As various strains of the soundscape became more discernible, so too did the ‘feel’ of the day. Derek, a senior officer with 27 years’ service likened a normal day to a piece of music – what he termed “the everyday tune that's normal for here”.

While the audible components of a good day were complicated and sometimes contradictory, there was broad agreement between various actors about what this sounded like, as well as the significance of learning to read it (Lefebvre, 2004). The implication of Derek's account was that the components of an orderly day were discernible and, much like a more conventional example of a ‘tune’ could be learned. Various accounts of the soundscape indicated this process of acclimation and attunement was central to successful management and control of the environment. By extension, and despite its broad absence from other accounts, ‘reading’ the soundscape was an important aspect of jail craft.

Derek's account emphasized the importance of learning the environment, but also attending to the strengths and skills of colleagues. His reflections revealed the centrality of deep familiarity with the ways of listening adopted by colleagues. An intimacy near impossible to attain in the current climate of staff shortages, inexperience and attrition. Order was audible and it was an orderly state that provided the point of reference for understanding deviations from the routine (and the disruptions and disorder this denoted).