Painting with sound using Spectrogram

A fun, unique music and sound session that uses your webcam to turn household noises into colourful digital art using Google’s Spectrogram engine.

This guide is part of our Sense Arts, Sport & Wellbeing programme. This activity can be done at a time that suits you, either in your own space or in an educational setting.

Who is this for?

This is a workshop for people who are deafblind or have complex disabilities and can be enjoyed by anyone.

Why does this make a difference?

This is a sensory activity that supports wellbeing and relaxation, helping people learn by engaging with their surroundings through senses, independent choice, self-expression, creativity and music.

How to take part

Watch the video below.

What happens in the video?

Step 1

Get set up by gathering materials like an elastic band, bottles filled with water, a ten pence piece, tin foil. You’ll also need a webcam, and the internet browser Google Chrome if you haven’t already got it.

Step 2

Open a new window in Chrome and go to to Spectrogram.

Step 3

Click on the microphone and if you get a pop-up asking you for permission to share the sound with the website, allow it. Now it’s time to get started!

Step 4

Have fun exploring the shapes that each sound makes as you make it.

This activity was created by the artist Tom Peel and uses Google’s Spectrogram engine.