Minds On
Today’s vocabulary
Press the following tabs to access today’s vocabulary.
- Sounds that can be created by using everyday objects, such as sticks, combs, pots, pop bottles, or shakers.
- Sounds from the environment, such as hammering, traffic, or birds, that can be used in creating a musical composition.
Let’s get started!
Foley artists create sound effects using everyday objects. These sound effects accompany scenes in films and radio. Let’s explore the following video of Foley artists in the studio.
Now, consider the following questions:
- How did the Foley artists create different sound effects?
- How might sound effects help the audience to understand a specific moment in a scene?
Action
Get ready, get set…
Foley artists create sound effects to accompany specific moments in films. These sound effects help to express an idea or feeling to the audience.
In the Minds On video, we explored the following examples:
A Foley artist splashed water to create the feeling of a sailboat moving through water.
A Foley artist explains how they flap a feather duster to create the sound of birds flying.
Poetry and sound effects
In the same way that Foley artists created sound effects to accompany a scene from a movie or tv show, poets play with language to create pictures and sounds in our minds.
What if we added sound effects to a poem? How might that help the audience understand the message and ideas in a poem?
Explore the poem “Morning Mist” and consider the following questions:
- What is the poem about?
- Where and when does it take place?
- What sounds or pictures come to mind?
When I awake in morning mist
The sun has hardly shown
And everything is still asleep
And I am all alone
The stars are faint and flickering
The sun is new and shy
And all the world sleeps quietly
Except the sun and I
-Anonymous
Press the ‘Possible answer’ button to explore the answers to the following questions.
- What is the poem about?
The poem is about a person who experiences nature in the early morning.
- Where and when does the poem take place?
The poem takes place outside. There are still stars in the sky as the sun begins to rise in the early morning.
- What sounds or pictures come to mind?
Some sounds might include soft bird calls, rustling leaves, and light falling rain. Pictures might include twinkling stars, and a partial sun against a pink and orange sky.
The following is an example of words that might stand out from the rest of the poem.
- sun
- morning mist
- flickering
- quietly
Explore the following Poem Planner to check out the list of words added.
Poem Planner
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When I awake in morning mist The sun has hardly shown And everything is still asleep And I am all alone The stars are faint and flickering The sun is new and shy And all the world sleeps quietly Except the sun and I |
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Special Word From Morning Mist |
Sound Effect |
Dynamic (Volume Level) |
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“sun” |
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“morning mist” |
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“flickering” |
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“quietly” |
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When you think of these words, do any sounds come to mind? The following is an example of some sounds that you could pick.
- sun = soft sounds in nature (i.e., birds chirping, leaves rustling)
- morning mist = the sound of light rain
- flickering = the sound of a fire crackling
- quietly = a gentle breeze swaying tree branches
Now let’s explore how to recreate these sounds!
Turning words to sound effects
Foley artists create and perform everyday sounds using different objects, materials, and surfaces. These are called found instruments.
Foley artists will consider what kind of sounds they need to recreate for a specific part in a story and then experiment with different props. Examine the following examples.
A Foley artist uses gloves with paper clips attached, and taps them on a surface to create the sound of a dog walking.
A Foley artist pours a bucket of water into a sink to create the sound of a waterfall.
How might a Foley artist use found instruments to create sound effects for the words chosen from the poem?
Press the ‘Hint’ button to access a list of possible props and objects a Foley artist could use.
Consider the following props/objects:
- ring a bell
- open and close a door
- tap against a surface
- rub two objects together
- drop an object on the ground
- pour water from a tap
The following are the words chosen from the poem:
- sun
- morning mist
- flickering
- quietly
Press the ‘Possible answer’ button to learn what objects could be used to create the sound effects for the words chosen from the poem.
sun = ringing a bell gently
morning mist = tapping shoes on the floor lightly
flickering = crinkling paper
quietly = rubbing the soles of shoes together
Explore the following poem planner. Notice that we have added the sound effects to the sound effect column.
