Sounds Outside the Square

Hands up those who've ever switched off during a bible reading? Perhaps it has something to do with delivery. This coming month the Revised Common Lectionary includes numerous opportunities to think outside the square with sound, and reviving effective story-telling in your faith community.

Over the forthcoming July - August period alone, sounds that are suggested or stated include birds singing, wind blowing, thunder storm, crowds talking, individuals and crowds walking on dry earth, water by the lake, water lapping against a boat, birds, people, water dripping, fishing, a donkey, a marketplace, murmured conversation and drinking water. I'm certain there are many more. Some, such as the kingdom of heaven is like series, may allow for a single sound to be played in a loop as a background to the reading. Sounds such as crowds, or water lapping on the shore would work well here.

Thanks to the age of computers, faith communities have access to all the wonderous resources available online. You can accompany readings with wind sounds by using applications on your computers, such as  windmachine. Alternatively visit one of the sound effect libraries.stores such as Soundeffect which has literally thousands of sounds to purchase for between $2 - $5. Given so many of these sounds reappear in our stories, this may prove a worthwhile investment: animals, crowd, beach, footsteps, birds, weather, eating, wind in the grass, chimes, rooster crowing, carpentry.

Thinking literally goes without saying, but imagining what is implied by the story you are reading is quite liberating. In an upcoming 1 Kings reading, Elijah shelters in a cave. I imagine there may have been dripping water in that cave, or perhaps birds nesting inside.

If you prefer a more hands-on approach, consider enlisting your gathering to make sound effects in your faith community. You can simulate your own rain shower or thunder storm in a fun participatory way..

Your imagination is a gift, as are our stories - don't hide either under a bushel!
And please, share your ideas with others here on this blog.

You may also be interested in Soundscapes and Sounds Like Pentecost

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how to write a soundscape

Soundscapes are an effective way of entering into read text such as bible reading, prayers and reflections.

Choosing a text

Choose a reading that suggests concrete sounds people will readily identify with. Epistles are not going to work, but many of the parables and action stories will remain in people's memories after an effective soundscape. 

Getting started 

Type the text out for yourself.
If I am working on a bible reading, I like to allocate a separate line to each verse. This can be time consuming, but it helps me focus on parts of the text I didn't notice in my reading. It also helps to ensure sounds are spread well throughout.  

List the sounds you 'hear'.
This is not about dialogue, but other background sounds such as wind, water, footsteps, chains, crowd, animals, building etc..)  

Identify one unifying sound.
This sound may not be present the whole time, but may begin and end the soundscape. This sound is your starting point.  

Choose several other sounds from your list.  

Find a way to represent each sound.
Please don't resort to musical instruments - very few sounds will be effectively represented in this way. For example, claves (rhythm sticks) sound nothing like footsteps, but wearing shoes on your hands and 'walking' in a sandbox does. Raid your cutlery drawer, the shed, the toy box and see what you can come up with. Once a group of children I was working with used a couple of teapot coasters which, when clapped together, sounded just like wet sails on the Sea of Gallilee! Be ruthless. If it doesn't sound like the real thing, it will be a distraction.

Get rid of half your sounds
At this stage you will probably find there are some unsuccessful sounds. Lose half of them so that you have about four in total. Less definately IS more. Remember soundscapes are about leading people into the reading, not distracting them from it.

The Players
Work out how many players you will need. The reader should not play anything but should rehearse with the players, so that mutually agreed timing is decided.

Amplification
Work out how you will amplify the sounds  

Rehearse with amplification.  

Modify your plans as required.

Questions to ask

• Is the soundscape balanced?
• Do any sounds overpowering the reading.?(Remember this is not about making "sound effects".)
• Do any of the sounds detract from the reading? If so, they have to go! Be ruthless.
• How will you introduce the soundscape in the worship context?
• Where will he players be situated? My view is that soundscapes work best when the sounds are kept out-of-sight. This avoids the problem of people looking for the source of the sounds instead of engaging in the experience.

You may also be interested in Sounds Outside the Square

Why don't the children sing?

Too often children who sing in bed after the lights go out, who hum while drawing, sing the national anthem, or a footy team song, fall silent in the worship context.

What is it about the worship experience that inhibits the song of children?
At what moment in our lives do we move from listening, to contributing to community singing?

Reflecting on your own situation, consider these questions:
1. Do you encourage children to sing?
2. Is the "children's song" understood as code that they are not to sing at other times?
3. Which songs do the children most enjoy? Do you know what they are?
4. Can they read the words?
5. Can they see the words?
6. Is there more than one instance each week where a song is accessible to non-readers?
7. Have they other opportunities to learn/sing the songs away from worship?
8. Is there a person in your faith community who encourages children to sing?
9. Has a culture of not singing developed?

Encouraging the voice of children
From what I have observed the principle barrier to the participation of children is the inaccessability of the songs themselves. We are big on words in the church, and lots of long and complicated ones which require definition. Using simple repetitive songs and chants can make a big difference.

A story to illustrate perhaps. One Sunday in my congregation we learnt Kyrie Eleison (Bridget) by John Bell. This particular Kyrie has a cantor/song leader singing a phrase, which is repeated by the gathered people. We sang it perhaps 5 or 6 times in the context of a spoken prayer. After worship had finished several families met at McDonalds for a birthday party. It was possibly 2 hours after the Kyrie had been sung, and silence had descended as the kids sat about eating their 'happy meals'. All at once one of the 5 year old put down his burger, looked around at his friends, and launched into the cantor's part - "Kyrie eleison" to which the other children responded, "kyrie eleison!" It was quite a moment. The children had all absorbed the song, despite its unfamiliar text, becasue it was repetitive, attractive to them and musically accessible. They had taken the song beyond the worship context and into their lives.

If all else fails....
- Regularly include short prayer responses, amens, alleluias and doxologies that children can sing well. 
- Teach the children a new song, and have them teach the congregation one Sunday morning. Not only will you have captive learners, but the rehearsal during the week will ensure the families are all on board too.
- If you must hand out percussion instruments (no I'm not a fan), do so only when the songs are inaccessible.
- Introduce actions, claps or stomps.
- Have children teach the adults the actions
- If you have a goodly number of children allocate them their own part in a round
- Expect them to sing - they are part of the worshipping body like everyone else.
- Enlist the 'help' of older children

What other tips do you have for engaging children in the sing?

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How is the Church Accompanying Singing in 2011?