Sonic Postcards | News http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/ The latest Sonic Postcards news! 2012 Sonic Postcards - All Rights ReservedFri, 18 May 2012 00:11:51 +0000en-us Minute of Listening underway Our Minute of Listening pilot is complete!  Our pilot in Norfolk was very successful, and a report has been compiled of the results which can be read here: http://www.soundandmusic.org/projects/minute-listening.  Working with over 1500 children and 130 teachers enabled us to gather fantastic information about how the project worked and what needs to be developed and improved.  We are now working in 70 schools in Lambeth, Enfield, Westminster, Cornwall and Oxfordshire to test our changes.  Watch this space for more information about when the project might go national..!
 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/133 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:00:00 +0000 We Love Listening! The act of listening is central to the Sonic Postcards project, and it is this idea of listening that has inspired us to try out a new project called Minute of Listening.  Minute of Listening is a school-based creative initiative which encourages pupils and teachers to engage in 60 seconds of focused listening per day.  This new project is aimed at introducing young people to sound and music they might not otherwise hear, as well as developing listening and concentration skills.  We are piloting Minute of Listening in ten schools in Norfolk during the spring term, in partnership with the Norwich and Norfolk Festival.  All going well, we will roll this out nationally in September 2011.  To find out more please look at the Sound and Music website: http://www.soundandmusic.org/projects/minute-listening, and get in touch!
 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/132 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:00:00 +0000 'Andover those sounds! Mrs. Baker in Scotland has been extremely busy creating yet more postcards!  The Sonic Postcards team worked with Mrs. Baker a couple of years ago, and we are chuffed that she is still creating Postcards work with different schools, pupils and teachers.  Have a listen to the Andover Primary Sonic Postcard.  You can find it on the map somewhere near the stag....
 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/131 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:00:00 +0000 Newtonhill Primary School hard at work Mrs Baker at Netwonhill Primary School, Aberdeenshire has been busy with her P3 class creating their own Sonic Postcards.  Following a Postcards project that happened at the school last year, 3B have been exploring their local environment through the world of sound on their own.  Have a listen!
 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/130 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0000 We've changed! And moved! Over the last few months we have changed rather dramatically - Sonic Arts Network has become Sound and Music!  Have a look at our new website at www.soundandmusic.org - you can even upload your own profile.  We've also moved offices so please have a look in the contact section for details.  We'll be looking to relaunch Sonic Postcards over the next couple of months.  If you have any ideas for developing the programme just let me know. 
http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/129 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:00:00 +0000 Dundee Contemporary Arts Hello.  We've been working with Dundee Contemporary Arts of late in a multimedia context.  In October we were in Dundee as part of the Kill Your Timid Notion festival working with artists and young people.  We couldn't stay away for long and were back in November working this time at the DCA's own film festival exploring sound for film and moving image.  Have a look at all the different groups of people we worked with over these two festivals.
 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/128 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0000 We're in Syria!

We're back in Syria delivering Sonic Postcards projects in schools but this time in collaboration with local artists, Bassam Al Bader and Khaled Wazaefi.  British composer Pippa Murphy and visual artist Miriam Nabarro are wroking in Damascus in partnership with the British Council and Damascus 2008 Arab Capital of Culture.  It is very hot here and the sky is blue!  We'll be collecting sound and visual textures and images from different parts of Damascus - there is lots to explore.  The pupils will produce a range of work over the next few weeks to exchange with Britain, so keep an eye and ear out for the Damascus Sonic Postcards in the Sonic Postcards world.

 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/127 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:00:00 +0000 Sonic Postcards in Moray! Sonic Postcards is exploring a new region in Scotland and is this week delivering a pilot project in Moray, supported through Moray Council. Composer Pippa Murphy and visual artist Miriam Nabarro have teamed up to involve the whole school of Rothiemay Primary! The work will be sent out to Syria to exchange with schools in Damascus.  Keep checking the Postcards World to see and hear what they come up with... 
http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/126 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:00:00 +0000 More International Postcards! There will be more international Sonic Postcards soon to be featured on the website. In early January Becca Laurence visited the British Council in Damascus to plan a set of projects focussed around exchange of work between schools in Britain and Syria as well as exchanging artistic knowledge. The projects are in the early stages but it is all set to be a stimulating project in partnership with the British Council and the Damascus Capital of Culture 2008.


