New Adventures in Sound Art presents the 2026 edition of Springscapes, an annual series that highlights the dramatic changes that take place in the natural soundscape from winter to spring and includes installations, workshops and livestream events. This year’s theme is Sound Culture.
“The notion of a Sound Culture is certainly not unique to humans, and this fact is most evident to human ears in the spring where adaptations in learning, imitation and social interaction play out in the acoustic biophony. By considering animal vocalizations as meaningful sound expression rather than background noise, the workshop suggests a way of listening and composing — highlighting relationships between species, landscape, and technology.” — Darren Copeland, Artistic Director, New Adventures in Sound Art
May 1 to 3, 2026
Warbler’s Roost, 3785D Eagle Lake Road, South River, Ontario
$339 with 2 nights accommodation and $215 with no accommodation.
Produced by New Adventures in Sound Art, this immersive recording and composing workshop invites participants to explore the rich soundscape of Warbler’s Roost through attentive listening, field recording, and creative composition.
The workshop takes place at Warbler’s Roost, which is located on a rural 14-acre property 22 km west of the village of South River, Ontario. Activities encompass soundwalking, recording and editing of field recordings, and finally, composing a short soundscape composition responding to the theme of “Sound Culture.”
The notion of a Sound Culture is certainly not unique to humans, and this fact is most evident to human ears in the spring where adaptations in learning, imitation and social interaction play out in the acoustic biophony. By considering animal vocalizations as meaningful sound expression rather than background noise, the workshop suggests a way of listening and composing — highlighting relationships between species, landscape, and technology.
The workshop is open to all experience levels and emphasizes curiosity, experimentation, and attentive listening.
It will be led by NAISA Artistic Director Darren Copeland who has created radio, concert and installation pieces from soundscape recordings made at the same location as the workshop.
Workshop participants should bring a laptop and recording equipment that is familiar to them. However, participants can also access NAISA equipment and resources such as 2nd order Ambisonic recording, Geophone and Hydrophone recording as well as editing and mixing with the Reaper digital audio workstation.
Participants will also be introduced to the Reveil livestream taking place in parallel to this workshop which broadcasts the sounds of daybreak traveling westward from London (UK) time zone by time zone. NAISA Radio is a broadcast partner and will be broadcasting the 24+ hour livestream.
Important Details:
- All levels of experience are welcome.
- Bring your own laptop and a portable audio recorder.
- NAISA will supplement with additional equipment where necessary.
- Dress for colder temperatures at dusk and dawn as well as for some walking on muddy and wet surfaces.
- Warbler’s Roost has comfortable indoor accommodation with kitchens and bathrooms that are shared among the guests. Breakfast is provided each day.
- Accommodation discounts available for those wanting to share a room with a friend or partner.
Photo Credit: Allister Johnston