The Power of Sound

The Power of Sound graphic image of a Zoom H6 recorder and microphones amongst reeds beside the water with bright yellow text that says THE POWER OF SOUND ONLINE COURSES

2022/23 Summer Course now closed

Expressions of interest in late 2023 online course now being taken


$250pp (current price – this will be reviewed before October with an increase expected in the new financial year.)

Bookings will open in October 2023. This course is based in NSW Australia however, interstate and international participants are welcome provided we can work around time zones. The summer 22/23 course has participants from three different time zones.

This is a 3-part small group course designed and delivered by field recordist, sound artist and content producer, Kim V. Goldsmith, for creatives interested in using quality field recordings in their work — video/film, music compositions, sound art installations, podcasts and more.

No previous experience is required but a willingness to learn and play is essential. Equipment requirements—a mobile device (phone) to record on is the basic equipment, but professional equipment may also be used if available to you, and anything in between. This is about getting the most from what you have available.

The 3 self-paced modules in the manual will provide the basics of field recording, with professional tips, links to resources, and exercises, all supported by 3 face-to-face sessions on Google Meet, and emails, over 3 months.

  • PLANNING TO USE SOUND FROM PREPARATION TO POST-PRODUCTION
  • LOCATION PREPARATION, EQUIPMENT PREPARATION, TIPS + TECHNIQUES IN THE FIELD
  • CREATIVE FIELD RECORDINGS + CREATIVE USES OF FIELD RECORDINGS
  • SHARING EXPERIENCES AND IDEAS IN THE GROUP
  • FILE SHARING YOUR RECORDINGS WITH YOUR FACILITATOR FOR FEEDBACK
  • RECORDED ONLINE SESSIONS FOR WATCHING BACK
A photo of a person with a green shirt on taken from the chest towards the ground, with a hand holding a boom pole with a microphone at the end of it, recording water in the Goulburn River at The Drip.

Why was this course developed?

The Power of Sound was developed by Kim V. Goldsmith during COVID in 2020/2021 as a 3-part course made up of online and face-to-face workshops extending the idea of deep, active listening to the environment through the use of readily available audio recording technology, and gaining a greater understanding of field recording to create sound art, music, and soundtracks for videos.

The pilot course was delivered to a group of young people from Mudgee with assistance from Mudgee Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC), Orana Arts, and funding from the Country Arts Support Program (CASP) through Create NSW in 2021. Guest contributor, Stephan van der Merwe provided additional professional input into course materials.

This course also looked at deepening connections to and understandings of the environment—both the natural world and built environments. This aligns with the mission of ecoPULSE.art and the practice of ecoPULSE lead artist, Kim V. Goldsmith.

It has been designed to be accessible using basic technology such as a phone and earbuds with an inline microphone, and free editing software, and when face-to-face field trips are built into the programming, also gives participants the opportunity use to learn about and use prosumer and professional quality field recording equipment in the field at a chosen site.

TO ENQUIRE ABOUT THE POWER OF SOUND CONTACT KIM V. GOLDSMITH

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