For my second process journal, I decided to create a sound map based on the sounds I heard outside.

My Process

My sound map is inspired by the sounds I heard in our yard. I chose to use fall colors because when outside it feels and looks exactly like the middle of fall:

Brown: The brown squiggles represent my conversation with Raya. Our conversation was random and occurred in small spurts.

Orange: The orange dashed curves represent the sound of the cars driving on the highway. It was quiet and then there would be a ‘whoosh’ as the cars passed our yard.

Yellow: The yellow represents the wind. The wind was the loudest sound because it was very windy and cold. I made the wind the largest part of the map for this reason.

Red: The red represents the sounds of the geese flying south. I made the shape sharp and pointed because the sound was quick, but had a definitive peak in volume.

When translating the sounds into a visual process I noticed that it required paying more attention to the entirety of the sounds. By doing this I noticed that often I do not pay attention to the detail of the sounds I hear and where they are coming from. This aspect of sound is very important in creating and listening to music.

When I look at my sound map, I see an interpretation of fall. I see this because the shapes and colors remind me of falling leaves.

Classroom Application

I like this activity because it is quick and easy. I remember doing this once in Band and enjoyed it. I can see this being a great activity to encourage students to think more deeply about the dynamics of the sounds they hear.

I also think that this activity is very versatile. The two main ways I would incorporate it into the classroom are the following:

1. Take students outside or somewhere in the school and have them map the sounds they hear.
2. Have students listen to a song and have the map the sounds they hear.