Learning Through Listening: The soundscapes of Cephalonia and their contribution to academic learning
Date
2011Author
Loufopoulos, Apostolos
Katerelos, Dionisiοs G.
Maragkos, Theofanis
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Soundscape research can be a very important factor during the learning
process. The acoustic environment of Cephalonia island offers contrasting
soundscapes of various range forms, which need to be explored, documented
and appreciated. This environment consists of urban and countryside
landscapes, varying from coastal areas to mountainous areas, of high
elevation and caves, and also from noisy to extremely quiet, hi-fidelity soundworlds.
Also, these environments can be very contrasting during different
seasons of the year, regarding the geophysical, biological sources and
activities, and also regarding human presence.
During the last years, these environments are explored through a number of
visits and recording sessions by students and teaching staff of the
Department of Sound Technology and Musical Instruments of the
Technological Institution of the Ionian Islands. The purpose of these actions is
to document the acoustic sound-world of the island and through this
documentation to focus on a variety of different learning procedures regarding
different scientific and musical topics. Thus, a number of academic lessons
are carried out in these outdoor environments.
The topics discussed in this paper refer to audio recording, musical
composition and acoustic research, as these fields are approached through
the exploration of soundscapes as a common material of study. Firstly, fieldrecording
is explored technically, regarding the use of different types of
microphones and recording techniques, monitoring and experimentation with
different microphone positioning. Secondly, the acoustic properties of the
recorded spaces are examined through acoustic measurements, comparisons
between different acoustic areas and often through a number of (pilot)
experiments such as producing sound within the space, thus sonically
intervening with or ‘stimulating’ the environment’s acoustic behavior. Finally,
the material can be utilized compositionally for the creation of acousmatic
musical contexts as part of musical/compositional training: from microphone
experimentation and selection of what sources to record, to sound
transformation in the studio trough digital processing techniques,
soundscapes can serve as a valuable audio basis, and provide models for
mimesis.
To sum up, this paper describes and proposes a model of academic
lessons which combine multiple topics, where different areas of study
converge and are often being taught simultaneously in the field. Being and
interacting with the above environments during the lesson can be a unique
teaching and learning experience and a great challenge for both students and
tutors.