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Sound Off

Soundcheck

Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.

peak

Sounds of Silence

Soundcheck

May 29, 2009

We conclude our Sound Off series on noise -- with a look at silence. Author Anne D. LeClaire tells us about her personal regimen of silence. And: Pulitzer-prize winning author Frank McCourt has added music to the Irish art of storytelling. He joins us with the Newman/Oltman Guitar Duo and a string ensemble.

silence

Enjoy the Silence

Soundcheck

May 29, 2009

Our May series about noise, "Sound Off," concludes with a look at silence. For the past seventeen years, author Anne D. LeClaire has spent two days each month silent. She details the regimen in her book Listening Below the Noise. She explains how practicing silence helps her expand awareness and achieve inner peace.

How Music Makes You Spend

Soundcheck

May 22, 2009

When stores, restaurants or bars pump up the volume on their sound systems it's believed to energize customers -- but it can also inflict hearing damage on employees. Joining us to explain the impact of loud music on shopping is Adrian North, a professor of applied psychology research at Heriot Watt University in England and author of the book The Social and Applied Psychology of Music.

Weigh in: Do you find that loud music influences your spending habits?

The Art of Noise

Soundcheck

May 15, 2009

Noise has been a musical ingredient from the 60’s rock (The Who, Velvet Underground, Jimi Hendrix) to the 70’s punk to experimental classical movements like Futurism and Dada, not to mention recent artists like Rhys Chatham and Sonic Youth. Today, Frank J. Oteri, founding editor of NewMusicBox.org, and Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky) talk about how to rethink everyday noise.

Weigh in: Have you been inspired by noise? Is some noise an enjoyable, a pleasing part of your day? Tell us about your experiences

iPod

Hearing Under Assault

Soundcheck

May 08, 2009

With the advent of iPods audiologists say they are seeing more young people with old ears. And New Yorkers have it particularly bad. In the latest installment of our month-long series "Sound Off," we explore the latest frontiers in hearing loss and ask what you can do to protect your hearing. Guests include Dr. Ellen Finkelstein, an audiologist at Madison Audiology Associates who treats music-related hearing loss; and Walter Sear, the owner of the Manhattan recording studio Sear Sound, who has seen and experienced unsafe volume practices.

don't honk

Sound Off: Urban Noise

Soundcheck

May 01, 2009

Noise plays an undeniable role in music -- and in our lives. Today we kick off the Friday series "Sound Off" with a look at New York City's noisiest neighborhoods and the artists that live in them. Guests include Alan Fierstein, founder and president of the acoustic consulting firm Acoustilog Inc., and jazz saxophonist Miguel Zenon.

Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer, noise grinch?

Weigh in: What's your favorite and least-favorite noise in your neighborhood? Tell us why