 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/125 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:00:00 +0000 Aberdeenshire teacher creates Sonic Postcard from India One of our Sonic Postcards teachers, Corinne Wood from Whitehills School in Aberdeenshire, along with colleagues Mary Mackay and Veronica Cunningham, has created a Sonic Postcard from India!  After taking part in the Sonic Postcards exchange beween schools in China and Aberdeenshire, Corinne was inspired to take one of Aberdeenshire Council's iRivers to her work trip to India and make her own postcard.  The results can be seen and heard on the Whitehills Sonic Postcard page.              Did you know that if you are a school that has taken part in Sonic Postcards in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeenshire Council have invested in 12 iRiver sets which can be borrowed for further sound work with your class.  Sonic Arts Network also has iRivers available for schools which have taken part in the Sonic Postcards project outside of Aberdeenshire.  Please get in touch for more information. http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/124 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:00:00 +0000 Back to Switzerland For the second year running Sonic Postcards travelled to Verbier in the Swiss Alps to deliver projects at this distinguished international music event, the Verbier Festival.  Duncan Chapman led two fantastic groups of young participants who collected sounds from the mountain above Verbier and from the UBS Festival Orchestra itself, along with other Swiss sonic delights.  Have a listen! http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/123 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:00:00 +0000 China follow-up day Pippa Murphy spent a day at the two China link schools, Rothienorman and Whitehills schools in Aberdeenshire, to explore what had been sent to Britain from the China Sonic Postcards projects.  Pippa was delighted to find that both schools had created beautiful displays and more work to send back to China.  Becca in the Sonic Arts office has received emails from both schools in China so the communication is still going strong! http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/122 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 22:00:00 +0000 PRU workshops Sonic Postcards is now coming to the end of a series of workshops in Pupil Referral Units throughout the UK with just one last project in Cumbria to go. We have worked with over forty students between the ages of eight and eighteen, in PRUs in Yorkshire, Cumbria and Surrey. Working with a team of workshop leaders the students composed some fantastic postcards with sounds from diverse environments; from making flapjacks in a school kitchen to seaside arcade anthems, from a surrey football tournament to a Cumbrian lakeside. The workshop leaders for these projects were Shaun Blezard, Kate Heath, Rieke Voss, Kate Davis, Andrew Cleaton, Tracey Cleaton, Duncan Chapman and Patrick Furness. http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/119 Wed, 30 May 2007 22:00:00 +0000 Sonic Postcards website We have been getting some really positive feedback on our website..

'This has to be one of the most lovely websites I have ever seen. It's great to hear what these kids have produced. It's a wonderfully executed idea and an inspiring use of the internet to bring these young people together in such a creative and inspiring way. Thank you for making me smile.'

http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/120 Wed, 30 May 2007 22:00:00 +0000 Website feedback Our website is reaching more and more people and we have been getting some great feedback:'This has to be one of the most lovely websites I have ever seen. It's great to hear what these kids have produced. It's a wonderfully executed idea and an inspiring use of the internet to bring these young people together in such a creative and inspiring way. Thank you for making me smile.' Steven Stones, May 30th 2007 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/121 Wed, 30 May 2007 22:00:00 +0000 Parcels from China... Rothienorman and Whitehills schools in Aberdeenshire have received some exciting parcels from China...  These parcels were packed full of items collected from the Sonic Postcards field trips, along with work created by the pupils in China and many written postcards!  Pippa Murphy will spend a day with the Scottish classes involved in the China Sonic Postcards projects to look and listen to all the fantastic work that has been sent to them from Chongqing.   Hopefully there will some answers to the many questions the Scottish pupils had for the pupils in China.  Do pupils wear school uniform in China?  What is their favourite food? Do they go to school at the weekend?!... http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/118 Mon, 21 May 2007 22:00:00 +0000 Sonic Postcards training opportunity for Scotland! Sonic Arts Network is looking for potential workshop leaders in Scotland to undergo training with a view to delivering projects in Aberdeenshire and the rest of Scotland for Sonic Arts Network in the future.  Scottish Arts has awarded Sonic Arts network with a small grant to support this training in order to develop our work in Aberdeenshire and beyond.The training will be in two parts; the first is a residential training weekend to be held in Aberdeen on the 15th - 17th June 2007.  The second part is an opportunity to gain practical experience, taking part in a Sonic Postcards project by working alongside a workshop leader in either the summer or autumn term 2007.      For more details visit:          http://www.sonicartsnetwork.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=109&Itemid=38 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/117 Wed, 02 May 2007 22:00:00 +0000 More spring news! Spring is a busy time for the Sonic Postcards team with lots of new postcards to listen to on the website.

