Hofstra Drama 20 – Sound for the Theatre

Georgia Andre’

Sound Environment Observation 2 – Hofstra University, Axinn Library

1-    Date/Time/Location

–         February 9, 2012 / 1opm /  Hofstra University, Axinn Library, Main Floor between Pura Vida Cafe & Circulation Desk

2-    Identify and list the sounds farthest away from you.

–         Sound of people typing on the public computers, sound of Spanish being spoken in the Pura Vida Cafe, The Hum of the Espresso Machines, People whispering in study groups by the windows, Opening and closing of main doors, Opening and closing of the elevator, Security Scanners

3-    Identify and list the sounds at medium range from you.

–         People talking at the Circulation desk, The Espresso Machines lulling

4-    Identify and list the sounds closest to you.

–         People chatting at the Circulation desk, my fingers on my laptop keyboard, foot tapping on the ground

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

–         The sound level is rather loud when you focus on it. The noise cumulatively creates a loud murmur throughout the main floor. The main floor has a sort of echo in certain locations, and the circulation desk conversations can be heard loud and clear from the center island tables and chairs where I’m located. This main floor library location creates a sort of surround-sound-effect because a lot of noises are going on at the same time between – bleeping if a book is taken out wrong, conversations at the circulation desk, bleeping to take a book out, the opening and closing of the library doors, the elevator going up – down – and opening/closing, the pura vida cafe, people who work at the cafe and speak mostly in Spanish, people holding group study sessions whispering/chatting, people on their computers/library computers typing.

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

–         Pzazz 

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

–         Espresso Machine Lull, Keyboard Typing Sound, Bleeping of Books/Security Scanners