Sound and Sustainability: an experience in initial teacher training

Abstract

This paper deals with sound and sustainability, and arises from the idea that poor sound treatment is incompatible with sustainable development. In order to develop Education for Sustainable Development in the initial training of future teachers, from the area of musical expression and, specifically, from the subject "Aural Education" of the Degree in Early Childhood Education and the Degree in Primary Education, research has been carried out using the concepts of "noise pollution" and "soundscape". Its aim was to analyse the evolution in the knowledge and perception, and in the sensitivity and interest of pre-service teachers in the treatment of sound, acoustic conditions and sound environments in different contexts, and to observe their relationship with the Sustainable Development Goals. The "action-research" methodology has been used. After the initial diagnosis, an intervention was carried out consisting of two projects: a theoretical research on "Noise pollution" or "The soundscape" and its broadcasting in podcast format, and a creative research in which participants used sounds from the environment to compose a short piece of music. Finally, the participants' opinions on the experience were collected. The results indicate an improvement in the aspects analysed and show the relationship of the concepts developed with SDG 3, SDG 4 and SDG 11. The pre-service teachers have shown their commitment to achieving a sustainable future, an important challenge in today's society.