Parapl'ouïe

A Sonic Adventure

Parapl’ouïe is a cultural mediation project led by Maxime Le Moing, aimed at elementary school students. Through a series of fun and creative workshops, children are invited to become explorers, authors, and foley artists for a day. Their mission: to create stories inspired by the nature around them… to be listened to under a sonic umbrella during an original and immersive walk.

A three-part journey:

1/ Listening differently
The workshop begins with a discovery session of the foley artist profession: discussions, listening games, and sound experiments introduce students to the richness of auditory landscapes. This is followed by a sensory exploration of the school’s surroundings, notebook in hand, to gather observations, ideas, and sounds.

2/ Imagining and writing nature
Based on this harvest, pupils write short stories in small groups that re-enchant their daily environment. These narratives are rooted in reality, but readily let themselves be carried away by fiction and imagination.

3/ Creating the soundscape
Each story is then set to sound through a collaborative process of sound effects, sound pickup, and recording. A sensitive introduction to sound creation, which allows children to dress up their story much like composing a small audio film.

The project concludes with a sonic walk under umbrellas, during which the pupils, with umbrellas on their heads, listen to their creations in the very heart of the places that inspired them. A joyful and quirky way to reinvest in natural space, enrich their perspective, and open their ears wide.

Maxime le Moing : sound artist, nature guide

With the students of four classes from elementary schools in Witry-lès-Reims.