Training: listening to sound training

Sound has now established itself as an essential medium in our society, particularly in contemporary art.

The School of Design and High School of Art (EDHEA) of Valais echoes this by offering a bachelor’s degree in sound, lasting three years. The course is unique in French-speaking Switzerland.

Learn to listen

We know how to look at the world and transcribe it into images. What about the sound? “THE recent bachelor’s degree in sound (with its first volley 2024) is interested in the soundscape, the relationship between the sound and the visual, acoustic architecture, the sounds of nature, philosophy, the history of orality, the human voice,” explains Christophe Fellayhead of the bachelor’s degree, at EDHEA, in Sierre (VS).

Sound forms the backbone of the students’ work. These develop (in addition to technical tools) an ability to listen to the world (society, climate, politics, etc.) and to present it in artistic forms, such as video, audio, photo, immersive performance, painting, etc.

Professional Bachelor

Sound students carry out artistic interventions in the field, for example with the MUDAC in Lausanne and the Montreux Jazz Festival.

They also collaborate with scientific institutions such as the laboratory Neuroscience of emotion and affective dynamics (NEAD) of theUniversity of Genevathe Center for Digital Humanities of theFederal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL)the Oral History Department of theUniversity of Lausanne.

“Their multidisciplinary employability is excellent,” rejoices Christophe Fellay.

In the ear of the employer

“Our next exhibition, Tuning In – Acoustics of emotionexplores the links between voice, memory and humanitarian sound heritage,” explains Elisa Ruscacurator and curator at International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, in Geneva.

Which votes to keep, and why? Who speaks, who has the right to be heard? Several bachelor’s students worked on archive material (cassettes, vinyls, magnetic tapes) left in the silence of underground deposits and composed a sound stream lasting more than three hours (“Don’t keep, just music”) which will be broadcast on loop in the exhibition space.

Word games, sound games

Graphic designer CFC with integrated professional maturity in your pocket, Virginia Jordan worked for several years in a communications agency and, at the same time, performs stand-up on the French-speaking humorous scene: “The text that makes you laugh creates a particular sonic bond with the audience, made up of plays on words and plays on sound. You have to find the rhythm.”

Upon returning from a trip, she consecutively completed a bachelor’s degree in visual arts, sound option, in Sierre, and a master’s degree in sound, in Aix-en-Provence, in France. In the process, she flits between numerous mandates (HES assistantship, podcast courses, sound creations, radio, performances and exhibitions). For example, it constituted the soundtrack of the play “In the footsteps of Marguerite Duras”, at the Théâtre Nuitnieafter having collected, in Cambodia and Vietnam, the sounds cherished by the writer.

“I am currently participating in a theatrical creation in sign languageon the texts of Bernard Heidsiecksound poet. In the absence of orality, the choreography becomes gestural and visual,” indicates the professional.

More info

Bachelor in are: https://edhea.ch/formations/hea/bachelor-en-son

Other higher education courses in sound: ECAL https://ecal.ch/fr/ et HEAD www.hesge.ch/head

Federal patent in sound technology

With a Computer scientist CFC and technical maturity, the musician (keyboard and guitar) Nadja Crisafullialready active at the mixing desk of a Geneva alternative bar, starts at Cheers. But she prefers technique, music.

The federal sound technician certificate will therefore be a discovery for her: “For two years (one day a week and with thematic workshops), I perfected myself in all areas of sound: events, live concerts, studio, post-production, radio-tv, podcasts, games video, etc. Moreover, the CFMS school, in Lausanneoffers real mandates which have fueled my professional network.” Today technical manager at a music school in Geneva, Nadja Crisafulli continues her passion: music.

According to Terry Nelson, member ofAES ECexam expert: “To get the “good vibes” (editor’s note: “good vibrations” in English)both technical and human skills are required. These highly specialized technicians must also become experts in interpersonal contacts and teamwork!”

More info www.orientation.ch

Geneva Office for Guidance, Vocational and Continuing Training (OFPC)

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