Leah Hokanson

Sing Your Note!

Thoughts on Musical Participation

Many of us were told at an early age that we aren’t musical, and that being “gifted” was the necessary precursor to learning the language of music, and to making music part of daily life. Therefore, many of us believe that musical participation, particularly in community, is not available to us. Most of the expressive meaning of spoken language is contained in the rhythm and lyricism (i.e. the musicality) of how we express ourselves vocally, and yet we have been conditioned to believe that it’s only the “musicalized” singing voice that is expressive and beautiful. This talk both challenges our definition of what constitutes “musical”, and explores ways we can all participate in making music. No audition required.

Excerpt: “Imagine for a moment that being musical is not defined by one’s ability to sing or play organized pitches or read dots on a page, but rather being musical means that you have your own unique way of experiencing yourself, and expressing yourself, through the medium of sound: no different from a thrush, a tree frog, or any other “voice” of nature. And that expression – your expression – is beautiful.”

Art Practice

Exploring Activities of Meaning

Imagine that an ‘Art Practice’ is simply an activity of meaning: something we engage in that inspires a certain quality of attention, care, devotion, or commitment. This may involve a task, a cause, a relationship. It may be something you’re especially good at, or it may simply be an activity that brings you a sense of wonder at and connection to the world around you. This talk will explore ‘Art Practice’ as a way of imagining our relationship to what we find most meaningful and inspiring. There is an artist in all of us, and it isn’t necessarily a poet, painter or musician.

Speaking of Sound

Sound and the Environment

Noted sound ecologist, Hildegard Westerkamp, writes “I hear the soundscape as a language with which places and societies express themselves.” A soundscape is a sound or combination of sounds that forms or arises within a particular environment (web definition). What qualities make up our own soundscapes? How do we experience soundscape in our day-to-day lives? How does our awareness of sound influence our relationship with the environment?

Excerpt: “Because we live in constant surround sound, and because we have little if any control over our sound environment, we necessarily take in the world in a manner that defies our propensity to want to control it. In other words, our attention to sound is a pathway to a more reciprocal relationship with our environment: whether a sound is near or far; whether it is mechanical, or of nature; or whether it’s the sound of a loved one’s voice, or our own voice.”

– Leah Hokanson