This is a paradox!!!

[debussy symbolism]

Greetings.

You know how most kids are forced into practicing by parents? Well, today, my parents didn't let me practice. That's right. They didn't let me practice. How dare they; and even using the "neighbors need rest" excuse. Such behavior is irreconcilable by my standarts. My parents (mom especially) clearly stated that the certain methods of studying my pieces were giving her a headache, and that I need to go outside instead of practicing piano all day. This really upset me. What am I going to say to my piano teacher? Um, my parents didn't let me practice?
This is absurd.

[debussy symbolism]

Even though it is a Sunday, it is my Sunday too, and I should be able to enjoy more free time as well and practice as long as I like.

[pianistimo]

go to the nearest college and use the practice rooms?  there's always a way!  a quiet piano? 

say, i remember a tuner that put a sort of pull thingy under the right side of the keyboard that pulled a long piece of felt down between the hammers and strings.  it dampened the sound enough that when i lived in an apartment with my hubby we didn't have any neighbors complaining. 

[debussy symbolism]

I actually considered going over to the practice rooms. They have a Kawai in there. . Unfortunately, I am almost positive that they are closed. .

Concerning the dampen thing. Certain pianos have that(uprights), and is the middle pedal. My piano doesn't. It has a sostenuto pedal. I heard somewhere that the dampen action isn't good for the piano. Plus, with the diminished sound, it will be much harder for me to know whether I am producing a good sound. This is essential to me when I am playing a Scubert Impromptu (no4) trio, where the sound quality is everything.

[phil13]

DS,

I have two questions for you . It is wrong for them to actually stop you from practicing, but before I give you my full opinion :

First: how many hours out of the day (minus sleeping) are you home at the same time as your parents, and...

Second: How many of said hours do you spend practicing?


Phil

[debussy symbolism]

You have to undestand that the day being Sunday, everyone is at home all day. On such a day I practice around 4 hours. Sometimes more sometimes less. The thing is that they wouldn't let me practice. I did around 1 hour of practice in the morning despite their tries to stop me. And a half an our during day time, because they actually pleaded me to stop. During the rest of the day I couldn't practice because of them.

[debussy symbolism]

I don't have a grudge against my parents. My parents are dear to me(of course ), but when it comes to practicing I need to practice.

[phil13]

In that case, I will side with you.

I practice 4 hours a day on the weekends, and 6 hours a day weekdays. Sometimes, stuff will come up that prevents me from playing for a day, so I know what it feels like.

What you need to do is compromise with your parents, trying to retain as much practice time as you can. Whatever time you can't have, go find a piano elsewhere- if you can, get into the rooms on campus. If not, then try finding a music store or perhaps a local school.

 At the same time, DO go outside and get some fresh air every now and then. Trust me, it's good to get out every now and then! (kept me from going insane this summer)

Phil

[rc]

There are other things you can do without touching the keys.

Go to the library and explore different music, check out some non-piano music.  You can learn a lot with some careful listening, get ideas.  Pick up a theory book and work through some exercises.  Mental practice!.  Composer biography.  History book of time when piece was composed.

Get out of the house is always a good idea.  There's something to be said for balance.  Oddly enough, time away from the piano tends to do more for my motivation than anything.  A walk through the park can be inspiring, or a conversation with a new friend about their dreams...  Finding beauty in everyday life is something you can carry back to your music.

[nicco]

Greetings.

You know how most kids are forced into practicing by parents? Well, today, my parents didn't let me practice. That's right. They didn't let me practice. How dare they; and even using the "neighbors need rest" excuse. Such behavior is irreconcilable by my standarts. My parents (mom especially) clearly stated that the certain methods of studying my pieces were giving her a headache, and that I need to go outside instead of practicing piano all day. This really upset me. What am I going to say to my piano teacher? Um, my parents didn't let me practice?
This is absurd.

you remind me of stewie from family guy. (try reading it with the stewie voice in your head )

[persona]

Let me quote here, Homer Simpson's well known phrase "Will you stop that infernal racket?", said many times to Lisa when practicing her saxophone.

If I become a parent one day, I won't tell my kids to do or stop doing anything... but of course, who knows what kind of an annoying idiot one can become as years go by.

[prometheus]

If it is not an incident. Call your piano teacher. She/he may have a solution and is also able to put it into practice. For example your teacher calls your parents.

