Learning to “write for the ear, not for the page” means you must first learn to listen. To do that, you are encouraged to try this “sound walking” activity — and then discuss it in your small discussion groups on Canvas.
What is a sound walk? It’s basically a silent, walking meditation where you tune in deeply to the input arriving via your ears. The practice has been developed by acoustic composer and German-Canadian sound pioneer, Hildegard Westerkamp. (Links to an external site.) http://www.hildegardwesterkamp.ca/
Read her article below, and give it a try.
Soundwalking: by Hildegard Westerkamp (Links to an external site.)
(originally published
in Sound Heritage, Volume III Number 4, Victoria B.C., 1974
Revised 2001)
Hildegarde’s description of soundwalking includes directions for a specific walk at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Park. If your group is motivated, you might consider meeting there at an appointed time. Try the silent sound walking practice, and compare notes afterward in person and on the Canvas discussion forum. Alternatively, you may do this activity on your own at a location of your choice — and reflect on what you noticed, felt and heard in the Canvas discussion forum.
Consider in advance: How does walking silently and focusing on aural input change what you notice, and how you feel? We often curate our individual soundscapes with the likes of iTunes, Spotify, and various podcatchers. What does it feel like to let the real soundscape sink into your consciousness?
