Hofstra Drama 20 – Sound for the Theatre

1- Feb. 12. 11:33am – Bernard Hall

2- There are thumping sounds coming from upstairs. People moving their desks and opening and closing doors.
3- My professor is speaking about Intellectual Property Rights.
4- The two kids on either side of me are typing. A cough or sniffle from people in the classroom is heard every now and then.
5- Sound level is relatively tame- My professor is lecturing and has been talking for some time now making the sound of her voice the constant in the room.
6- Soft.
7- My professor talking – The sound of people’s keyboards, the constant thumping from upstairs.

1. February 1st, 1:40 PM, Vander Poel Floor 2 Hallway

2. Farthest- a door is slamming, toilet is flushing

3. Medium- the elevator ding, and a shower is running

4. Closest- voices, air running

5. Sound Level- pretty low sound level, sounds were consistent except for certain sounds such as door and toilet that broke the peaceful hum.

6. One word- soothing

7. Three essential sounds- air running, shower and elevator ding

1) 2/5/15, 9:50pm, study session in Michael Caizzi’s room

2) Farthest: Cars driving (inappropriately fast) in the Colonial Square parking lot, someone upstairs dropping things on the floor.

3) Medium: Clock ticking in the suite, quiet chat in the neighboring room

4) Closest: Michael talking and typing on his keyboard, the HVAC blowing cool air, Judy Garland on vinyl.

5) The sound level and activity is pretty low. No sudden fluctuations in the kinds of sounds, or the volumes of them.

6) One-Word Description: Homey.

7) Three Sounds Essential to the Environment: The “buhhhhhhhhhhh” of the HVAC (it is relaxing and makes a steady background noise). The typing on both of our keyboards (sounds like productivity in tandem). Judy Garland singing “The Trolley Song” (warm, familiar).

1- 2/3/15-1:10pm-L216

2- There is a tracker-like sound coming from outside. I have to assume it’s a snow plow from the bang I hear every now and then.
3- The steady yet calm wind as well as people outside talking. I also heard someone open and close the conference door. I can tell that it is the conference door from the vibration of the wall.
4- I can hear my own typing as well as the clock. Other than that, it is relatively silent in the room.
5- Eerily quiet.
6- Calm
7- The clock is the most important sound. Because if we couldn’t hear the clock running than it wouldn’t be quiet/calm, there would be something drowning it out. The calming steady sound of the wind because this acts as a sort of background white noise sound. The small, low chatter of students outside.

1. Location: Intramural Field, 2:00pm, Wednesday 3/36

2. List the sounds farthest from you.

• Plane engine overhead

3.  List sounds at medium range from you.

• Shouts of people playing on the soccer field
•  Cars driving in the parking lot to the left
• The howling wind

4. List sounds closest to you.

• My footsteps
• My keys and coins jingling in my coat pocket
• The tree branches and shaking

5.  Describe the general sound level and amount of sound activity.

Despite there being a lot of sounds occurring at the same time the sound level was pretty calm.  Also despite it being fairly chilly it seemed like a spring day and the sounds were a big part of it.  The sound of people playing outdoor sports on a sunny day creates a very spring feeling.

6. Assign a one word description to the “sound environment”.

Spring

7.  Select and list 3 sounds which are essential to the sound environment.

• People playing soccer
• The wind
• The shaking tree branches

1.  3/2/14,  7:46pm, Penn Station LIRR waiting area

2. Identify the Sounds farthest from you:

• A baby crying somewhere in the distance
• Drumming from the small band setup outside the McDonalds
• The soft pattering sound of footsteps

3.  Identify the Sounds at Medium range from you:

• The voice over the loudspeaker announcing track numbers
• The bustling of people with rolling luggage
• The hand dryers from the bathroom

4.  Identify the sounds Closest to you:

• The Women tapping her foot next to me
• A child asking when the train is going to come repeatedly

5.  Describe the general sound level and amount of activity:

• The sound level would have to be very high since there is so much activity and organized chaos going on.

