Hofstra Drama 20 – Sound for the Theatre

February 8th, 2024. 9:25am J-Train.

The sounds that are closest to me is a child crying next to me and the train announcement.

The furthest sounds are the cars and trucks and music outside.

The medium distances, I would consider the shuffling and train itself, noises from peoples phones and high schoolers talking.

The sound level is loud and the amount of sounds being created is consistent until the High Schoolers got off.

Word Description: Light Cacophony

Important sounds are talking, train on the tracks, crying child, and the MTA Train Announcer!

Journal Entry 1

1. 2/8, 6:26PM, my living room
2. Farthest away from me: the sound of the refrigerator running, footsteps in the hallway
3. Medium range: My housemate sniffling and pouring her drink
4. Closest to me: The sound of the fan in my laptop, my keyboard as I type, and the sound of my own breathing
5. It’s generally very quiet – everyone just got home from class and we’re passing around my phone putting in our Doordash orders so no one is really making much noise
6. One word: comfortable
7. 3 essential sounds: the sound of my breath, the footsteps, the refrigerator. These sounds together represent the idea of comfortable silence for me.

February 8, 2024. 1:20. My Backyard.
The sounds that are furthest away from me: Truck beeping, distant cars, a plane.
The sounds that are a medium distance from me: Neighbors footsteps, squirrels shuffling in the trees, occasional car on my street.
The sounds that are closest to me: Birds, music coming from my computer (Sugar Magnolia- Grateful Dead).
The sound level of the space: Low. A lot of different quiet sounds.
One word description: Peaceful
Three sounds that are most important to the environment: Birds chirping, wind in the trees, hum of planes from nearby airport.

1. 02/07/2024 – 8:30pm – Emily Lowe Hall.
2. Sounds farthest away from me: people walking around upstairs, laughing, the occasional toilet flush and sink.
3. Sounds at medium range: slow contemporary music playing, dancing and feet moving, quiet applause.
4. Sounds closest to me: people talking, papers rustling, pens clicking and writing.
5. The general sound level is average but close to loud and the amount of sound activity is constant.
6. Description word: chaotic.
7. Essential sounds: constant talking, dancing, and faint music.

1. 2/7/2024, 1:50 pm, Emily Lowe
2. people entering and exiting Lowe
3. other people talking in the Drounge
4. Emma talking to me
5. a lot of sounds, but they’re all at more medium volumes
6. alive
7. the door to Lowe, footsteps walking by, people talking

2/7/24 – 1:30PM – My dorm

Sounds farthest from me: My suitemates talking in the other room, my suitemate opening the fridge, someone unlocking and opening their door down the hall.

Sounds at a medium range from me: The heater, my fan next to my bed, my roommate walking into my room and grabbing something from her desk.

Closest to me: the music playing from my phone, me typing on my computer, my foot tapping the floor.

Sound level: The sound level is relatively low, since there are only three of us home. My music is louder than the rest of the sounds in my dorm – so that specific sound level is higher.

Sound activity: There is a small amount of sound activity because there are only three of us. The TV and other appliances aren’t on, and my suitemates are having a relatively quiet conversation.

One work description for the sound environment: Familiar

Three sounds that are essential to the sound environment: My roommates talking, my fan, and the sound of my keyboard

1. February 7, 2024. 11:30 am. Bits and Bytes.
2. The sounds that are furthest away from me: the sound of cooking in the kitchen, fridges opening and closing, the workers behind the food counters talking to each other
3. The sounds that are a medium distance from me: the hum of the fridges, the women who work at the check out area talking to each other and other students, the chatter of the students eating lunch in this space
4. The sounds that are closest to me: my friend tapping on his computer, the video he is watching, the tapping of my own keyboard.
5. The sound level of the space is medium-to-low, with an occasional louder noise. The sound activity is high, as there are many people in this space doing their own individual things.
6. One word description: casual
7. Three sounds that are integral to the environment: the fridges humming, the employees speaking Spanish casually to each other, and the happy chatter from other students.

Location: Living Room

Sounds: What We Do In the Shadows on the TV, me chuckling at the show, my roommates talking

Location: Monroe Hall Room 213, 5/14/2023

Farthest Sounds: Air conditioner

Medium Sounds: Future President of the Hofbeats speaking at the front of the room, clapping, people singing voice parts

closest sounds: The two lads having a side convo in front of me, me typing

Sound level: Loud, but few individual sounds

Description: Echoing

Important sounds: Clapping, presidential speech, singing

Location: Pride Den, corner of the room

Farthest sound: light chatter from individuals and small groups, someone singing (opera?)

Medium Sound: People walking in and out of the den, the hum of air conditioning

Closest Sound: Clatter of people typing on keyboards, my breathing, my fidgeting in my seat which makes it squeak a little, tapping of a shoe

Sound Level: Quiet and cozy

Sound Description in 1 Word: Anxious

Essential Sounds: Chatter of people, clatter of keyboards, deep breaths