What is a soundscape? (2025 Update)
Educational and Fun Activities
Written by Alexandra Stone
15 July 2024
🕓 10 min
What Is a Soundscape?
Every place has its own unique blend of sounds, from the chirping of birds in a park to the honking of cars in a busy city. This collection of sounds is called a soundscape, and it helps define the atmosphere of an environment.
At The Science of Sound, we love exploring how different environments create distinct soundscapes. Our STEM workshops, after-school clubs, and holiday camps help children discover how sounds shape the world around us.
In this blog, we’ll explore:
✔ The definition of a soundscape
✔ The different elements that make up a soundscape
✔ Why soundscapes are important
✔ A fun activity to create your own soundscape
By the end, you’ll have a deeper appreciation for the sounds that fill your everyday world!
1. The Definition of a Soundscape
A soundscape is the collection of all the sounds that exist in a particular environment. Just like a landscape is a visual representation of a place, a soundscape captures the auditory experience of that location.
Soundscapes include both natural and human-made sounds. For example:
✔ Natural Sounds – Waves crashing on a shore, birds singing, or wind rustling through trees.
✔ Human-Made Sounds – Traffic noise, music, people talking, or construction work.
No two places have the exact same soundscape! The unique blend of sounds in an area tells a story about its environment, history, and activity.
Fun Fact:
Did you know that soundscape ecology is a growing field of science? Researchers study how soundscapes affect animals, humans, and ecosystems!
For more on how sound works, check out What is Sound? A Comprehensive Exploration for Kids Aged 5-12 to help your child understand the basics of sound science.
2. Elements of a Soundscape
Every soundscape is made up of different elements that help define its character and uniqueness. These elements influence how we experience sound in different locations.
The Three Key Elements of a Soundscape:
✔ Keynote Sounds – Background sounds that blend into the environment, like the hum of city traffic or the rustling of leaves.
✔ Sound Signals – Attention-grabbing sounds, such as a car horn, a school bell, or a bird’s call.
✔ Soundmarks – Unique sounds that are specific to a location, like Big Ben’s chimes in London or the sound of ocean waves at a seaside town.
By identifying these elements, we can better understand and appreciate the soundscape of different places.
Fun Fact:
Some cities use sound mapping to monitor noise pollution and improve urban planning!
Curious about other sound-related phenomena? Explore How Sound Waves Can Be Fun for Primary School Children for hands-on experiments that teach sound principles through play.
3. Importance of Soundscape Perception:
Soundscapes do more than create background noise—they shape our emotions, well-being, and connection to places. The sounds we hear daily influence how we feel and interact with the world around us.
How Soundscapes Impact Us:
✔ Affect Mood & Emotions – Natural soundscapes, like ocean waves or birdsong, create relaxation, while loud city noise can increase stress.
✔ Help Identify Locations – Every place has a unique soundscape, helping us recognize familiar environments.
✔ Support Ecosystems – Animals rely on soundscapes for communication, navigation, and survival. Changes in soundscapes can affect wildlife behavior.
By paying attention to soundscapes, we can better appreciate the world around us and even protect natural environments by reducing noise pollution.
Fun Fact:
Studies show that listening to nature sounds can boost concentration and reduce stress!
4. Creating Your Own Soundscape
A fun way to understand soundscapes is by creating your own! This activity helps children develop listening skills, curiosity, and awareness of their surroundings.
Steps to Make a Soundscape:
✔ Pick a Location – Choose a park, backyard, street, or even your home.
✔ Listen Carefully – Close your eyes and note all the different sounds you hear.
✔ Group the Sounds – Identify which are keynotes (background sounds), sound signals (attention-grabbing sounds), and soundmarks (unique sounds).
✔ Record or Describe – Use a phone to record the sounds or write them down.
✔ Compare Soundscapes – Try different locations and see how the soundscapes change!
Fun Fact:
Some musicians use soundscapes to create ambient music, blending natural and human-made sounds.
This simple exercise can help your child develop better observation and listening skills, while also sparking their curiosity about the world of sound. To take this further, learn 5 Child-Friendly Ways to Visualise Sound at Home and expand the fun of sound exploration!
5. Why Soundscapes Matter:
Soundscapes are more than just background noise; they tell a story about an environment and the people or animals within it. Understanding and preserving soundscapes is important for culture, health, and nature.
Why Soundscapes Matter:
✔ Cultural Significance – Soundscapes reflect local traditions and history; for example, church bells in European towns or the call to prayer in certain regions.
✔ Mental Well-being – Exposure to pleasant, natural soundscapes like waterfalls or forests can reduce stress and improve focus.
✔ Environmental Health – Changes in natural soundscapes can signal ecosystem imbalances, like declining bird populations due to habitat destruction.
✔ Urban Planning – Cities use soundscape studies to reduce noise pollution and create healthier living spaces.
Fun Fact:
Some museums and cultural sites preserve historical soundscapes, recreating what ancient cities might have sounded like!
Final Thoughts
Soundscapes are more than just background noise—they help define places, emotions, and experiences. Whether in nature, cities, or homes, every environment has a unique blend of sounds that shape how we interact with the world.
Key Takeaways:
✔ A soundscape is the collection of sounds in an environment.
✔ Natural and human-made sounds create unique soundscapes.
✔ Soundscapes influence mood, memory, and ecosystems.
✔ Paying attention to soundscapes can improve well-being and reduce noise pollution.
By exploring and creating soundscapes, we become more aware of our surroundings and learn to appreciate the world’s hidden sounds.
At The Science of Sound, we help children discover the beauty of soundscapes through STEM workshops, after-school clubs, and holiday camps, making learning about sound interactive and fun!
