Practicing with the silencer on

[persona]

I just got my accoustic piano. So far, I'd been practicing on a keyboard, so now I'm struggling to "translate" what I have learned so far into the piano. The thing is, most of the time I'm forced to play with the silencer on (I mean, the peddal in the middle, I'm not sure about the exact word for it in English). I've been told this is no good for the hammers (since they strike the thick cloth instead of the strings, thus not moving the full distance they are supposed to), and I assume, it's no good for the fingers either. Does anyone know of any other method to silence the piano without putting anything in the way of the hammers? Maybe holding the strings with something, or anything like that...

[richy321]

In the US, that middle pedal is usually called the practice or mute pedal.  It does not harm the hammers or any other part of the piano, but it does impede progress in your technique if used most of the time because it reduces the sensitivity to touch (keystroke velocity) to near zero.  You will always have difficulty with control of dynamics, from pianissimo to fortissimo, if you practice constantly with the mute engaged.  If used for brief periods, it will do no harm and you can still learn the basics of notation and timing with it, but not the finer points of touch and technique.

Rich Y

[atticus]

Hi persona,

Are you wanting to use the middle pedal because you are having trouble playing softly since you used to play on a keyboard and are now playing on an acoustic?  It takes some time to adjust to an acoustic piano.  Did you get your new piano tuned yet?  Also, are you playing with the lid closed? 

atticus

[persona]

I use the mute pedal in order not to bother my family with my practicing. I figured it couldn't be good for practicing technic, but let me ask you... how does everyone elsework it out?? How do you manage to practice without annoying your family and/or neighbours??

[rc]

I use a digital piano through headphones most of the time, then use a real piano for the polishing phase and performance.  The digital is convenient for practicing purposes, and fairly inexpensive ($1700 can)

It also helps that the digital piano is the only thing I'm able to bring to the basement suite where I live

[Bob]

If you play piano, other people in the house should expect to have piano sounds around.

Just make a deal with them about what hours you can practice -- like 9am-5pm, or 9am-9pm.  That's reasonable.  And if you've got a keyboard already, you're set to practice during the offtimes if you want.

There are several threads on this site about practicing in apartments or annoying people with practicing too for more ideas.

[mad_max2024]

My family never complained about the music, I guess they are used to it.
I also never got any complaints from the neighbours despite practicing at late hours (1 or 2am with mute from 11pm onward), my house has very thick double walls separating it from my neighbours so I doubt they actually hear anything.
I did have one nice lady telling me she sometimes sat outside in the garden listening to me 

[stuffradio]

nobody in my house cares about practicing piano

So I never use the middle petal, nor the other petal :S

[phil39]

i'm post-conservatoire level, aiming for concert level so i do a lot of pretty serious practise of big pieces, and i use the practise pedal a lot. i certainly don't see how it can harm the piano, in fact it should protect it:  the hammer felt is not getting struck directly against wire, thus prolonging the life. also the piano will stay in tune longer because the cloth is dulling the force the wires are being hit by.  of course any really good make of newish piano will withstand pretty much any sort of practise for years if not decades.
also, i don't think it spoils your sensitivity to touch, so long as you can get to play your pieces without practise pedal on at least some of the time, to sort of 'test out' what you have been practising. in fact i think it can help... you can 'let go', relax and play with proper arm weight and really work the dynamic contrasts to the extreme without fear of annoying the family or neighbours!
but like  i said. occasionally you do need to know how it sounds and feels without the practise pedal on.

[Bob]

Unless they're trying to sleep, I think most people just tune out the sound of someone practicing when it occurs on a daily basis.

[phil13]

Unless they're trying to sleep, I think most people just tune out the sound of someone practicing when it occurs on a daily basis.

Absolutely right. My family has learned this throughout this year, as I practice for several hours while they're home. They simply tune it out when they want to.

Thus, I've had no reason to use the silencer on my piano. However, it does come in handy when my siblings, who do not play piano, want to mess around on it. 

Phil