Have students imitate mechanical or electronic sounds with their voices. Match movements to mechanical and electronic sounds. Select one or two for investigation, or have each student select a country for an individual research project. Create individual or small group sound compositions from collected and invented electronic, mechanical and natural sounds. Discuss and compare the various ways individuals and groups combine and manipulate sounds in their compositions.
Students can begin to gather sounds onto a tape of their own, forming a sound blank.
This collection of sounds can be used for sound compositions, imitation, class discussion or reflection. Texture is sometimes referred to as the weave of the music. Texture refers to the inter-relation of sound qualities and number of sounds. For example, one voice alone will have a thin texture. Many voices or instruments sounding together will have a thick texture.