Becca is just back from Barcelona where she was with workshop leader Helena Gough working in a lively primary school. Have a listen to the postcards - the sounds in the school are very different  from British schools!  Millfield is the link school for the Barcelona project pupils have created work especially to send to Barcelona, both sounds work and written work.  The pupils in Barcelona really enjoyed reading messages from the British pupils as well and hearing the sounds from their school.

A unique project has just taken place at Tuke School in London. A partnership between English Touring Opera, Sonic Arts and the school has resulted in a Sonic Opera.... Have a listen!

We've just finished some really interesting projects with Pupil Referral Units in Carlisle and Surrey and produced some great postcards, artwork and poetry! Check out the Phoenix Centre in Surrey and the Gillford Centre in Carlisle..

We also had a really valuable PRU evaluation afternoon in which workshop leaders shared their experiences of working in PRUs and we discussed how to develop Sonic Postcards projects further in this area..lots more PRU work happening in the next few weeks- we'll keep you posted!


 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/115 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:00:00 +0000 Spring news! There have been many exciting projects taking place over the past few months: make sure you explore the Sonic Postcards world!

Becca and workshop leader Pippa have recently returned from China where they were working in a school with 5000 students! The Sonic Postcards from this destination are very different from anything else on the website: what sounds can you hear? Are they similar to the sounds where you live? There are also plenty of photographs to have a look at!

Meanwhile, pupils in Lancashire have been working on a very unusual project: as well as recording and editing their local sounds, they have been making their own instruments, doing improvisation and even creating a large sound sculpture for their school garden! Have a look on the website for St John's School - you'll be able to see photos of the completed sound sculpture and you can listen to some very evocative sound poetry!

There have been two projects in Aberdeenshire in the past week: very soon the sounds and photos will be uploaded to the website. Make sure you check out Alehousewells School and Kintore School!

Finally, another project which finished recently, took place in Cheshire. Year 7 students from Malbank School made some lovely Sonic Postcards from around Nantwich. There are sounds from the town centre and from the canal area. The project ended with an after school event; an installation complete with listening posts, video work and live demonstrations of the software!
 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/112 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 22:00:00 +0000 New news Welcome to our brand new website! There is plenty of information about the Sonic Postcards project for you to read and we have created a Resource Pack for teachers who want to run a Sonic Postcards project for their own class. This can be easily downloaded in handy sections. And, as always, there are hundreds of Sonic Postcards for you to listen to from schools all across the UK.

Over the next few months, we’re also developing the project internationally! We will be visiting schools in Chongqing, China and Barcelona, Spain where the pupils will be creating their own compositions and exchanging these with UK schools. We’re very excited to listen to the sounds of these diverse locations. Keep checking the international section of the website and soon you’ll be able to explore soundscapes from around the globe!

This month we’re also saying goodbye to Dan Stone, Sonic Postcards Project Manager. He’s moving on to a charity called “The Place to Be” where he will be the Training Project Manager. He has been at Sonic Arts Network for over three years and in that time he has organised some really fantastic projects. We’ll miss him and we wish him the best of luck in his new job!

 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/111 Wed, 14 Feb 2007 23:00:00 +0000 The New Statesman New Media Award for Education Sonic Postcards has recently won the New Statesman New Media Award for Education. We are thrilled to have won this award which celebrates the project's significant contribution to education through the use of new media technology'. The project was up against 58 other projects, including those run by such high-profile organisations as Ordnance Survey, National Theatre, Saatchi Gallery, Tate Learning and Sports Relief. Sonic Postcards was recognised for "not only helping children learn about new media technology by capturing sounds and images, but also [for] its ability to use the internet to gather children across the UK for a fun and educational experience."

We'd like to take this opportunity thank all the schools that have participated and everyone who has supported the project for their enthusiasm and engagement with the work we do.

http://www.newstatesman.co.uk/nma
 http://localhost/root/SonicPostcards/news/15 Mon, 31 Jul 2006 22:00:00 +0000