An Introduction to Soundscape Composition (Winter)
Led by award-winning sound artist Nikki Sheth, learn how to create your own soundscape compositions through this practice-led, audio-based course.
- This short course is likely to take place in February 2025; please click here to sign up to our newsletter.
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This in-person 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, acoustic ecology and soundwalking, 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. This course engages with and intersects art, climate change, ecology, soundscape, field recording and musical composition.
- Participants are required to bring their own headphones and are welcome to bring any field recording equipment if they have any
- 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
- Gain an understanding of fundamental theory and history of soundscape composition
- Learn how to use the DAW Reaper
- 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:
Session 1
Field recording
Microphones
Session 2
Soundscape Composition
Acoustic Ecology
Getting started with Reaper 1
Session 3
Soundwalking and Sound Maps
Getting started with Reaper 2
Session 4
Getting started with Reaper 3
Soundscape Composition (creative composition)
Tutorials and sharing session of final works
“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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Image: John Lucy
Tutors
Nikki Sheth
Tutor
Nikki Sheth is an internationally recognised sound artist and composer. Her work aims to give voice to the environment and foster a deeper connection with the natural world through field recordings, soundscape composition, spatial audio practices, multimedia installations, and sound walking. She holds a PhD in Musical Composition from The University of Birmingham, her thesis was titled ‘Blurring the Lines Between Field Recording, Soundscape Composition and Acousmatic Music’. She was awarded a Sound and Music award (2020), nominated for the Phonurgia Nova Awards (2020), received an Honourable Mention for the Sound of the Year Awards (2021), nominated for Ivor Novello Composer Award (2021), awarded a Sound and Music Seed Award for New Voices (2022) and winner of the Leah Reid Award from the International Alliance for Women in Music (2023). She recently collaborated on the ‘Disruptive Frequencies’ album released with Nonclassical and her debut album, ‘Sounds of Mmabolela’ was released with Flaming Pines in 2021. Her work has been presented internationally, most recently at The World Forum for Acoustic Ecology Conference (Florida), Ars Electronica (Austria), A&E Labs (Chatham), The Wellcome Collection (London) and MANTIS (Manchester) and she has been featured on Framework Radio, Clydebuilt Radio, Resonance FM and BBC Radio 3. She is currently in Australia on the Refinery | Natural Ecologies Artist Residency with the SCCA and UniSC.