Sound Art

Objective: The students will be able to learn how to tell a story through sound effects and other auditory
techniques.

Materials:
Headphones
Editing software
Items to help create sound effects

Activity:

1. Brainstorm 1-2 minute, school appropriate scenes. What sounds are present within these scenes. Could
you convey the plot of the scenes only using sound?

2. Choose one of your scenes and write a description of it. Your description of the scene should be an outline
that explains the sounds that are building a realistic representation of your narrative. You may only use seven
words during the scene. Example of first 20 seconds of a scene:

Scene: Getting a haircut

I. Walking to barber shop

A. Footsteps
B. Birds singing
C. Cars going by on the road
D. Wind (slight)
E. Door opening w/bell
II. Stepping inside barber shop
A. Background chatter
B. rustling/muffled movements
C. A man loudly saying “Good Morning”
D. Background music (instrumental)

3. With the aid of online sound effects databases, Killer Tracks and everyday items, you will create an audio
recording that conveys the story of the scene. No video is allowed. Your scene must be at least one minute in
length but may not exceed two minutes.

4. At least four of the sound effects utilized must be created by using random objects (cannot use digitized
versions of the audio or sounds made with mouth) on a “foley stage.” Please video the process of creating
these four sounds and edit them together into one cohesive video file.

5. All groups will turn in two files:

a. Sound file of your scene that has been edited or uploaded to WeVideo. Please label your sound file as
“Last names of group members_soundscape_period” For example, “JonesJackson_soundscape_per3”

b. Movie file of the four “foley stage” sounds that has been edited on or uploaded to WeVideo. Please
label your foley videos as “Last names of group members_foley_period” For example,
“JonesJackson_foley_per3”
Due 11/2 (A block), 11/2 (B block)

Rubric for evaluation

90-100 points 80-90 70-80 60-70

Sound project is 1-2 Project is 1-2 Project is 1-2 Project may not meet
minutes in length minutes in length and minutes in length and the length
and accurately satisfactorily conveys conveys most of requirement. The
conveys the action the action of the described action of action of the scene is
of the scene through scene through audio the scene. Audio not accurately
audio only. Sound only. There is some layering is not conveyed through the
techniques layering of audio, but consistent or does audio. Less than
accurately tell the not to the extent of a not create a realistic three student created
story. Audio layering higher scoring representation of the sound effects
is prominent and at project. Four foley scene. All foley available. Many
least four of the stage sounds are stage sounds are not sounds do not fit the
sounds are student properly included OR not scene description.
created (with proper documented. properly
documentation of documented.
foley stage).