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Exploring the World of Sound Walks: A Comprehensive Guide

soundwalks, soundwalking, soundwalker, soundwalk by millie wissar

The first humans wandered the world walking, and survived because they could hear their predators before seeing them. We are listeners by nature.”

millie wissar

Soundwalks offer an intentional and mindful exploration of the sounds that surround us, providing an opportunity to immerse ourselves in this aural world. I’ve been a soundwalker for many years and have found joy in listening to different soundscapes around the world. Thanks to this practice, I’ve heightened my awareness of my own environment and enjoy happy walks throughout my daily life. In this guide, we’ll delve into the fascinating realm of soundwalks – understanding what they entail, their historical roots, how to enjoy and conduct them, the benefits they offer, and the various types of soundwalks. Let’s go listening to the environment and embark on an enlightening journey into the world of soundwalks.

To truly grasp the essence of a soundwalk, imagine a stroll through your usual route but with a heightened sense of awareness toward the auditory environment. A sound walk is precisely an intentional and mindful practice of exploring the sonic landscape around you. It’s an act of engaging with the often-overlooked symphony that envelops our daily lives. Such a walk allows us to rediscover the familiar world through a new sensory lens by focusing on the sounds that usually escape our everyday attention. For example, birds chirping in the morning outside your window, the soft sound of rain falling on the grass, and the crunchy textures of sand as you stroll down a beach.

Hidelgard Westerkamp – Presentation on Sound Walks

The core idea of a soundwalk is listening to our surroundings with attention or deep listening, a term popularized by the composer Pauline Oliveros. Deep listening involves attentive and open receptivity to sound, expanding one’s perception of auditory phenomena. Through deep listening during a sound walk, one can connect with one’s surroundings, identifying layers of sound signals and their origins and gaining insights into the complexity and beauty of the sonic world.

History and Creator of Soundwalks

The roots of the soundwalk concept can be traced back to the work of R. Murray Schafer, a Canadian composer and environmentalist. Schafer, known for founding The World Soundscape Project in the late 1960s, is credited with creating the term “soundwalk” in the early 1970s. His pioneering efforts in the field of acoustic ecology aimed to raise awareness about the auditory environment and its preservation. Schafer’s seminal book, “The Tuning of the World,” laid the foundation for understanding acoustic ecology and exploring the concept of “soundscape” and its significance in our lives.

Key members of the World Soundscape Project include Barry Truax and Hildegard Westerkamp. Westerkamp is an important figure in the world of soundwalks, soundscapes and acoustic ecology. Her involvement in The World Soundscape Project significantly influenced her perception of sound and its role in our lives. Her keen awareness of noise issues and the acoustic environment reshaped her approach to music and sound. Westercamp was essential in founding the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, uniting global advocates for soundscapes.

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How Does a Soundwalk Work?

At its core, a soundwalk involves moving through a place with the deliberate intent to listen and observe the sounds that inhabit the space. It transcends mere hearing; it’s about intentionally going on a listening walk. When embarking on a soundwalk, one consciously opens their auditory senses, allowing the sounds to guide the journey.


A soundwalk is not confined to a specific type of habitat; it could be a walk through an urban landscape, a hike through a forest, a stroll along a beach at night, or even an exploration of an indoor space, including your own home. The key to conducting a soundwalk in a group or by yourself is to consciously engage with the auditory space, to pause and appreciate the subtle, often overlooked sounds that weave the fabric of our daily lives.


Related: Master How to Conduct a Soundwalk for All Ages in 3 Simple Steps


Types of Soundwalks

Soundwalks come in various forms, each offering a distinctive auditory adventure. These are some popular ones:

Urban soundwalks focus on exploring the auditory landscape of cities. Participants traverse busy streets, parks, and public spaces, engaging with the dynamic sounds of urban life. The goal is to appreciate and understand the diverse auditory tapestry accompanying city life.

Urban Night Soundwalk

Nature soundwalks transport participants to the heart of the natural world. Surrounded by the soothing sounds of birds, rustling leaves, flowing rivers, and more. These soundwalks encourage a deep connection with the natural environment and foster an appreciation for the beauty of the natural soundscape.

NatureSound Walk in Stanley Park, Vancouver

App-guided soundwalks or audio walks are designed to enhance the way people experience and interact with their surroundings. Users are guided through a curated audio journey as they explore a particular location, such as a park, city, cultural site, or even an underwater location. In apps like Echoes and the app from Ellen Reid Soundwalk, users can move through the chosen route; the app uses GPS to track their location and synchronize the audio content accordingly.

These walks can be theme-based, exploring sounds related to a cultural event, architectural features, historical sites, or even a particular period. The audio content can include storytelling, music, historical context, nature sounds, or any combination tailored to the specific location and theme.

soundwalks, echoes xyz soundwalking app

Field recording soundwalks can enrich the auditory experience of sound walking; one can use portable field recorders, headphones, and various types of microphones. These tools aid in discovering the often inaudible elements of our natural environment, providing an amplified understanding and connection to our surroundings.

Soundwalk and field recording in Koh, Samui, Thailand, 2023.
A field recorder used in a soundwalk capturing a beach ambience during the sunset in Koh Samui, Thailand.

Benefits of Soundwalks

Engaging in soundwalks offers a multitude of benefits that encompass physical, mental, and emotional well-being:

Sound walk, happy listening, soundwalk

Soundwalks can positively impact mental health by reducing anxiety, improving mood, and enhancing cognitive function. Immersion in the aural world can create a therapeutic effect on the mind.

They can also serve as a form of public art and can create inspiration for artists, musicians, writers, and entire communities. The diverse sounds encountered during a walk can spark new ideas, human connections and artistic endeavours.

