7/2 Reflection on Sound
There is a large variety of sounds in my life, from the noises of the courtyard of my building when the window is open, to the meowing and purring of my cat, to the television, people talking outside, the bangs as I walk up and down the stairs, subway trains grating and whooshing, music I put on, and my own breathing. I have a high sensitivity to noises, especially when I'm trying to sleep. Some sounds are a pleasant background hum, others make me cringe. Daily sounds that make my skin crawl: gum chewing, chewing of food during lectures, snoring, nail picking/biting, tapping, and scratching. I love hearing my cat greet me when I come through the door because it's a wonderful sound. I know that she needs me and I'm not alone.
Sounds in the arts that I love are melodies coming from a saxophone, clarinet, cello, or trumpet. Jazz music, real jazz music, and that big band sound- those are the best sounds to flow into my ears. The music is playful, deep, subdued, and relaxing. It has wonderful surprises, twists, and turns. Count Basie, Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie, John Coltrane, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Louis Armstrong- they must be heard and appreciated. I've noticed that these artists are mostly played only during the holidays- and it's a shame. I would love to hear them year round. I mostly hear rap and bad pop music in my everyday life when I walk around or use transportation-it's so frustratingly annoying. The noises that reverberate through the streets and the restaurants, the cars and the subway- they're grating on my ears. They're repetitive and lack harmony, creativity, and improvisation. That's not to say that all popular current music is bad- I do love the Lumineers and Death Cab for Cutie, among others. But hearing the top ten list over and over as I make my daily trips- not fun.
The sounds in the curriculum? I haven't paid attention to these until this unit. Ones I think of now are the sounds that come from the discussions we have, the vents in the classroom, the click clack of the keyboard as I type this post, and clicks that happen when we use and turn on different technological tools. They have become unnoticeable background noises, ones I'm all too used to.
Sounds in the arts that I love are melodies coming from a saxophone, clarinet, cello, or trumpet. Jazz music, real jazz music, and that big band sound- those are the best sounds to flow into my ears. The music is playful, deep, subdued, and relaxing. It has wonderful surprises, twists, and turns. Count Basie, Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie, John Coltrane, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Louis Armstrong- they must be heard and appreciated. I've noticed that these artists are mostly played only during the holidays- and it's a shame. I would love to hear them year round. I mostly hear rap and bad pop music in my everyday life when I walk around or use transportation-it's so frustratingly annoying. The noises that reverberate through the streets and the restaurants, the cars and the subway- they're grating on my ears. They're repetitive and lack harmony, creativity, and improvisation. That's not to say that all popular current music is bad- I do love the Lumineers and Death Cab for Cutie, among others. But hearing the top ten list over and over as I make my daily trips- not fun.
The sounds in the curriculum? I haven't paid attention to these until this unit. Ones I think of now are the sounds that come from the discussions we have, the vents in the classroom, the click clack of the keyboard as I type this post, and clicks that happen when we use and turn on different technological tools. They have become unnoticeable background noises, ones I'm all too used to.
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