Post 2 - Sound Walk

 Walking around my neighborhood while doing nothing but paying attention to the sounds I heard was certainly an interesting experience. With the new sound terms I had learned in mind, I realized that almost all of the sounds that I actually noticed on a regular basis were known as sound signals, specifically made to get attention. These included the foghorn from the ferry, horns from passing cars, and sirens from a passing ambulance. The reason I noticed these on a regular basis seemed to be that they were designed to be noticed, by either pedestrians such as myself or other drivers. The ferry foghorn in particular was interesting to me with my new knowledge of types of sound. It was both a sound signal, made to get attention, as well as a soundmark, indicating where in New York I was taking my walk. Not many neighborhoods get to hear the foghorn of a docking or departing ship with as much regularity as mine. The sounds that I noticed, however, were also interesting to me. Most were keynotes, sounds that blended into the surroundings. I took my walk shortly after a nearby high school had let out for the day, so I heard bits and pieces of student’s conversations as I walked past them. I heard far more seagulls than I would normally pay attention to enough to register. There’s construction going on at a nearby building, so I heard the workers milling around the area, not seeming all that busy. This was, overall, a very interesting experience. I’d say that it definitely gave me a new outlook on how my neighborhood sounds to people who aren’t used to it.