Poem Planner
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When I awake in morning mist The sun has hardly shown And everything is still asleep And I am all alone The stars are faint and flickering The sun is new and shy And all the world sleeps quietly Except the sun and I |
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Special Word From Morning Mist |
Sound Effect |
Dynamic (Volume Level) |
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“sun” |
ringing a bell |
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“morning mist” |
tapping shoes on the floor |
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“flickering” |
crinkling paper |
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“quietly” |
rubbing the soles of shoes together |
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Adding dynamics
In music, dynamics is how softly or loudly a piece of music is played or sung. Composers can use dynamics to share an idea or even express a feeling. For example, to create a feeling of surprise, a composer might use a loud or forte dynamic.
In a lullaby, a composer might use a soft or piano dynamic to create a feeling of calm.
A conversation between two teachers. The first teacher says:
Forte and piano? What do these words mean?
The second teacher responds:
Great question, Teacher A! Composers will often use Italian words to give musicians information about how to play or sing a piece of music. Piano or p means soft. Forte or f means loud.
Let’s explore the following examples of dynamics.
Let’s return to the special words from the poem.
Which dynamics would be most appropriate for each word in the poem? Why? Review the special words and the sound effects to help you decide.
Poem Planner
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When I awake in morning mist The sun has hardly shown And everything is still asleep And I am all alone The stars are faint and flickering The sun is new and shy And all the world sleeps quietly Except the sun and I |
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Special Word From Morning Mist |
Sound Effect |
Dynamic (Volume Level) |
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“sun” |
ringing a bell |
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“morning mist” |
tapping shoes on the floor |
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“flickering” |
crinkling paper |
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“quietly” |
rubbing the soles of shoes together |
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Press the ‘Answer’ button to find out what dynamics would work best.
The poem is about a person who experiences nature in the early morning. At this time of day, people are only beginning to wake up and it is calm.
The sound effects created could be piano (soft) or mezzo-piano (medium soft).
Poem Planner
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When I awake in morning mist The sun has hardly shown And everything is still asleep And I am all alone The stars are faint and flickering The sun is new and shy And all the world sleeps quietly Except the sun and I |
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Special Word From Morning Mist |
Sound Effect |
Dynamic (Volume Level) |
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“sun” |
ringing a bell 4 times |
p soft |
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“morning mist” |
tapping shoes on the floor |
mp medium soft |
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“flickering” |
crinkling paper |
mp medium soft |
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“quietly” |
rubbing the soles of shoes together |
p soft |
Go!
Your turn
It’s your turn to create sound effects for the poem “Morning Mist.”
Use the following steps to guide you. Record your ideas using the graphic organizer provided or another method of your choice.
Press the following tabs to access the steps.
Read the poem again and underline, highlight, or circle the words that stand out to you. You may also choose to use the special words: sun, morning mist, flickering, and quietly.
Consider the sound effect you will create for each word. You may use found instruments, your body, or your voice.
Decide on the dynamic level for each word. Will the sound be soft or loud?
Complete the Poem Planner in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
Use the following planner to record your ideas for sound effects for the poem.
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When I awake in morning mist The sun has hardly shown And everything is still asleep And I am all alone The stars are faint and flickering The sun is new and shy And all the world sleeps quietly Except the sun and I |
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Word |
Sound Effect |
Dynamic (Volume Level) |
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Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Poem Planner.
If possible, practice creating your sound effects before you add them to the poem.
Then read the poem aloud and perform your sound effects for your special words.
Consolidation
Putting it all together
Using a poem of your choice, complete the following steps.
Step one
Read the poem and underline, highlight, or circle the words that stand out to you.
Step two
Consider the sound effect you will create for each word. You may use found instruments, your body, or your voice.
Step three
Decide on the dynamic level for each word. Will the sound be soft or loud?
Complete the Poem Planner in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
Use the following planner to record your ideas for sound effects for your chosen poem.
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Word |
Sound Effect |
Dynamic (Volume Level) |
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Poem Planner.
If possible, share your poem and sound effects with a partner.
Portfolio
Review your learning
Use the following questions to reflect on your learning.
- How can sound effects help to express ideas or feelings in a poem?
- Why is it important to think about dynamics when creating sound effects for a poem?
- What was the most important or memorable thing you experienced in this learning activity?
- What do want to continue to practice?
Record your responses digitally, orally, or in print. Consider adding your work to your portfolio.
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.