We conducted a class sound walk through the local area surrounding our campus, it was fascinating to see in perspective how little my brain picks up in day-to-day life compared with the task of simply walking in silence and only focusing on listening in detail. It surprised me how much noise was produced from every direction; it gave me a feeling of being within a polluted area full of unwanted harmful noise. This point was especially noticeable when we walked through some of the smaller estates in the area. They were surrounded by large tower blocks under construction with harsh power tool noise reflecting sound down onto the houses below almost as if on purpose.

I think this sound walk was a powerful listening exercise and has opened my mind in terms of the meaning of unwanted noise and to concentrate more on observing the environment I’m in by ear.