A Soundscape of Connection

The Exersice

This exercise is inspired by our meeting with Rea and the concept of Resiliency Labs, which explore how different forms of art—from food to melody—can bridge the gap between people. It draws specific inspiration from the film August Rush, where the protagonist finds music in the textures of the natural world.

The goal is not to be "musical" in a professional sense. Instead, it is to use sound as a tool for deep listening, collaboration, and understanding. By recording and layering the sounds of our environment and our own voices, we reduce polarization by acknowledging the different parts we all play in the symphony of a community.

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Roles

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The Listeners (A & B) Two participants who act as "sound hunters," capturing the environment and their own responses to it.

The Composer (C) Acts as the anchor, helping to weave the individual sounds into a singular, shared melody.

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1. Prepare the Space

Find an environment where nature and human life intersect—a park, a busy street corner with trees, or even a quiet courtyard. Ensure everyone has a simple way to record audio (a smartphone works perfectly).

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2. Grounding: The 360° Listen (5 minutes)

Before recording, stand in silence.

• Close your eyes.

• Breathe consciously.

• Identify the furthest sound you can hear, then the closest (your own breath). This shifts the focus from doing to receiving.

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3. Sound Hunting

A and B move separately through the space for 10 minutes.

• A focuses on "Nature’s Rhythm" (wind in leaves, birds, water, footsteps on gravel).

• B focuses on "Human Resonance" (distant chatter, the hum of a machine, the rhythm of a gate closing).

• Record 3–4 short clips (10 seconds each) of sounds that "feel" like the environment.

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4. Bringing it to the Table

The group gathers back together. This is where we see what each person "brings to the table."

• A and B play their sounds for one another.

• C (The Composer) listens for the "beat" or the "mood" that connects these differing sounds.

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5. Creating the Human Melody

Now, add the element of personal expression.

• A chooses one sound they recorded and mimics it with their voice or a clap.

• B responds with a sound that "complements" A’s sound.

• This creates a live, three-way call-and-response. It is a one-on-one contact built on rhythm rather than words.

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6. The Shared Composition

Using a simple loop app or just by playing recordings simultaneously, layer the sounds:

1. The Nature Rhythm.

2. The Human Resonance.

3. The live vocal/rhythmic response from the group.

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7. Shared Observations

Reflect on the process using these prompts:

• What did you hear that you usually ignore?

• How did it feel to "give" a sound and "receive" a response from your partner?

• Where did the different sounds (polarities) clash, and where did they find a way to work together?

• How did your understanding of the "other" (the environment or your partner) change through listening?

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Through this practice of sound, we move from the isolation of our own perspectives into a shared resonance. We learn that while our melodies may differ, they can still exist within the same song.