Soundscape Project

Cornell University’s Early Childhood Center

Soundscape Project

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Cornell’s Early Learning Center is a lab school in Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology serving 3 to 5 year olds. The soundscape project came about from a gift from an alumnus to be used for music, sound and children. We eagerly began observing the children on the current playground and researching soundscapes and play, and developed a new way of thinking about sound exploration in the outdoor environment.

Sound can be used as an enhancement to the overall atmosphere of the play space, and as a fun music-making experience. We began the project by asking questions, and so can you. What sounds do you currently hear in the outdoor space? Where do the children play, and what kinds of things go on where? What types of sounds could be added that compliment the different kinds of play? What kinds of sounds might go in the quiet getaway area, or the loud wheeled-toy track? How does play change during the seasons, and how might sound enhance that change?

We use sound in 3 general ways:

1) As an ambient “backdrop” to the play yard, with sounds creating aural moods with wind chimes, and listening dishes to focus your attention.

2) Sound as a “by product” of play with bells, chimes and rattles hidden in trees, shrubs, structures and tires where the children already play.

3) Sound as the “goal” of play. For this, various sound sculptures were installed including jumbo standing chimes, a huge thunder drum children can pound on with softball mallets, and a large wooden marimba and tongue drums.

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