learning modes

In this course we will be using mixed methods of observing, recording, renarrating and publishing through following learning modes,

• Sound Walks

• Sound sampling and journalling

• Material exploration

• Public Engagement

What you bring?

This course does not require any prior training or technical background. What matters most is your orientation:

• Curiosity and openness to explore sound as a medium of learning and relating to place.

• Willingness to experiment hands-on, to try, fail, and learn through practice.

• Commitment to reciprocity, sharing the materials and insights you produce with the people of the place and with a wider public.

What will you make?

The cohort can choose from the following channels to make their work public. There will be support from facilitators for each of these processes.

1. A Field Recording Album

2. Multi-channel audio installation

3. Digital publication on soundcloud/ bandcamp/ papad that allows for public annotations

4. Soundcloud radio

5. A public-exhibit

Course Fee

Fee Summary

Our course fees vary based on the total Notional Learning Hours (NLH). When you view a course description, you'll see a transparent breakdown of costs which reflects the unique structure and requirements of that particular learning experience. The published cost calculation below gives you clarity on what's included in your fees. As more learners join a course, we may adjust the per-person cost accordingly. We track all expenditures carefully against our initial estimates to ensure resources are used effectively for your learning journey. For more information please look at FAQ page.

Fee does not include

• Travel cost to Bidar and return is not covered in the fees.

• Cost of any equipment or other specific materials relevant to Learner’s practice. We recommend the learners to carry any specialised equipments or materials with them to Bidar.