Explore how poetry can be sung, played, and performed as sound and music.
This lesson invites students to experience poetry as living sound — sung, spoken, and performed — connecting deeply with language, rhythm, and Country.
Listen
Poetry is not just words on a page — it’s sound, rhythm, and feeling that come alive when spoken, sung, or performed. Singing poems adds melody and emotion, while sonic poetry uses voice, rhythm, and sound effects to create a rich listening experience.
Read these two poems that won the Middle of The Air poetry and song writing competition in 2025:
Reed and Oak - by Cate Kennedy
The Arbour - by Giles Watson
Now Listen to the poems as songs by Dobby and Leah Senior:
Reed and Oak - composed and performed by DOBBY, words by Cate Kennedy.
The Arbour- composed and performed by Leah Senior, words by Giles Watson.
Reflect
Think about how poetry changes when it is sung or performed as sound:
- How does melody or rhythm affect your connection to the poem?
- What feelings or images do sound effects and voice textures create?
- How do repetition and rhythm help you remember and feel the poem?
- Can you hear poetry as music, story, and emotion all at once?
Learn more
These poets use voice, rhythm, and sound to create immersive sonic poetry.
Listen to examples by:
Pascalle Burton
Luke Patterson
Gary Watling
Sonya Holowell
Eric Avery
Nicole Smede
Create
Step 1: Write Your Poem
- Write a short poem about a feeling, place, story, or sound that moves you.
- Keep it rhythmic and simple enough to be sung or performed.
Step 2: Experiment with Singing and Sound
- Choose a melody or rhythm — maybe a tune you know or a beat you create by clapping or tapping.
- Sing your poem to this melody or rhythm, focusing on feeling rather than perfect pitch.
- Add repetition or a chorus to make it song-like.
- Try using your voice in different ways — whisper, hum, shout, or add sound effects inspired by your poem.
Step 3: Explore Sonic Poetry
- Experiment with layering sounds: your voice, body percussion (claps, snaps), or natural sounds (wind, water).
- Use rhythm and volume changes to create mood and meaning.
Consider how your poem can become a soundscape — a poem you hear as much as you read or sing.
Share
- Perform or play your singing or sonic poem for family, friends, or classmates.
- Listen to others’ performances and notice the different ways sound and voice bring poems alive.
- Reflect on how singing and sound deepen your connection to poetry and Country.
- Use Cycle Thinking: Share, listen, reflect — then create again!
Tips for Teachers and Families
- Encourage students to focus on expression and rhythm over perfect singing.
- Support experimentation with voice, body percussion, and natural sounds.
- Use familiar songs or beats to help students find rhythm for singing poems.
- Create a safe, supportive space for sharing and performing poems aloud.
- Connect singing and sonic poetry to Indigenous oral traditions and storytelling.
- Use Cycle Thinking to nurture ongoing creativity and confidence.