Sound Project

 Creating a Soundscape:

During our recent sound module, I discovered that sound isn't just a background element. It can tell just as much of a story as dialogue can. When coupled together, sound can enhance a scene much more than dialogue could achieve alone. It can set the mood, create atmosphere, and can make listeners feel as if they’re right there – like they are experiencing the scene firsthand.

 

The project directions were simple. We had to tell a story using only sound effects, no visuals, and we were limited to only seven spoken words. We had to brainstorm short scenes that could realistically happen in 1-2 minutes, make a detailed outline to map out all the sounds we would be using, and we had to combine online sound databases with at least four homemade foley effect sounds.

 

My partner and I got right to work. While brainstorming, one idea quickly came to me. My sister is a competitive swimmer, and I often pick her up from practice. I’ve spent so much time at the pool that I’m familiar with that environment and its sounds: splashing water, lifeguards in their creaky chairs, and the sound of footsteps walking/running across wet concrete. This became our inspiration for the soundscape.

Our outline (see below) was critical in organizing our sounds and structuring our scene. We wanted to make sure the listener could visualize the pool without seeing anything. For example, having the sound of a kid running with wet feet followed by a lifeguard’s “No running!” set the stage as a pool scene. The sounds of splashing water, kids talking and playing, and the footsteps all helped the listener identify what was happening.

To bring my soundscape to life, we used iMovie. This tool allowed us to layer the different sounds, adjust volume levels, and play with speed. It was very helpful in making sure the background noises weren’t overpowering while letting us feature certain sounds more prominently.

 

I think our basic idea and outline were solid. The pool is a place many people can relate to, especially from their childhoods, so we aimed to create a sense of nostalgia. The foley sounds we created—like slapping a puddle of water with hands to mimic running, bouncing a ball to recreate children playing, stomping on a cafeteria table to replicate a lifeguard climbing a ladder, and opening and closing a gate to show that the lifeguard was leaving, turned out realistic and were effective for our soundscape.

However, looking back, I believe we could have made the project even better by using real voices instead of computer-generated voices for phrases like “No running,” “Cannonball!” and “See you tomorrow.” It would have added a human and made the scene feel more lifelike.

 

This project underscored the importance of sound in storytelling. It’s not just about filling in a silence, it’s about creating an experience that draws the listener in. Next time, I plan to incorporate more human voices to make the soundscape even more realistic.

 

Link to My Project

https://browardcountyschools-my.sharepoint.com/personal/0615144135_my_browardschools_com/_layouts/15/stream.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2F0615144135%5Fmy%5Fbrowardschools%5Fcom%2FDocuments%2FFariaRop%5Fsounscape%5Fper4%2Emp4&nav=eyJyZWZlcnJhbEluZm8iOnsicmVmZXJyYWxBcHAiOiJPbmVEcml2ZUZvckJ1c2luZXNzIiwicmVmZXJyYWxBcHBQbGF0Zm9ybSI6IldlYiIsInJlZmVycmFsTW9kZSI6InZpZXciLCJyZWZlcnJhbFZpZXciOiJNeUZpbGVzTGlua0NvcHkifX0&ga=1&referrer=StreamWebApp%2EWeb&referrerScenario=AddressBarCopied%2Eview%2E86a21113%2D82d7%2D4a8f%2Da10d%2Df5a54760cb90

I hope you enjoy listening and feel transported to a warm, sun-soaked poolside memory!