Reflect 

Reflecting on my country visit there was so much sound, movement and drama present. A bellow from an emu set the tone for my entire walk and immersion into the natural environment. As I continued down the path the emu’s bellow became a background noise. I could now hear the rustling of gum tree leaves and rocks cracking beneath my feet. As I rested on a rock I could really tune into the emu’s voice, broken up by the occasional car engine in the background. It’s quite amazing to be this deep in nature yet the modern world still screams out to be heard. As I finished my walk the wind picked up and I could hear the gusts travelling through the trees. I thought back to Pauline Oliveros and her desire for everyone to expand “listening to continually include more” (Pauline Oliveros, 2015) something I believe I truly captured during this walk. 

This experience made me feel calm. It also reminded me of camping as a child. We would wake up to birds chirping or the wind rushing through the forest. It made me think about the activities or games we would create. For example, playing naughts and crosses with sticks, rocks and leaves or drawing in the dirt with long sticks. We were kids being kids “we simply improvised played and learned” (Pauline Oliveros, 2015). This walk allowed me to slow down and appreciate the natural environment. I felt I could play again and truly feel the world that was presently in front of me.

Connect 

The noises I heard during my walk were so vibrant and alive that I decided to use them as the basis for my creative response. I decided to compile all the noises as a backing sound track as I sang Inanay, a traditional children’s song about a goanna. Victor Wooten said “ find a way to change your viewpoint” and that’s exactly what I did. These sounds could and were so much more than just nose, they were nature's voices. 

Additionally, I recreated naughts and crosses using all natural resources like I did when I was a kid. My mind and body were able to go back to what it was like when I was a young girl exploring an area for the first time.  

Future Practice 

As explored within the book Nature and Young Children I will continue to foster growth and exploration through natural environments. Victor Wooten's explanation of how a child will smile playing an air guitar, but giving them a lesson will make their smile go away, is a big motivator for me moving forward in future practice. I believe that “as teachers we can keep that smile” (Victor Wooten, 2013) and can encourage them to do remarkable things if we listen with not only our ears but our eyes and all our senses. Children are capable learners and it is important for me to view children in this way as a part of my daily practice. 

TEDx Talks. (2013, May 30). Music as a Language: Victor Wooten at TEDxGabriolaIsland [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zvjW9arAZ0

(Victor Wooten, 2013)

TEDx Talks. (2015, November 12). The difference between hearing and listening | Pauline Oliveros | TEDxIndianapolis [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QHfOuRrJB8

Wilson, R. (2012). Nature and Young Children: Encouraging Creative play and learning in Natural Environments. Second edition. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED535353