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  1. Listen to the story


 

 

  1. Create the story world

 

Imagine what it would have been like to live a long, long time ago. What would you have been able to see? What could you smell? What could you hear?

We’re going to think about listening. Together, we’re going to create a little snapshot of the world of the story by making a soundscape, following the arc of the story through its beginning, middle and end.

 

Watch this video and then follow it through step by step to create your own sound map of the story.


 

Step 1: Gather what you need

Musical instruments (if you have some)

Pots & pans

Homemade shakers (try filling some pots or jars with dried rice or lentils)

Plates and cutlery

Water in a plastic bottle

Parents and siblings to help create noise

Your voices & bodies!

 

Step 2: Imagine the sounds of the story

Think about what the characters in the story could hear during each part of the story. Make a list or draw a sound map of the beginning, middle and end. Imagine yourself standing in Cantre’r Gwaelod.  What can you hear all around you?

Practice creating each of these separate sounds with the instruments you’ve got, your bodies, and your voices.

Here are some ideas for different sounds:

 

Beginning: “Living in Cantre’r Gwaelod”

Sea water lapping

Breeze

Cows/sheep/other animals

People talking

 

Middle: “During the party”

Singing

Pouring drinks

Feet tapping/dancing

Music

The sound of the storm rising in the distance

People talking and laughing

 

End: “The storm breaks”

Waves rising

The wall breaking

Wind howling

People shouting

The bell ringing

 

Step 3: Create a story sound map

Once you’ve decided on the sounds you can hear at each stage of the story, create yourselves a sound map that traces the plot of the story. Depending on how many people are creating your soundscape, you can add as many or as few sounds as you like e.g. one person could make the sound of animals at the beginning, the sound of people laughing and stamping feet in the middle, and the sound of wind blowing and drumming rain on a saucepan at the end.

Your sound map doesn’t have to look like mine. You can draw it out in whatever way makes sense to you.

 

Step 4: Add volume control

How will you show on the map where to get louder and quieter? Add some volume control!

 

Step 5: Perform the soundscape of your story

Follow the map and perform your story through sound! It’s fine to improvise a bit as you go along…

 

  1. Tell us the story

Why not record yourselves telling the story with the soundscape you’ve created as background sound?  You could take it in turns to share the story and create the soundscape. Use your sound map to help remember how the sound of your story changes as the story action moves forwards.

Share your story performance with us! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Email.
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