Sounds of Space

EXPLORE: WHAT DOES SPACE SOUND LIKE?

• Show students some images from space and discuss as a class:
  NASA Images of the Day

  • • What do you think space might sound like? (e.g. "silent," "whispers," "echoes," "mysterious sounds," "banging" or "whoosh.")

• Discuss elements of space that would impact sound:

  • • For example, space is a vacuum, meaning it doesn't carry sound in the way we hear it on Earth. 

    • We can, however, imagine what space might sound like by thinking about the actions or events that happen there, like the sound of rockets, meteors, or the hum of distant stars.

• Play a short clip or sound effect and document the different types of sounds that you hear. 
  NASA Sounds & Ringtones

  • • Are these sounds similar to what you thought space would sound like? 

    • How are they different? Did anything surprise you?

IMAGINE: A MUSICAL JOURNEY

• Listen to one or more pieces from the concert repertoire, then discuss these questions as a class:

• What tempo do you hear? Does it change or stay the same?  [*Tempo is the speed of music.]

• What dynamics to you? Do they change or stay the same?  [*Dynamics are the volume of music.]

• Is the music smooth or choppy? Loud or soft? Do you hear a pause or rest?

• What images come to mind when you hear this music? What is the mood?

• What instruments do you hear?

• How do the instruments or sounds remind you of a character, an action, an element of space or time?

• How would you move to this music?

• Compare & Contrast: 

  • • Refer back to your class discussion of the space sounds, and compare and contrast the sounds.

    • What did you hear in this music that reminded you of actual space sounds? What was different?

    • Why do you think the composer(s) chose the musical elements they did to tell their musical story?

• Listen to the piece(s) again and invite students to choose one of these creative options as they go on a listening journey.
  Imagine the story that this music tells and how you can represent that story visually.

• Draw a picture.

• Write a short story.

• Create a mood collage or timeline (using found images or materials).  

• Choreograph a dance.

CREATE: SOUNDSCAPE IN SPACE

• Have students work together in small groups to create a short soundscape or musical piece that represents space.
  Use simple classroom instruments or found objects, such as:

  • Percussion instruments to create rhythms that represent rockets, meteors, or the hum of a distant planet.

  • String or wind instruments to create more ethereal, atmospheric sounds.

  • Electronic keyboards or app-based sound generators to simulate space sounds (e.g., using sine waves or ambient noises).

  • Voices (e.g., whispers or echoing sounds) to represent communication across vast distances.

• As they create, encourage students to think about:

  • What part of space are they representing? Is it the quiet vastness, the bustling energy of a space station, or the thrilling speed of a rocket launch?

  • What mood do they want to convey? Should the music feel eerie, peaceful, adventurous, or chaotic?

• Perform Soundscapes: Invite each group perform their soundscape for the class. Discuss the creative choices each group made and how their soundscape relates to their interpretation of space.

REFELCT

• As a class, discuss the experience of creating and listening to space-inspired soundscapes.

  • What surprised you about how different groups interpreted space?

  • How did the different sounds you chose affect the mood of your piece?

  • If you had more time, what would you add or change?

• Have students journal about their experience, using these prompts and their music vocabulary:

  • How would you describe the sound of space? Is it quiet, loud, mysterious, or something else?

  • What kinds of sounds or music do you think we would hear if we traveled to the moon, Mars, or beyond?