Sound, Nature and Consciousness
2 Classes: July 12, 2007, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm, and July 16, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Instructor: Clare Hedin

Class Summary
This is a class that will focus on the sounds of Nature and the nature of sound, from a philosophical, mythological and ontologically creative perspective. Asking such questions as 'What is sound?' 'What is Sound's story?' and 'What is sound telling us?' and, most important, 'How do we learn to listen?' (e.g. spiritually, physically, emotionally, sonically). Also, 'What are we doing, when we contemplate sound?' (i.e. what effect are we having on our environment, on our relationship to life)?

In the class we will learn how to listen, from a multi-dimensional perspective, and how to relate our experience of listening into creative projects of sounds and forms that we wish to generate, explicate and collage. We will explore and re-define what we mean by sound and by Nature, i.e. What is Nature? What is the boundary line between the natural and the synthetic? Which has more value? More effect? Why?

Through a series of creative and practical exercises, we will participate in these philosophical questions, environmental questions, creating sonic soundscapes, and sonic storytelling. We will learn how to make our own statements about life through sound, and how to relate to our sonic environment. Where (in our bodies, our selves) are we hearing and feeling the sounds? What are their frequencies - how do we figure that out? How do we listen?

Suggested Text:
“The Soundscape: Our Sonic Environment and the tuning of the World” by Murray Schafer.
“Wild Soundscapes” by Bernie Krause.


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