In 2016, I created SoundByNature to support my students’ singing experience in a safe and inspiring environment – nature. That same fall, I was introduced to a virtual dentist’s office and started experimenting with VR and acoustics in the classroom. I had a vision for an app that could combine nature and acoustics, but I didn’t quite get there before COVID-19 and life happened. Years later, I pitched in an auditorium full of tech graduates at Turku University. Two weeks later, the five-student team chose SoundByNature as their capstone project.

The prototype, ‘SoundByNature Practice Room – Singing practice in a virtual reality environment,’ will be shared at Turku ICT Showroom tomorrow, Thursday. The program works and is already very enjoyable to use. You can enjoy virtual nature, edit your voice’s echo and natural acoustics, and support a student or client by playing or singing without headphones or cables.

A heartfelt thanks to the team ‘Virtual Harmony’ and the University of Turku for their support.

Full video by Virtual Harmony.

About the app

SoundByNature Practice Room has been developed by a team of five graduate level university students, all specializing in interaction design, with their client Sanni Orasmaa of SoundByNature. Sanni is an internationally renowned jazz musician and performing arts professional with many years of experience using nature as part of her vocal training

What is it?

⁃ An easy way to reduce stress and performance anxiety, and a way to get inspired by nature

⁃ Choose from a variety of virtual reality nature vistas, see and hear nature all around you, hear the echo of your own voice and attune with the experience

⁃ Perform singing practice in nature without leaving your class/home/studio

The product was primarily created to accommodate our client’s three step nature singing  classes:

1. Tuning: Becoming accustomed to nature, listening

2. Humming: Producing sound inspired by the experience

3. Calling: Interacting with a full voice, your echo in harmony with the sounds of nature

How it works

⁃ Put on your VR headset

⁃ Choose from three different scenes: a tall hill, a gentle stream running through a forest, and a pond amidst a sea of trees

⁃ Relax, hear sounds of nature and experiment with your voice by utilizing a virtually created realistic echo

Why you should use it?

Even simple VR experiences of nature can help shy, anxious students find their voice

Studies have proven that experiencing nature through digital experiences can alleviate stress and enhance mental well-being

VR can demonstrably amplify positive psychological effects of digital media through its immersiveness

Get ready to experience the calming and inspiring effects at the edge of nature and sound!

SoundByNature Practice Room – Singing practice in a virtual reality environment

Team from: University of Turku
Eero Nirhamo, Atte Aapalampi, Jennica Harju, Joni Ranta, Janek Tuisk

The project aims to create an immersive experience for singing practice in a virtual reality nature environment. Our client (SoundByNature) takes students out to nature for singing practice, and with this VR experience the same calming natural environment can be recreated virtually. The user tunes into the atmosphere of their natural surroundings and can interact with the environment by experimenting with the echo of their own voice. The user benefits from the experience by decreased stress and alleviated performance anxiety.

ICT Showroom 2024, March 7, ICT City 10-13.30h Timezone: Helsinki

Live on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyckrbLZLkGwIP-yE6-0AcQ/live 
14.45 Pitch finals, Educity, Taidon portaat,   15.15 Prize Ceremony, Educity, Taidon portaat