Neighbours

[franz_]

Did you never had problems with your neighbours?  I had so during a year, I couldn't play when they were at home. I became almost depressive. How did you solved that problem?

Ow yes, another question. Is it bad for your piano when the sun shines on it?

[gerry]

There's another thread somewhere on this forum where members discuss at length the problems they have with neighbors--you might try a subject search. In general, unless you can affort a good 88-key clavinova type instrument with headphones, you have no alternative other than just talking with them and seeing if you could work out a schedule that is acceptable to both. You have the right to make a certain amount of noise beween certain hours but heavy piano practicing is pretty annoying to non-musicians (and musicians who value their quiet moments). About direct sun - YES it is very harmful for a piano, it raises the tempurature of the wood which expands and contracts wreaking havoc with the innards not to mention the finish which will check after time. invest in some cheap bamboo roll-down blinds at cost-plus or home depot. They will filter the sunlight and will help keep the ambient tempurature of the room down.

[alessandro]

Dear Franz,
Concerning the sun shining on a piano...  I would not recommend it for two reasons.  Changes in temperature are never good for the piano.  There's always some humidity in the instrument and it's better to keep that stable.  If something is not right with you piano, it will also be easier to detect, to diagnose the problem if the instrument has been kept in stable conditions.  Another reason why the sun is bad, I experienced it with my piano, is the change in colour.  The brown, in my case, is less warm, intense as it would be if I had kept it out of the sunlight.  So, no sun, stable climat, as less moving as possible, regularly tuning and lots of gentleness and love.  The thing will give it back to you. 
Have a nice day.

[amelialw]

if you want to open the curtains and let the light in, I reccomend that you buy a piano cover, I have one at home. If the sun is really bright at times though, you should close you curtains, in fact you should have good,thick heavy curtains to shield you piano from the sunlight.

[rc]

It doesn't sound as good as real strings, but the headphones are great for practicing!  I don't know what I'd do without 'em.  If you can afford a computer and internet connection, you can afford to save up for a decent digital with headphones.

Generally, if people aren't willing to be reasonable, I've found it useful to be a hardass and give the ole "screw you I have to practice".   Give it a try!

[thorn]

HA!

yes i have problems with my neighbours

they put all the TVs and radios on if i so much as play a single note when they are in, they bang on the wall, shout abuse over the fence, threaten to call the police, leave messages on my phone calling me all the names under the sun

and the best bit is that they are nearing their 80s

and i dont even hear the language they use from people my age

dont you just love old people sometimes?

edit: just to clarify- all of the above is a reaction to me practising; nothing else... crazy ne?

[franzliszt2]

hahaha my neighbours say they love me practicing! I seriously dont't get it. They once asked my mum if it was essential that I do hours of technique every morning..and my mum said yes, should we tell him to stop...an dthey said oh no! It's just we prefer hearing tunes lol. They also have converted to classical music since I started.

I sometimes get problems over the summer (now) becasue my parents sit in the garden, and I open the window, and people in the neighbourhood don;t take kindly to Scarbo 5 hours day  But they sort of understand, I'm only at the parents house for a few weeks, so they can have quiet then.

[imbetter]

franz, you "currently learning" signature has been the same for ages. surely your not still studying the same rep?

[richard black]

I don't have too much trouble with my neighbours. They know that if they complain they'll lose the services of the free plumber, car repair man, odd-job-man etc. that I make a point of being when required!

[rc]

HA!

yes i have problems with my neighbours

Well then you might like this story:

A friend calls me over to party late one night, so I get the address and head over.  Knock on the door - nothing.  KNOCK ON THE DOOR, I can hear motion inside so I knock some more.  Still no answer so I call them back and find out I got the wrong address and my friends were across the street.

Then I find out about the neighbours whose door I'd relentlessly bashed.  My friends band was playing in the afternoon one day, and the husband from across the street comes over yelling at them.  They were done playing for the day but they tell the husband that they're within the noise bylaw.

A few days later they take a break from a jam  (middle of the afternoon again) and hear something thumping against the door, it's the wife throwing a basketball against their door and she starts screaming, she won't listen to them at all.  She calls the cops, the cops come over and tell HER to quit bothering THEM, because it's the middle of the afternoon and they're doing nothing wrong

Some people are just miserable.

I like your approach Richard, being so cool they wouldn't dare cross you

[thorn]

....she calls the cops, the cops come over and tell HER to quit bothering THEM, because it's the middle of the afternoon and they're doing nothing wrong

yeah, some people really are just miserable. that's really bad.

it's a shame that the police have to be involved with these things because a good 90% of people would just come to your door and say, look, we cant stand you practising all afternoon, is there some compromise that can be reached? it's the other small percentage that are the problem. when my parents tried to come to a compromise with the neighbours they just said 'no compromise, he's not playing'. so we've gotten police involved now *sighs*

but im just taking the "i dont care what you think because you're old and have had your life, whereas im just starting mine so **** you" approach 

[term]

but im just taking the "i dont care what you think because you're old and have had your life, whereas im just starting mine so **** you" approach 

ROFL 

[gerry]

Seriously, I really sympathize with those with neighbor problems. One of my downfalls has always been that I often practice and play by mood and it's a real blessing to be able to run to the piano at any hour (sometimes practice 1-3 AM) when I feel inspired. I'm careful though to close all doors to bedrooms, etc. to minimize sound out to the neighborhood. But I would find it mentally difficult and even a bit stifling to overcome the feeling that people were being annoyed, upset and/or angy at my playing. Some other simple sound dampning like heavy moving quilts draped over the piano (secured to back on upright, underneath a grand), or styofoam type panels cut and fitted in the same places might help a little. My heart goes out to you guys - good luck.

[richard black]

I like your approach Richard, being so cool they wouldn't dare cross you

Thanks - joking apart, though, I've been very lucky in my place for many years but I do always take any opportunity to get on well with neighbours - give them a drink now and then, always smile nicely and say hello in the street. Mind you, it's a nice friendly neighbourhood, which helps too.