To open up your ears in a place like New York City requires no need
for heightened awareness, as it's a place offering a rich sound environment,
but throughout a "soundwalk," it becomes difficult not to hear even
the slightest noise. An hour walking around the beautiful Upper East Side is
one with a lot of lonely areas and empty blocks at around 2pm. All that is
audible is the wind rustling trees, and leaves blowing around. Even the leaves
hitting the sidewalk can be heard, having a slightly scratchy sound and then
the crunching of them being walked over. One apartment’s air conditioner is
quite loud. There is the faint sound of Katy Perry's Roar coming from one
storefront, so naturally I walk away from that ear-piecing noise. A dog walker
walks by with a golden retriever and the clanking of his metal leash stands out
within the sounds of nature. There is another sound of metal, as a metal hatch
on the sidewalk being pushed in when walked over. There is the sound of a car
screeching its tires to stop quickly. Another cars horn goes off with the sound
of fluttering wings of pigeons as they fly away. There are faint sounds of
footsteps from far away. Through the grates below me the sound of the subway
swooshing past can be heard. This area consists of many families with children
creating sounds of little plastic wheels rolling on the uneven sidewalk from
strollers and scooters. Here lies a connection to nature in a city of machines.
