#  >> K-12 >> High School Musicals

How to Create Stage Sound Effects: Galloping Horse

Making sound effects for a stage play requires a good ear, imagination and a bit of practical know-how. While the audience must take part by suspending disbelief and living in the moment of the play, sound effects will help frame the story. Creating thunder, the sound of rain pattering against a window, a squeaking door or a galloping horse all require the right equipment and a dedicated sound master. Of course, these days you can just get a recording of the sound you need, but where's the fun in that?

Things You'll Need

  • Coconut
  • Hand saw
  • Pan
  • 1-inch wood screws (4)
  • 2 straps
  • Drill with Phillips head bit
  • Wood floor
  • Box of sand, gravel, or leaves
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Saw a coconut smoothly in half. It's important that the edges be flat. There is milk in the coconut so saw partway through the coconut, remove the saw and pour the milk into a pan or in the sink. Replace the saw in the slit and finish cutting the coconut in half.

    • 2

      Attach hand straps by screwing any solid strap into both sides of the coconut half with the drill. Center the strap and leave enough room for your hand to comfortably, but snugly, fit under the strap.

    • 3

      Select the appropriate surface to strike against, based on the landscape the horse is galloping on. Use a box of gravel, sand or leaves, a wooden floor, or improvise to imitate the sound of galloping on cobblestone streets.

    • 4

      Slip your hands into the hand straps on the coconut halves.

    • 5

      Use the coconut halves to strike your selected surface in a three-beat rhythm. One solid beat followed by two rapid beats in succession will best imitate galloping.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved