Second Saturday Soundwalk

11 AM, Rain or Shine

Join ACA as we explore the sounds and rhythms of our urban and natural world. Each walk is beneficial for people of all ages to de-stress, focus, and develop a deeper understanding of how we fit into the ecosystem of our environment.

• January 13 – ACA Main Campus (1414 Art Center Avenue)
• February 10 – Canaveral National Seashore, Apollo Beach, Administration Boardwalk (meet at Visitor’s Center)
• February 24 – * Winter Park, Orlando (Timucua Arts Foundation) meet at Central Park, corner of Park Ave & New England Ave
• March 10 – Canaveral National Seashore, Apollo Beach, Schulz House (meet at Visitor’s Center)
• April 14 – Canaveral National Seashore, Apollo Beach, Eldora Trail (meet at Visitor’s Center)
• April 21 – * Mennello Museum of American Art (900 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803)
• May 12 – Canaveral National Seashore, Apollo Beach, Castle Windy (meet at Visitor’s Center)
• May 19 – * Lake Eola, Orlando (Timucua Arts Foundation) meet at bandstand on Rosalind Ave.

Free, and open to the public. Limited to 20 participants. Register to secure your spot by calling 386.423.1753.

What is a soundwalk?

“A soundwalk is any excursion whose main purpose is listening to the environment. It is exposing our ears to every sound around us no matter where we are. We may be at home, we may be walking across a downtown street, through a park, along the beach; we may be sitting in a doctor’s office, in a hotel lobby, in a bank; we may be shopping in a supermarket, a department store, or a Chinese grocery store; we may be standing at the airport, the train station, the bus-stop. Wherever we go we will give our ears priority. They have been neglected by us for a long time and, as a result, we have done little to develop an acoustic environment of good quality.” – Hildegard Westerkamp (published in Sound Heritage, 1974)

How can a soundwalk improve health?

Focused, silent walks can be a key to reducing stress levels, anxiety, distractions, and can improve breath control. Our sense of hearing is heightened, and awareness of our connection to nature is enhanced. Concentrating on the sound environment links us to the risk of noise pollution and solutions to create an ecologically balanced soundscape. Taking the time to listen to our surroundings gives us a deeper understanding of how our everyday actions affect both nature and our well-being.

How much walking will there be?

Each soundwalk is designed to move through different sound environments. We will be walking at a slow pace to allow for time to fully hear each location. Over the duration of one hour, a distance of approximately ½ mile will be traveled.

Rain or shine?

Yes. These walks are outdoors. Please check the weather before departing for the soundwalk, and prepare accordingly. Weather conditions affect the way sound travels. It is a wonderful experience to hear how the sound waves of a bird call in humid air travels differently than in dry air.

Are the soundwalks open to all ages?

Anyone can participate in a soundwalk. On our walks, we do ask that talking and distraction (cellphone use) be kept to a minimum to allow for the enjoyment of the environmental sounds. Therefore, small children may not be engaged enough in this activity to avoid becoming restless.

What is a soundmap?

Each individual location around the world has its own fingerprint of sound. Here in New Smyrna Beach, we have a diverse and vital ecosystem. Sound can give us a wider perspective of the health of our environment, and reveal things we cannot see. A soundmap is a tool used to map the sounds of a location. The soundmap that is being developed through the soundwalk program will use online mapping to present field recordings of various locations. Visitors to the online map can click on a location and hear the sound that was collected. Sounds will be archived at https://soundcloud.com/nsbsoundmap

About the Instructor

Eve Payor joined Atlantic Center for the Arts as a musician and electronic soundscape artist. Her arts advocacy focuses on the connection between music, environment, and wellness. In the Fall of 2016, she created an Arts and Wellness program of soundwalks, which gave the public opportunities to experience their natural surroundings through listening techniques, meditative breathing, and mindfulness.  Eve also mentors youth to help them find their creative spark, develop professionalism, and real-world assets for careers in the arts.

#nsbsoundwalk