[donjuan]

i had this same problem with people not letting me practice.  My Sister was always studying for university, and she insisted on studying in the family room -the middle of the house, where everyone is trying to live- and everytime I started to play, she would stop me and lecture about how her education is infinitely more important than my stupid piano hobby etc etc

anyway, I bought a digital piano, put it in my room, and practiced that way.  Now, it's certainly nothing like an acoustic, but you can still get some sort of practice routine out of it.  Using it for one day a week is a small price to pay to keep your neighbours happy.

however, lately, no one complains about me playing the acoustic piano; I think they have all gotten used to the "banging," as they call it

[nanabush]

Debussy Symbolism how much do you practice, though?  Maybe you actually practice too much 

Depending on where your piano is, you could say the same thing if for example someone listens to the stereo nonstop and it's botherin ur practicing, or someone having the tv too loud, etc, etc.

I dunno how long you practice, but maybe you need to do something else besides just sitting at the piano 24/7?

[debussy symbolism]

Thank you all for your concern. During my lesson I did inform my teacher of the "fiasco", and to my surprise she actually sided with my parents. We got to understand that yes, some practice details are a bit hard on others. I don't mind them(I like them), but it gives others a headache. It was a Sunday anyways so gotta give them some rest.

During the time I like to learn more about Dali and his paintings.

[rimv2]

Greetings.

You know how most kids are forced into practicing by parents? Well, today, my parents didn't let me practice. That's right. They didn't let me practice. How dare they; and even using the "neighbors need rest" excuse. Such behavior is irreconcilable by my standarts. My parents (mom especially) clearly stated that the certain methods of studying my pieces were giving her a headache, and that I need to go outside instead of practicing piano all day. This really upset me. What am I going to say to my piano teacher? Um, my parents didn't let me practice?
This is absurd.

Show your mom this response I typed:

Dont let your own momentary discomfort take away from your child's happiness now, and in the future. If you have a headache, take some medicine or find the real cause, because practicing on a piano would give your child a headache too if were the reason.

By telling your child not to play you are saying, "Hey, you're not going to be the next Liszt or Yundi so let me have some freaking quiet!!!!"

 

[jas]

Mine were the same. There was a point when they put my piano in the garage and made me practise out there. Bear in mind, I live in the UK. Garages are bloody cold! In winter my fingers were too cold to play, and the hammers went brittle and started to break. The thing is, though, I was never one of those people who practiced all day, every day. A couple of hours at most and I was usually done for the day. I never understood what their problem was.

Heh, I've just made myself sound like a tragic case. It had a happy enough ending: they eventually bought me a clavinova and then I moved away.

Jas

[debussy symbolism]

That's brutal, placing piano in a garage and forcing you to practice there.

[rc]

My dad has a heated garage, it's pretty nice.  I'm thinking of putting my new baby grand in there (when I get the money ).  So much more privacy than the house.

I mainly practice through headphones, but that's just because there's no way of getting a real piano into the basement I'm living in.

There's no substitution for real strings.  I'm coming to despise the sound of digital.

[leahcim]

We got to understand that yes, some practice details are a bit hard on others. I don't mind them(I like them), but it gives others a headache.

Headache? Give them one. Next Sunday go out instead and when you get back say you met some new friends and on Sunday they all take meth and they said you could try next week. So you're going to have to sell the piano to get some 'gear' for the new hobby. It'll all work out now you won't disturb anyone. Then say 'I'm just going to google to find out what meth is because your friends didn't explain very well it was confusing exactly what they did....and what this gear would cost in my size. Did you ever do it mum, is it as fun as they said?''

If all goes well you'll be in the house on Sundays practising the piano for as long as you like

[barnowl]

Grow up, DS,

Who bought the the piano? Who pays for the lessons? Who gave you life and love and room and board and all your other spiritual and material things?

Isn't it time for you to give something back — like a wee bit of understanding and compassion, instead of regarding your homelife just from your own selfish perspective?

Shame on you.

[debussy symbolism]

You are completely right, Barnowl, they do deserve something back. They are people so it's just to treat them like so.

[barnowl]

You are completely right, Barnowl, they do deserve something back. They are people so it's just to treat them like so.

Go give your mother a hug, and tell her how much you love and appreciate her.  Maybe take her for a ride in the country for some fresh air that'll help ameliorate her headache.

[debussy symbolism]

I am very touched by your concern, and yes, it would be wise to do something in return to ameliorate the situation.

Hey you learned a new word.  From me.

[maul]

dude you need to go outside. your parents are right