College visit, river walks, wading through fens to set up a livestream microphone, beat box and loop pedal experimentation
With Wheatfen up and running, we went to Thetford to work with the South Norfolk YAB to introduce the youth workers and young people to the HomeSounds project. After a brief introduction to the recording technology, we walked across Burnhamcross common, recording birds and insects, climbing trees and enjoying the outdoor space. We spent the afternoon listening and recording by the river, capturing the sounds of the unseen birds in the reeds, using the hydrophone to listen to the sounds beneath the surface, and paddling to keep cool.
Early in the term, the SoundBites group visited Access to Music Norwich, a post 16 music and Media College. The young people had a guided tour of all the fantastic facilities, studios and student areas, and were able to ask questions to current students and staff about the courses on offer.
At our regular HomeSounds sessions young people have continued to experiment, recording using binaural microphones, stereo mic set ups and experimenting with recording feedback (created by mics and headphones).
Local Beatbox and loop station artist Be Coffin worked with us over the last half of the term at SoundBites sessions, working with young people to make experimental recordings using loop pedals, vocal sounds and melodies, body percussion, instruments and any other available and interesting items that made a noise. Be has been teaching the young people how to use the loop pedal to record beats using voice (beatboxing), encouraging them to be as creative as possible and helping them understand the concept and art of looping and layering sounds. The result has been some interesting and creative compositions, lots of fun and increasing levels of confidence.
Towards the end of the term, we welcomed Zoe from Youth Music to a SoundBites session, and she joined us on a soundwalk around the City of Norwich School for a HomeSounds session. Young people were pleased to talk about their experiences and what they have learned and enjoyed from their involvement in the projects.
We delivered a range of soundwalks across the term, building on the participants listening and recording skills and enjoying being immersed in the natural environment. Wheatfen broad, which is home to the Ted Ellis Nature Reserve, a protected area within the Broads National Park, kindly allowed us to set up a live stream microphone. After a pleasant walk around the site, investigating paths, woods and reed beds, we gave thorough consideration to the pros and cons of various potential locations for the livestream equipment. The young people selected the most suitable location, and after wading through fenland and reeds, they helped set up the equipment; it took some fine-tuning (and patience) but we finally managed to get the live stream working. If you want to listen, check it out here: http://locusonus.org/soundmap/051/
With Wheatfen up and running, we went to Thetford to work with the South Norfolk YAB to introduce the youth workers and young people to the HomeSounds project. After a brief introduction to the recording technology, we walked across Burnhamcross common, recording birds and insects, climbing trees and enjoying the outdoor space. We spent the afternoon listening and recording by the river, capturing the sounds of the unseen birds in the reeds, using the hydrophone to listen to the sounds beneath the surface, and paddling to keep cool.
Over the summer holiday, we took a break from weekly sessions in schools, but did a number of Soundwalks, making the most of the warm dry weather. We took groups of young people back to both of the livestream microphone sites to make minor adjustments. We checked the function of the microphones, checked cables and adjusted the solar panel positioning to maximise exposure to the sun. On top of this, we explored the beautiful natural surrounding environments and recorded the varied sounds along the way, climbed viewing towers, had pic-nics, chatted with the cows and treated ourselves to ice cream to cool off. As well as spending time with our regular HomeSounds attendees, we also introduced young people from the North Norfolk YAB to the HomeSounds project and the technology and equipment used, visiting our Sheringham park livestream microphone (which is very close to where these young people live), making field recordings and practising focussed listening.
