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Sounding Knowledge Network

Project duration: 2022 - 2023
Principle investigator: Prof. Salomé Voegelin
Funder: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Partnerships: University Bamberg

The Sounding Knowledge Network (SKN) aimed to establish sonic pedagogy as a cultural and practice-based intervention within education.

The project promoted embodied, sensory and tacit learning for greater critical student engagement.

The network developed impact through:

  • an international community
  • 2 aural literacy workshops (London/Berlin)
  • a series of radio broadcasts (Resonance FM)
  • and a collaborative Zine Toolkit.

The network was developed from the AHRC research project, Listening Across Disciplines II, led by Prof. Salomé Voegelin and Dr. Werner Friedrichs (University of Bamberg, Germany).

It brought together a multidisciplinary group of specialists from:

  • Sound Art and Sound Studies
  • Education Studies, Pedagogy and Civic Education
  • teachers, early career researchers and students.
A blurred colour photograph of a person standing and wearing a headpiece.
A person walks through a night landscape blindfolded, wearing a self-made listening device, CRiSAP, UAL. Image credit: Timothy Smith.

Key issues investigated

  • The multi- and transdisciplinary working between Sound Studies, Sound Arts and Pedagogy.
  • The connection between lack of attainment among student subgroups, social exclusion, lack of civic agency and a visual focus in education.
  • The scholarly and public understanding of the benefits of a multisensory, participatory and embodied pedagogical practice.

Outcomes

SKN published peer-reviewed articles on Protocols of Listening and Points of Listening, as well as a conference presentation. They have helped to enrich broader knowledge and discourse within academic and creative communities.

The network's process of conceptualisation of sonic pedagogy was expressed through a podcast series and a Zine Toolkit:

  • Pencils and slips of paper on a black table. The slips of paper feature instructions which are partly covered by the pencils. These include, “when you see or hear the word collaboration…please pause for a moment…then break the pencil in half.”
    Workshop text score with pencils, UAL

    Sonic pedagogy podcast series  

    Broadcasted on both radio and online platforms, developed within the realms of Pedagogy, Politische Bildung (Citizenship education) and Art.

  • Two fold-out zines covered in handwritten text and diagrams. Much of the text is too small and blurred to read. One of the headings says “Listening Together”.
    Sonic Pedagogy Zine Toolkit, UAL

    Zine toolkit  

    Print and digital workbook containing the conceptualised sonic pedagogy and the delineated foundational parameters of Aural Literacy.

Impact

SKN has significantly advanced knowledge exchange between academic and creative communities through its workshops and outputs, driving impactful research outcomes.

By strengthening the pedagogical role of sound in education, it has fostered innovative, multisensory collaboration across disciplines and institutions in the UK and Europe. These efforts have made sound a valuable tool for learning and working together in new and creative ways.

Research team

  • Prof. Salomé Voegelin, Principal Investigator (London College of Communication)
  • Dr. Werner Friedrichs, Co-Investigator (Leibniz University of Hannover)
  • Dr. Kevin Logan, Early Career Researcher
  • Dr. Kerstin Meißner, Early Career Researcher
  • Michael Gallagher, Research Collaborator (Manchester Metropolitan University)
  • Abigail Hirsch, Research Collaborator
  • Dr. Timothy Smith, Network Coordinator

Contributors

Positionalities of sonic pedagogy were explored and developed by:

  • Eder J. Williams-McKnight, educator and poet
  • Elsa M´bala, sound artist who makes live podcasts
  • Johannes Salim Ismaiel-Wendt, Professor for Music Sociology and Popular Music Studies at the University of Hildesheim
  • Mark Peter Wright, artist-researcher at CRiSAP, London College of Communication
  • Maria Westvall, Professor of Music education at Rhythmic Music Conservatory Copenhagen
  • meLê yamomo, Assistant Professor of Theatre, and Performance Studies at University of Amsterdam
  • Markus Gloe, Professor of Civic Education at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich
  • Nicole Furlonge, Professor and Director of the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University
  • Suvani Suri, artist and researcher working with sound and text

Participants

Sonic pedagogy tools created and tested by:

  • Cannach MacBride, PhD researcher at CRiSAP, London College of Communication
  • Giada Dalla Bontà, PhD researcher at Copenhagen University in association with the Sound Studies Lab
  • Hannah Kemp-Welch, PhD researcher at CRiSAP, London College of Communication
  • Hector MacInnes, PhD researcher at CRiSAP, London College of Communication
  • Holger Schulze, Professor in musicology at the University of Copenhagen and principal investigator at the Sound Studies Lab
  • Ingeborg Okkels, sound researcher and sound designer/artist
  • Irene Revell, curator, writer and researcher
  • Julia Schauerman, PhD researcher at CRiSAP, London College of Communication
  • Jilliene Sellner, PhD researcher at Goldsmiths University
  • Julian Schröter, student University of Bamberg
  • Lisa Hall, sound artist exploring urban environments
  • Lukas Barth, research assistant at University of Education in Weingarten
  • Marcus Wachter, graphic designer and musician
  • Nicol Parkinson, PhD researcher at CRiSAP, London College of Communication
  • Paul Stan Nataraj, researcher on the 'Migrant Memory and the Postcolonial Imagination' project for Loughborough University
  • Selmar Schülein, PhD candidate at the intersections of relational pedagogy, educational philosophy and civic education
  • Shanti Suki Osman, artist, educator and researcher
  • Steffen Pelzel, PhD researcher in the field of social science didactics
  • Sunil Chandy, PhD researcher at CRiSAP, London College of Communication Vincent Weickart, student of vocational education
  • Yosa Peit, research assistant at the University of Education in Weingarten in the field of civic education

More to explore

  • Three archival black and white images collaged together. One features 2 people playing music. One of them is sat next to a piano and playing the guitar and the other is holding another instrument. Another image shows a flyer for an event called “Music/Context” and features an illustration of a metallic fish. The final image is a black and white film strip.
    Music in the artistic context, London College of Communication, UAL

    Sonic knowledge and pedagogies research

    Explore more projects investigating sonic knowledge and pedagogies.

  • A sculpture made from two animal skulls and two electric toothbrushes. It stands on a white plinth against a white background.
    BA (Hons) Sound Arts and Design, London College of Communication, UAL

    Study and teaching

    Learn how you can get involved in our postgraduate research and teaching.

  • The book cover of Cathy Lane’s ‘Playing with Words’. It features a close-up image of print blocks spelling out the title.
    Woodblock letters, London College of Communication, UAL

    Collaborate and exchange

    Find out how you can partner with us.

Centre for Creative Research in Sound Arts Practice

Links

Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 6617

Email

crisap@arts.ac.uk

Address

London College of Communication, UAL
Elephant & Castle
London
SE1 6SB