Ecosystems

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An ecosystem is an area where a variety of plants, animals and other living things work together to allow life to thrive. Each creature or plant has its own important role to play in keeping the ecosystem thriving.

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One example of a complex ecosystem is a rainforest. The trees and plants draw nutrients from bacteria and fungi in the soil, and provide food for insects and smaller animals. Snakes, monkeys, toucans and other animals also live inside the tree canopy, eating their fruit and sometimes other animals! This creates a complex web of relationships, that is constantly shifting and adapting.

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We’d like to invite you to create a graphic score and short soundscape that captures a mini-ecosystem near your school or home; it could be in a garden, pond or tree right outside the window. You can also create the sounds of a rainforest if you prefer!

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• What sounds could represent the plants that you see?

• Which creatures or plants might be louder, quieter, slower or faster? Does this change at different times of the day?

• What animals are there? How do they move or communicate with each other?

• Are there any insects? How could you recreate their sounds?

• How do they work together, or interact with the plants, trees or water?
   

Creating your graphic scores and sounscape!
 

1. Check out some examples of graphic scores made by other classroom groups, such as the nocturnal themed ones below created by pupils at Seven Mills Primary School. You can find more examples exploring river systems, nocturnal wildlife and more in our Graphic Scores collection.

2. Choose a mini-ecosystem to explore, and identify some sounds and features of it that you’d like to bring to life in your soundscape (such as certain animals, weather changes or insects).

3. Ask your class how they would like to try writing down their musical ideas; this can include pictures, words, images and lines to suggest different plants and animals, speed, pitch or rhythm.

4. From these ideas, draw up some graphic scores, either working as a class or in small groups.

5. Once you have some scores ready, try playing them! Children can use their voices, bodies, instruments or other materials available in the classroom to bring the scores and ecosystems to life. When you’re feeling ready, record and submit your soundscape.

6. Take photos of any graphic scores you’d like to submit with your recorded soundscape.
    

Recording and submitting your soundscape!
 

The easiest way to do this is on a mobile phone, but if you have a portable audio recorder like a Zoom device or similar then you can use that too. If using a mobile phone:

Android phone: Use the built in ‘Voice Recorder’ app
iPhone: Use the built in ‘Voice Memos’ app
 

1. Record the class making their soundscape.

2. Save the recording to your devices ‘Files’ folder and follow this link to the submissions page.

3. After completing the required information on the submission form, click on ‘Add File’ underneath ‘Upload your class soundscape recording’. You should then be able to select your recording from your ‘Files’ folder which will attach it to the submission.

4. Upload the photos of your graphic score(s), for other classroom groups to try recreating in the future!

5. Sound and Music will contact you via email about adding your soundscape and graphic score to the new Minute Of Listening collection.
    

The deadline for submissions is 8th May 2023.

For any technical questions, please email: info@soundoftheyearawards.com

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Graphic Score Examples

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