Dr. Marcus Leadley is a tutor, sound artist, composer, researcher and curator whose work explores the relationship between sound and place.

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

Marcus is the Head of Goldsmith’s Electronic Music Studios and 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.


Online 10-Week Field Recording Courses


While Goldsmiths is pausing the delivery of all short courses from the start of the summer term 2024, I will be continuing to offer both my online courses privately.

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 22 April 2024

Short Course: Field Recording and Soundscape Composition

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 24 April 2024

Marcus Leadley photographic portrait with glass wall behind him
Marcus Leadley. Photograph by Ben Queenborough.

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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