Oliveros, P. (2015). The Difference between Hearing and Listening | Pauline Oliveros | TEDxIndianapolis [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QHfOuRrJB8

TEDxMelbourne. (2013, Dec 19). Tania de Jong AM: How singing together changes the brain [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/I_HOBr8H9EM?si=BkQ_r14IffvRw78v

The Parallaxis – A game of walking between worlds. (n.d.). The Parallaxis. https://www.the-parallaxis.com/

Wilson, R. (2007). NATURE AND YOUNG CHILDREN : encouraging creative play and learning in natural environments. Routledge.

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• Through SMELL: As soon as I arrived at the Altona beach, my nostrils were hit by the very strong smell of the seaweeds, and typical salty fish smell. There was a group of people doing a small picnic, at one side of the beach, I very strongly felt the waif of Bassa fish fry, calamari, BBQ sauce and chips. Walking nearer to the water, the smell of the seaweed kept getting stronger. It had rained few hours before my visit, so I could smell the Petrichor (smell of earthy scent produced by the rainfall).

• Through SIGHT: As the beach is getting renovated by the council, there is framed blockades at the entrance and on the road. There are beautiful views of Altona Bay, the pier, swimming areas and lots of paragliders. There is endless expanse of soft sand, that feels so soft that my feet were sinking in the sand. The long row of Norfolk pines and cypress trees, line the Altona Esplanade and seems like making the boundary of the majestic beach. I loved to look at the clouds that were different hues of grey, hiding the glory of the retiring sun. Th greenish blue colour of the water was a feast for my eyes. The vastness of the nature's elements, in all its glory, makes me wonder about my place in the universe. I feel like a speck of dust, that has no impression, in this mammoth display. But at the same time, I know that I am an important part of the universe, and I rightly own the place and position that is bestowed upon me by the Almighty.

• Through SOUND: The very windy day was dominated by the loud, roaring sound of the wind howling and showing its dominance over every other sound. By very careful and deeper listening, I could hear the rhythmic, swelling of the powerful waves and their loud crashing onto the shore. The soaring, gliding and diving flock of different birds like seagulls, herons, swans and cormorants, cawing and squawking was adding a very unique orchestra, that had unique, individual sounds but when heard in unison, sounded pleasant to the ears. The groaning of the trees produced loud, high pitched crescendo.

• Through FEELINGS: The strong wind forced me to tie my hair and wear a bandana to secure it, but in vain. I felt a strong surge to go back in the warmth and quite of my car, but it was my only chance to visit the On Country site, for getting ready to do the reflection for my assessment, though the week. The wind was cold and made me shiver now and then. The soft sand beneath my bare feet was very calming, but I didn't have the will to put my feet in the cold water and the roaring surge of the tide was slightly daunting. The very loud sound of the wild wind made me feel a little uncomfortable in the beginning, but I was getting used to it slowly.

• Through TASTE: The gargantuan ocean's salinity was the most prominent taste that tingled on my tongue, as I accidently touched my wet, sticky hands to my mouth. The gritty sand taste also stayed on my tongue for a long time.

• These different sensations evoked the beautiful memories of my childhood. when I lived with my family at Naval quarters, in Bombay. We would go to the rocky beaches often and have a picnic. Me and my sisters would run around and play for hours, pretend-playing and getting mesmerized by the bounty and the beauty of the nature. The dance that we choreographed individually and with one another were spontaneous. We never needed any toys or gadgets to keep ourselves busy. The open air and the endless ocean always eased our worries and stresses of the monotonous days. With my mom and dad, we sisters would play ANTAKSHRI-a popular Indian game where the participant sings a song starting with the consonant on which the previous participant ended his song.

  
  

• My Artefact

  Video 1:   Nature- The Greatest showman

  My 'silent' nature walk at the Altona beach, Victoria, to get some inspiration for my creative response, was not silent at all. It was a very windy Sunday evening. The twilight hour was telling the world that the Sun was finishing for the day and going for rest. Usually there is a very vivid display of different hues of bright colours to bid goodnight to the sun, but today the grey clouds wanted to take the precedence and let the sun exit the center stage very quietly.

  The squawking of seagulls was adding their own musical notes to the nature's sounds and creating a beautiful orchestra.

  The crashing sounds of the waves was adding to the beauty of the song that nature was playing.

  I am so blessed to be present at that moment to witness the mighty musical and dramatic ensemble. It reminded me of the fact Wilson (2007) emphasized that children especially need the natural world for some of the “soul-making” aspects of human development, including the appreciation of beauty, mystery, and wonder". (p. 14).

  
  

• Explanation and interpretation of my creative work:

  MUSIC

  Sound Recording (2): Gaana

  I am taking this opportunity to pay my respect to the renowned Punjabi Singer, lyricist and composer Dr. Satinder Sartaj, Music professor from Punjab University. I am trying to sing a verse from his latest song, "Chal Otey Chaliye." This song has captured the musical and dramatic play of nature very precisely. I played the tabla (hand drum, principle percussion instrument in Hindustani Classical Music) on the wooden table of my room, thus adding to the rhythm, dynamics and beat of the song. The tempo of the song is just perfect and makes my voice sound melodious and in sync with the theme of the song. (PLEASE CLICK ON THE DOWNLOAD ICON, TO LISTEN TO THE SONG)

  • "Let's go there sweetheart, where the mesmerizing weather of colorful vibes are chanting the love songs!