6.  Assign a one word description to the “sound environment”

• Bustling

7.  Three sounds essential to the sound environment:

• The people walking
• The women tapping her foot
• The announcements over the loudspeaker

1.  2/27/14,  3:00pm, Hammer Lab

2.  Identify and list the sounds closest to you:

• The clicking of my keyboard
• My stomach churning
• The vibration of my phone when receiving a text

3.  Identify the sounds at medium range from you:

• The sound of wind against the window
• The printers beeping and making noises
• Various typing sounds

4.  Identify the sounds farthest from you:

• A small conversation from the other corner of the room
• The opening and closing of the far door

5.  Describe the general sound level and amount of sound activity:

The sound level is hushed but the activity is very high.  There are conversations and a lot of sounds happening but no one sound is dominating the space.

6.  Assign one word to describe the sound environment:

Hushes

7.  Select three sounds that are essential to the sound environment:

• Keyboards
• The printers
• The conversation from across the room

1 – 2/20/14 – 6:30ish pm, Napolini Express

2 – Identify and list the sounds farthest away from you.
-Music playing through the speakers
-Chatting of Nappo’s customers

3 – Identify and list the sounds at a medium range from you.
-Ringing bell caused by door opening and closing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     -Lauren telling a story about Canada                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 -Marissa laughing at this story

4 – Identify and list the sounds closest to you.
– Jackie tapping her fingers
– The sound of my chewing pizza

5 – Describe the general sound level and amount of sound activity.
– The environment has the sound of any typical restaurant. It is buzzing with various people’s conversations, and the hum of the machines making pizza.

6 – Assign a one word description to the “sound environment”.
– Humming

7 – Select and list 3 sounds which are essential to the sound environment.
-Music playing
– Lauren talking
-Bell on the door

1. 2/19/2014, 3:07 AM, My bed in Vander Poel 1207

2. Identify the sounds farthest from you: Farthest from me, I can hear my AC unit.  It is off, but it always makes some kind of white noise.  I can also hear Marina’s sleeping breathing/snoring  (Do I have to ask permission for this???).  Whenever someone opens a door in the hallway or goes into the bathroom, I can hear them and the door they open and close.  I actually really like the sound of people moving around on my floor.  It is less lonely when you know other people are awake at 3:00 AM.  However, the sounds at medium range have got to stop… [WARNING: dramatic post]

3. Identify the sounds at medium range:  The sounds at medium range are the focus of this journal entry.  I don’t know what event is going on on the 13th floor of my building once or twice a week at 2:00-4:00 AM, but it sure is annoying and disconcerting.  I am not the best sleeper, so tonight, I am taking a moment from trying to fall asleep to note my sound environment…which is not assisting in my entering dreamland.  I think that there is a group of people in the common room above my room either playing a really intense game of foosball or taking a break from studying to practice their sumo wrestling.  There is an occasional boom coming from the ceiling, and it sounds like someone is falling to their knees or body slamming someone to the tightly carpeted floor.  It honestly sounds like the cement ceiling is going to crack and the structure of the ceiling/floor are just going to crumble on to me and my little bed.  Maybe one of those foosball sumo wrestlers will come along with the rubble.

4. Identify the sounds closest to you: When I lifted my phone to record evidence of the annoying sounds coming from above my bed, my elbow cracked.  Elbows make such high-pitched cracks.  I can also hear my breathing when I lay on my side and my right ear is pressed to my pillow.  When I reposition my hand holding my phone, I can hear the way it brushes my phone case, which is a plastic/cardboard hybrid material.  Oh! And I am congested, so I can hear mucus in my head, when I swallow (Ewe).

5. General sound level and activity:  The sound activity is pretty dull, except for when the ceiling sounds like it’s being pounded into pieces.  It’s the middle of the night, so it is quite calm, with intermittent disturbances.

6. One word to describe the sound environment: Disturbed

7. 3 essential sounds to the sound environment: 

– The AC unit white noise

-The crashing from above

-Marina’s sleep breathing

Location: Bits and Bytes

Time: 2/20 12:15 pm

Sounds heard: General conversation, Plastic salad container opening, Chair sliding, Voice from t.v.