Hofstra Drama 20 – Sound for the Theatre

Location: My dorm

Time: 11:39

Sounds: Mac Ayres’s new song playing in the background, writing notes with a sharpie, distance wind from the window being open

Location: Room 320 in Guthart Hall
Identify the sounds heard in the clip: Firefly by Childish Gambino, my roommate singing along, me typing, the ice in my cup moving around as I take a sip, laughing

Location: my house

The sounds heard in this clip consists of my fan, music playing faintly from my neighbor’s house, distant clanging/beeping, and my housemates talking downstairs.

Location: Bernon Hall
Identify the sounds heard in the clip: my co-workers talking, my co-workers discussing math, the music playing from the radio, computers clacking, ice moving in a cup, my friend sneezing and me saying “bless you.”

3/7/24 – 8:15PM – Pride Den

1. Sounds farthest from me: people on the other side of the room talking, utensils clacking together, chairs moving  
2. Sounds at a medium range from me: The backing tracks of the song being performed, the percussion instruments, people snapping during the performance, piano  
3. Sounds closest to me: the performer singing, my friends whispering next to me, the bass line, the applause 
4. Sound level and sound activity: the sound level is relatively high due to the speakers projecting the instruments but also the performer’s voice. The sound activity is high because there are a lot of people in the room making noise i.e. the singing, playing instruments, talking, clapping. There is a lot happening at once. 
5. One word description: Musical 
6. 3 essential sounds: the bassline, the performer’s voice, percussion

1. 03/05/2024 – 9:09pm – Calkins Dance Studio.
2. Sounds farthest away from me: the wind outside of an open window, the buzz of the overhead lighting, the occasional sink/toilet outside of the room.
3. Sounds at medium range: the door occasionally opening and closing, quiet side conversations, the occasional bang of a foot or a phone, people sniffling/moving around.
4. Sounds closest to me: contemporary music playing, my fingers tapping on my phone, the occasional buzz of my phone, the choreographers teaching/counting to the music.
5. The general sound level is a little above average at most times, but back to average/quiet when the music/dancing is paused. The amount of sound activity is mostly sporadic, but constant and usually unchanging when the music/dancing is happening.
6. Description word: active.
7. Essential sounds: movement, counting, and contemporary music.

Location: Dunkin’ on the Quad
Sounds: Music, chattering, thuds and chairs moving, orders being called.

2/22/24 – 12:51PM – The Student Center

Sounds farthest from me: People talking at different volumes across the Student Center, the workers making drinks, kitchen noises from other food places.

Sounds at a medium range from me: The music playing from the speakers, chairs moving, wrappers crinkling.

Closest to me: My friends’ conversation, keyboard clacking, my friend’s jewelry clanking as she writes.

Sound level: The sound level is medium to high – there is a lot of high volume volumes happening around. There are a lot of people at the Student Center at common hour all talking loudly. The metal dishes at Starbucks are loud as well.

Sound activity: There is a lot of sound activity. There is a lot of people talking and a lot of general physical activity happening that creates a lot of noise.

One work description for the sound environment: Noisy

Three sounds that are essential to the sound environment: Starbucks noises, my friends talking, music playing in Starbucks.

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.

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