Unexpected Beauty

I thought that Hadero’s TED Talk was interesting, as they touched on how anything can be music, if we are open to listening. I liked the musical examples she provided, where language or even cooking pots could spark a melodic idea in her mind. Listening to the bird example being slowed down to replicate an opera singer warming up reminded me of the contemporary piece by Canadian physicist and composer Hugh Le Caine called “Dripsody”, where he created an electronic work based on a single recording of a drop of water. 

The idea of taking a soundscape and turning it into something beautiful encourages students of all learning backgrounds to believe in their abilities and look at the world through a more creative lens. It puts aside the belief that one must be formally trained in order to do well in music. 

Students can create their own DIY-instruments with household materials. Using their DIY-instrument, they can record sounds and create short compositions or soundscape performances. These can be combined with sounds they take from their community, environment, or at home. When sharing their work, students can explain the significance of the sounds they have chosen to select and why it is meaningful to them.

Art Gallery of Ontario, January 2025