This course usually runs twice per year. It will likely return in Autumn 2025.

If you have questions please consult our new FAQs page before contacting us.

We have also updated policies for course costs/concessions and bursaries, please see our Terms and conditions.

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WHAT: This online course is for beginners looking to work creatively and develop their skills in field recording to produce their own soundscape composition.

WHERE: Online, join sessions from your laptop or tablet.

WHO: Run by internationally recognised sound artist and composer; Nikki Sheth

WHEN: Thursday evenings, 7-9 PM, 22nd January – 26th February 2026.

COMMITMENT: 2 hours per week, plus extra work field recording and producing in your own time. (flexible to the scope of your project)

WHAT YOU GET: A theoretical and conceptual grounding in the field of soundscape, and practical lessons on how to create work from a professional, and an introduction to Reaper.

HOW MUCH: General: £225 | Student/concession: £195 | UCL Student: £175

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP: Please sign up by the 15th January.

BURSARIES:To apply for a free place subsidised by UCL, please read our Bursary Policy.

AGES: 18+

 

This course is for beginners looking to work creatively and develop their skills in field recording to produce their own soundscape composition. We will look at fundamental theoretical and conceptual debates in the area, the basics of field recording and acoustic ecology, how to get started with Reaper and how to creatively compose with environmental recordings. At the end of the course, you will have a collection of your own field recordings to work with in the future and a completed soundscape composition. You’ll work with your own computer to learn skills you can continue to use on available software after the course, to continue your practice. This course engages with and intersects art, climate change, ecology, soundscape, field recording and musical composition.

Participants will need their own field recording device (handheld recorder), laptop with Reaper installed (free software) and a pair of good quality headphones. If you do not have access to a recorder, please send an email to b.privitera@ucl.ac.uk

• No previous experience is required but some basic audio knowledge would be useful
• Participants will be expected to complete small listening and practical tasks outside of class

Learning outcomes:

• Gain confidence using field recording equipment through practical sessions
• Engage with a new way of listening and working with environmental sounds
• Bring your own machine, and engage with learn how to use the DAW Reaper
• Gain an understanding of fundamental theory and history of soundscape composition
• Learn useful skills and methodologies in creating an engaging soundscape composition that are transferable and can be used in the context of soundwalks, performances, radio, film, installation and more

Course outline

The following topics are only indicative:

Field recording
Microphones

Soundscape Composition
Acoustic Ecology
Getting started with Reaper 1

Soundwalking and Sound Maps
Getting started with Reaper 2

Getting started with Reaper 3
Soundscape Composition (creative composition)

Tutorials and sharing session of final works

Across 6 sessions:

Weeks 1 – 4:

Online group sessions on Thursdays

Weeks 5:

Sign up for a 30 minute 1 on 1 tutorial with your tutor, Nikki at your convenience.

Week 6:

Final session and sharing of works & feedback.

“Nikki is a very thorough and efficient teacher, her way of explaining the practical elements made it so enjoyable and her course materials were very in depth.” – Previous course participant

“Nikki is a great teacher, very fun, knowledgeable and thoughtful. Highly recommend her class if you want to learn and produce a soundscape composition.” – Previous course participant

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If you would like to:

• Find out more information about UCL Public Anthropology Short Courses
• Be updated with info such as future course dates and prices
• Be the first to know when  new courses go online

please subscribe to our mailing list.

If you still have other questions relating to a specific course or request, please get in touch with us via emailing shortcourses@opencitylondon.com

Image: John Lucy

What is UCL’s section of Public Anthropology?

Public Anthropology is a subsection of UCL’s Anthropology department. It hosts the short course programme, Open City Documentary Festival, and several graduate degree programmes.

The two main strands within Public Anthropology are media and creative and collaborative enterprise, which both merge industry expertise with academic research agendas.

Graduate degree programmes based in the Public Anthropology section include:

• Audio Storytelling for Radio and Podcast MA

• Creative Documentary by Practice MFA

• Creative and Collaborative Enterprise MA

• Designing Audio Experiences: Art, Science and Production MA

• Ethnographic and Documentary Film (Practical) MA

• Immersive Factual Storytelling MA

Public Anthropology houses London’s global non-fiction film festival, Open City Documentary Festival. Open City Documentary Festival produces an annual film festival, the bi-annual journal Non-Fiction and screening projects throughout the year.

Public Anthropology runs short courses in filmmaking, audio, virtual reality, film theory, practical camera training and film editing.