We are here to bear "earwitness" on a geographically and historically specific moment.

Experience a soundscape for 30 minutes. For this assignment, the soundscape should be at the level of a live environment, either mundane or exceptional. You may be stationary or mobile (called a ‘soundwalk'). You may want to record a few minutes of the environment, but this is optional.

You will write an essay of 750 words or more to describe and reflect upon the soundscape (see IV).

1. Read the Introduction to Schafer's The Soundscape, focusing in particular on the section "Features of the Soundscape" (9-10).

• keynote sounds: not always heard consciously, but establish the mood and listening habits; the background sounds of the environment

• signals: sounds used to transmit information to a listener

• soundmarks (from landmarks): sounds that are highly characteristic to an environment or community

Remember that "a soundscape consists of events heard not objects seen" (Schafer 1977, 8).

II. Listen intensely for the first five minutes to acclimate (or "tune") your ears. Focus all your attention on just listening.

• What kinds of sounds do you hear (medium or forces)? Do you hear human voices? Animals? Machines? Music?

• Try to identify at least one keynote sound, one signal, and one soundmark.

• How are some of these sounds arranged spatially around you: what sounds are close, and what sounds are far away?

• How are some characteristic sounds arranged in time (rhythm)? Are they consistent, irregular, or somewhere in between?

• How are some of these sounds organized dynamically? Are some softer than others?

Make notes after the first five minutes about what you heard.

III. Then, continue listening for at least another 25 minutes, listening for changes in the environment and thinking more broadly about the features of this soundscape. You do not need to answer all of these directly, but consider the following questions:

• What is the loudest sound you hear, and the softest (dynamics)?

• Do any sounds change spatial location?

• Do any sounds change dynamic or rhythm or pitch?

• Do any sounds draw your attention in a particular way?

• Do new keynotes (background sounds) become established? Did you experience new signals?

• What is the most beautiful sound you heard, and the ugliest?

• Does music play a role in this soundscape?

• What sound might be considered the most crucial soundmark of this environment or community?

• If you could change anything about the soundscape around you, what would it be and why? How might this environment have sounded different in the past?

IV. For your final write up (of about 750 words or more), describe this environment in rich detail. You are encouraged to cite Schafer or other sources where appropriate.

• What are the keynote sounds, the signals, and soundmarks you hear, and how are they arranged and organized spatially and in time? You are encouraged to use Schafer's terminology and the general vocabulary of the elements of music (rhythm, tempo, pitch, dynamics, etc.) to describe what you hear.

• How are these sounds and how is this soundscape unique to this location and historical moment?

• What about the environment changed while you were present, and did you find yourself listening differently?

• Finally, how might this experience of "clairaudience" inform our study of music?

Assignments will be graded for writing mechanics (spelling, grammar, coherence); evidence of thoughtful listening and application of terminology; and reflection upon the experience.