    Where the shores play bets with the river, it is in love with!!

    Listen to this sound.... the music of waterfalls. Nature practices its music through them!

    Nature bows down to the symphony of its creator!!

    There are some houses of warm desires in the world of aromatic sandalwood.

    Where there is an interesting interaction of the birds and the nature.

    Let's go to that place love."

    
    

  DRAMA

  Video 3: The Crowning glory

  
  

  Getting inspiration from Oliveros (2015) statement about listening as a lifetime practice that depends on accumulated experiences with sound; I put all my senses to practice silence and dep listening.

  The rhythmic, surging and swelling of the powerful waves and their loud crashing onto the shore, the soaring and gliding of the black swans, herons and cormorants, cawing and squawking overhead, the squabbling sea gulls, the loud whooshing sounds of the wind passing through the tree branches with high intensity and the moaning of the trees were creating shrilling, fortissimo. The evening show of light and sound was very dramatic.

  The sound was so loud, that I had to re-record my audio and repost it on the video. I had to lower the audio of the nature's roar to the minimum and add my sound recording at full volume. Now I was able to hear my voice and make connection to the video. Nature was teaching me to be quite and listen to the buffet of sounds that were playing around me, in unison and separate notes, but creating magical aura.

  
  

  DANCE

  Video 4: The dance of the wind

  
  

  Oh, what an experience!

  I was comfortable to dance, when young. I have a rhythm in my body and would generally sway to the music. It seemed natural for my body to do flexions, extensions, rotations, springs and balancing.

  When a classical trained dancer joined our family (through wedlock), my dance took a backstage. I started doubting my skills and developed the fear of comparison and being judged. It seems almost impossible for me to dance, even when alone.

  
  

  Tania de Jong AM insists on how important it is to express your hope, joy and inspirations through different temporal arts, it can be so liberating and uplifting (TEDxMelbourne, 2013).

  I tried to move my body to the movement of the natural surroundings, but the wind resisted and would not allow me to dance. I was holding a scarf (bandana) in my hand, and I just opened it and allowed the wind to do the rest. The bandana fluttered in the wind and tried to match the movement, to the surrounding. Wind became the maestro and choreographed the dance on its own terms.

  
  

  PARALLAXIS

  Photo collage 5: The parallel worlds

  
  

  The Parallaxis – a Game of Walking between Worlds, (n.d). compelled me to think about the interesting but twisted scenes that were unfolding in front of me. In so many different manners, nature showed the extraordinary moments, that were a transition into two different parallel worlds.

  I was trying to come to terms with the magical beauty, that was unfolding in front of my eyes and awakening the tactile, acoustic and other senses to different levels. The grey clouds hovering over the vast landscape and the sun taking its final exit for the day, were the director and the light man in the drama. The greenish-blue ocean, the white surf and the sand were changing their colors and the context of my understanding. The light and shadow played together. Each non-human actors of the parallaxis played its part to create the magical phenomenon.

  This natural drama reminds me of the Mutton Bird dance, where the light and shadow were used to accentuate the performance of the artists. (Bangarra Education Resources Mutton Bird, n.d.)

  
  

  
  

The unit contents, readings, videos, TEDTalks and discussions in class with my lecturer Ms. Bryony and the student-colleagues has helped me to broaden my horizon and set up new avenues for the children to explore nature's beauty and bounty. It will play significant role in influencing my teaching practices and curriculum planning. The temporal arts will be in the forefront, as I will actively demonstrate and try to influence children to incorporate music, drama and dance in their everyday play. The silence, pauses, and listening will add to the development of different sensory skills in the children. I would invite them to take inspiration from the natural elements around them and awaken a sense of belonging to the larger world. Thus, promoting skills like explorations, discovery and invention. The children could play the music/ choreograph a dance movement using instruments, their hands, sounds etc. to develop musicality/ dancing in their being and outside.

The drama/dance could be created out of intentional set-ups in the room as well as through the spontaneous enactments. that the children would create in the moment, with /without the need of external resources and toys. Their body is the equipment and the brain, thoughts, emotions and the skills become the script writers, directors, protagonists and actors. They would create singular or multitudinal and layered dramas. The drama could be temporary or could linger on for longer durations or could be developed in another time frame. The drama could have no audience or could have the attention of a few people or could be staged in front of multiple entities. The drama could evoke other people and non-human factors to participate and be the actors, or the drama could be just the thoughts and emotions, playing up in a child's inside. The drama could be forgotten instantly or could have a lifelong impact. The drama could be less or elaboratively dramatic.

Some of the musical, dance and dramatic opportunities are always available for children to engage in. But including the nature, as the prime inspiration and taking ideas from the nature will be a new entry in my curriculum planning.

The outdoor environments and excursions, nature walks, and some inspirational videos and talks could help children and myself, for better understanding, reasoning and appreciating the aesthetical skill development and inclusion of languages of temporal arts in our ECE settings and beyond.