Dr. Marcus Leadley is a tutor, sound artist, composer, researcher and curator whose work explores the relationship between sound and place. He teaches Field Recording and Soundscape Composition courses and runs field trip sessions.

field recording equipment on a beach with golden sand and blue sky

Marcus is the Head of Goldsmith’s Electronic Music Studios and teaches the Bmus and Mmus modules Making Experimental Sound and Sonic Arts Practice. He also works as lead artist and consultant to public art projects. Much of this practice is collaborative: working with other sonic artists, musicians or producers or with visual artists – for whom he can facilitate all aspects of live or recorded sound. He holds a PhD is Sonic Arts and an MMus in Studio Based Composition. His research interests include phonography, soundscape composition, acoustic ecology and ecoacoustics.

Autumn 2024 Field Trips

I have a number of field trip dates coming up – these are full-day workshop style sessions where I provide a wide range of recording equipment and instruction. Next dates:

Greenwich (London): TBC

Whitstable (Kent coast): TBC

Workshop information and sign up

Online 10-Week Field Recording Courses

Short Course: Introduction to Field Recording and the Soundscape

This 10-week course is suitable for complete newcomers to field recording and for those with some experience of basic hand-held recorders who want to improve the quality of their recordings.
£370 (with concessions available). Starting 13 January 2025

Short Course: Field Recording and Soundscape Composition

Course information and sign up

This course is a natural progression for those of you who have already taken my Introduction to Field Recording short course. However, the course is self-contained and suitable for anyone who already has some experience of field recording and digital audio software. 
£370 (with concessions available). Starting 15 January 2025

Course information and sign up
Marcus Leadley. Photograph by Eva Bensasson.

I’ve really enjoyed the Field Recording and Soundscape Composition short course at Goldsmiths, largely due to the fascinating subject matter, and Marcus’ excellent teaching style and huge knowledge of the subject. Despite working as a professional AV Engineer for the entirety of my adult life, Marcus has introduced me to a wealth of information on topics that I was previously unfamiliar with.

Oliver Phillips, Spring 2021

Today’s class was exciting because how we experience space is one of the main focuses of my work, and recently, my focus has shifted to thinking about place and sense of place, which is part of these animations I am beginning.

Thank you for providing such an excellent course. You have exceeded my expectations of what I would learn, and I hope to participate in the composition section.

Vanessa Williams, Spring 2024
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