Soundwalks facilitate a deeper connection with a place; this newfound connection often creates a heightened sense of belonging and responsibility toward the surroundings and its communities. 

Soundwalks encourage sensory exploration, engaging the senses of hearing, touch, sight, and sometimes even smell. This multi-sensory engagement enriches the overall experience. By participating in soundwalks and reaping these benefits, individuals can better understand their auditory world and its profound impact on their lives.

soundwalks, active listening, connection with place, soundwalks

Soundwalks offer a unique opportunity to deepen one’s knowledge of a new place while travelling, taking participants on a sonic journey through time and space. This practice has gained popularity in many cities and is often led by artists, enthusiasts, and those who value the power of attentive listening. Sound walking is an essential part of my travels, and I enjoy participating in dawn chorus listening experiences on every occasion I can grasp.

Dawn Chorus Recorded by Sound Artist Millie Wissar for The Happy Listening Project produced by Millie Wissar and Maria Cecilia Saba

The Purpose of a Soundwalk

The purpose of a soundwalk is multifaceted, encompassing various objectives aimed at fostering a deeper connection with the sonic space:

Soundwalks allow individuals to connect with the environment on a sensory level, promoting a stronger bond with the surrounding auditory landscape. It’s a way to understand and appreciate the place we inhabit.

By actively listening and reflecting on the sounds encountered during a soundwalk, participants develop an awareness of the auditory elements that shape their lives. This newfound awareness can lead to a more conscious and mindful engagement with sound in daily routines.

One of the fundamental purposes of a soundwalk is to encourage active listening. Participants cultivate deep listening skills by focusing on the auditory space, enhancing their overall perception of sound.

Soundwalks provide an opportunity to experience the uniqueness of a place through its sounds. It’s about understanding how the soundscape contributes to the identity and character of a particular location. For further understanding of what a soundscape is, follow my blog post on What is a Soundscape: Benefits and Applications Explained.

For artists, sound walking serves as a well of inspiration, influencing their creative practices. The auditory experiences during a walk can find expression in various forms of art – music, poetry, painting, augmented reality and more.

Platforms like Walk Listen Create serve as a hub for diverse audio content, ranging from guided tours to public art sound pieces. Individuals can explore and appreciate the different perspectives and localities captured through these recordings, fostering a sense of collective appreciation for the world’s sonic richness.

Conclusion: Exploring the World of Sound Walks

In a world that’s often dominated by visual stimulation, soundwalks create a unique and enriching way to perceive and connect with the world through our auditory senses. They encourage us to step away from the noise of our daily lives, to slow down and listen deeply to the sounds surrounding us. Whether it’s the rhythmic pulse of a city soundscape or the gentle whispers of a forest, a soundwalk allows us to immerse ourselves in the acoustic world, revealing its beauty and complexity.

If you’re a nature lover like me, you know how rejuvenating it can be to go on soundwalks near the ocean or inside forests. But what if you can’t access these places all the time? That’s where The Happy Listening Project comes in! I’ve created a series of soundscapes in podcast form that you can listen to from the comfort of your own home. It’s the next best thing to being there!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a soundwalk and how does it work?

A soundwalk is a mindful walk focused on listening to the sounds of nature. During a soundwalk, you should slow down and pay attention to all the sounds around you, like birds singing and leaves rustling. Avoid distractions like music or talking to fully immerse yourself in the experience.

What is the purpose of a soundwalk?

The purpose of a soundwalk is to pay attention to the diverse range of sounds that often go unnoticed in our day-to-day surroundings and connect with the environment.

What is the meaning of sound walk?

A sound walk or soundwalk involves focusing on the sounds around you while walking. It can be done alone or in a group and can be guided or unguided. Engaging in a sound walk helps you become more mindful of the environment and gain a new perspective.

What is the history of soundwalks?

The roots of the soundwalk concept can be traced back to the work of R. Murray Schafer, a Canadian composer and environmentalist. Schafer, known for founding the World Soundscape Project in the late 1960s, is credited with creating the term “soundwalk” in the early 1970s.

Who created the term soundwalk?

R. Murray Schafer, a Canadian composer and environmentalist is known for founding the World Soundscape Project in the late 1960s, is credited with creating the term “soundwalk” in the early 1970s. Hildegard Westercamp, a soundwalk pioneer, began her soundscape journey at Simon Fraser University with Schafer’s guidance for the World Soundscape Project. Her keen awareness of noise issues and the acoustic environment reshaped her approach to music and sound. Westercamp was essential in founding the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, uniting global advocates for soundscapes.

What are some types of soundwalks?

There are many types of soundwalks today. The limit is in your imagination, but the most common ones are nature soundwalks, urban soundwalks, field recording soundwalks, app-guided soundwalks and theme-based soundwalks.

How do you lead a soundwalk?

To lead a successful soundwalk, planning ahead and choosing a location with diverse sounds is essential. Start with a brief introduction and guidelines for participants. Encourage them to focus on listening rather than talking or taking pictures. After the walk, gather as a group to discuss and reflect on the different sounds heard. For additional information, read Master How to Conduct a Soundwalk for All Ages in 3 Simple Steps

What are some of the suggestions for taking a soundwalk?

Suggestions for a soundwalk include choosing a quiet location, focusing on natural sounds, and paying attention to your auditory surroundings.

What are the benefits of soundwalks?

There are many benefits to soundwalks: recognizing your surroundings, relaxation and mindfulness, awareness of oneself and sense of place, community engagement, inspiring artistic expression, motivating activism, playfulness, enhancing active listening practices, revisiting history, learning about ecology and connection to the environment.


Disclaimer: The contents of this website, such as text, videos, images, and other material, are for informational purposes only. I am not a mental health professional. The content I share is based on personal experience and research, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on my website.

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