Problems with neighbors

[tsachi]

I have a neighbor on the upper floor in my building. He obviously doesn't like classical piano music since he starts knocking on his floor when I start playing. This is very annoying. He doesn't seem to be the kind of guy you can reason with. Does anyone have similar problems ? I need an advice here. Thanks.

[perfect_pitch]

Honestly??? I'd make up some sob story about how you're doing a Classical degree or something at Uni and need to practice. Try to convince them by saying that you won't play piano before 8am in the morning and won't play after say 9pm at night.

Also tell them that you don't play the piano to piss off the neighbours, but simply can't help it that you're so committed to your love of music.

Might help...

[keyboardclass]

I have a neighbor on the upper floor in my building. He obviously doesn't like classical piano music since he starts knocking on his floor when I start playing. This is very annoying.

For him or you!?

[tsachi]

For him or you!?

Probably for both of us 

[levar]

I agree with perfect_pitch, but I would make the hours from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Good luck.

levar

[jesc]

I also agree with the schedule. At least, there is a chance the neighbors will get used to it by making the time you play predictable.

But there might a come a time when you have to toughen it out, (i.e. endure). There are difficult pieces which have passages that may require a certain player a lot of repetition ---- I mean a lot. Hofmann, IIRC a respected pianist in his prime wrote in his book referencing to a 100 repetitions. Not only the noise but the repetitive nature can also get into people's nerves (most likely the ones with a chip on their shoulders).

In my case though, I use an electronic piano as a silent assist with an acoustic piano to lessen my neighbor's suffering. But I did have my share of annoying (outright mean) neighbors. I always try to be civilized when faced with... ugliness.

[keyboardclass]

I sit in my flat surrounded in every direction by other households and it is nearly always silent.  Do you think I want to be the one to ruin that?  I built a soundproof igloo round my piano (and equipt that with a celeste rail) .  I even practice the viola in there.  I also have a DP and a clavichord if I wish to practice without disturbing others.  Thank god you don't live near me!   Imaging if I was a composer!

[jesc]

BTW, my practice habit is 2 hours a week on the acoustic piano.  I spend unaccounted hours in the digital piano. Piano is just my hobby, and I have lots of "other" more important priorities like work and finishing my PhD. degree (which is not in music  ). I mean it took me some months to complete Chopin's Scherzo no. 2 cause I'm not a full time pianist and I'm just starting with Chopin's Ballade no. 1 

So, my neighbors are exposed to 2 hours of "noise" a week. Plus a majority of them like my playing. But in my experience you can play 15 minutes a month and if someone wants to make an issue out of it they will stir a lot of trouble.

If you're aiming for a full time pianist... I don't have an answer to that. I remember reading below about students practicing 6-7 hours a day... can't say much about that cause I haven't subjected my neighbors to such a continuous bombardment.

[keyboardclass]

Yeh well, I hate to sound mean - it's just how my brain works (not wanting to be the first to make a heap of noise).  I've lived here for over 30 years.  I could have been a somebody!

[perfect_pitch]

I remember reading below about students practicing 6-7 hours a day... can't say much about that cause I haven't subjected my neighbors to such a continuous bombardment.

I have... One of the neighbours across the road reported me to the council because I was playing excessively (7 hours a day) when I was unemployed. Of course this was during business hours (9am - 5pm)... However I just ignored her complaint since she's got 2 great big f*cking dogs that bark at all hours of the day... so she can go to hell as far as I care.

[rmbarbosa]

If you can, buy a good digital. You may use it along the most part of your practice, using your grand or your upright only to "polish" your performance.
Of course, if you cant buy a digital, you surely can buy a pack of those things we put in our ears when we dont want to ear any noise. I dont know whats its english name. In Portugal, we say "cotonnetes". And offer them to your neighbour
Best wishes
Rui

[oxy60]

Have any of you noticed that there are a lot of people staying home these days? It seems to me there is always somebody home (within earshot) during business hours. For those of us in construction we are always disturbing someone. Around my apartment I estimate that over half of the other apartments are always occupied at any given moment.

When I was learning piano, and practicing on an acoustic, maybe only 10% of the houses were occupied during the day. I went around and spoke to the stay-at-home moms and respected their schedules. I never had a problem and could always get two or three hours in after school.

Today with all of these people home all the time (with their TV's on) it's almost impossible to make them all happy.

I suggest any of you with complaint problems rely on the noise laws or house rules in your situation. With the restrictions you will also get rights.

[tsachi]

Thanks for all the tips. It is somewhat comforting to know other people share the same problems. Probably the best thing to do is to practice the most annoying technical parts on a silent (electronic) piano and to share the musical parts with our neighbors.
I even considered hiring a place where I can practice.

By the way, perfect_pitch, I noticed you play Petrushka and Brahms variations on a theme by Paganini. Did you have a chance to listen to the new CD of Yuja Wang ? Her recording of these are amazing (to say the least).

[thalbergmad]

Buy a gun then go round to his flat and blow his brains out.

Piano practice is too important and i doubt if a jury would convict you.

If you do get 15 years, ask the prison governor for a piano and you will have even more time than ever to play.

Both ways you win.

Thal

[tsachi]

Buy a gun then go round to his flat and blow his brains out.

Piano practice is too important and i doubt if a jury would convict you.

If you do get 15 years, ask the prison governor for a piano and you will have even more time than ever to play.

Both ways you win.

Thal

HaHa
LOL

[perfect_pitch]

By the way, perfect_pitch, I noticed you play Petrushka and Brahms variations on a theme by Paganini. Did you have a chance to listen to the new CD of Yuja Wang ?

I've seen her recital performances of both pieces on YouTube but still looking for the CD.

It's good... very good. Although I doubt the Petrushka can beat Pollini's - his is f#cking amazing.

[6piano9]

Well I have a bigger problem....My parents sleep from 3 pm>>5pm..AND I'm usually the first one to wake up in the morning so they are all asleep!!
so times that I can play are 10am>>>12pm because I've to study for my graduation year
I thought I can buy a keybord (I can lower the volume) BUT IT'S NOT LIKE PLAYING PIANO!

[keyofc]

not the same as sleeping soundly as it is to gritting your teeth while sleeping either

Why don't you at least practice what you're learning in the day -
and what you have already learned in the night -
people might even want to hear the last one!

[slow_concert_pianist]

Perhaps he/she just wants to listen better. Invite him/her in.

However, a few of you might find this hard to believe, but my neighbours can't tell if I am playing or listening to recordings.

The few complaints I have received are on a similar vein to one which was actually on behalf of Horowitz and Liszt's "Don Juan". An unseen neighbour belowed out of a dark window...."can you stop playing your piano, I've got to get some $%%^&^&^ sleep!!!!!". It was 11:30pm, so I did the right thing and slapped on some Mozart. He appeared to sleep like a baby.

[perfect_pitch]

The few complaints I have received are on a similar vein to one which was actually on behalf of Horowitz and Liszt's "Don Juan". An unseen neighbour belowed out of a dark window...."can you stop playing your piano, I've got to get some $%%^&^&^ sleep!!!!!".

Thats probably because when you were playing Liszts Don Juan - knowing the way you play, no one could possible percieve it as being Don Juan and probably thought it was an Elliot Carter piece...

 

[pianisten1989]

He appeared to sleep like a baby.

Or killed himself...

[perfect_pitch]

He appeared to sleep like a baby.

Or killed himself...

And the LOL x 100 Award goes to...

PIANISTEN1989!!!    

[lostinidlewonder]

I would keep playing during the normal hours and let him keep knocking. For all you know you do not know 100% that he is intending that for you to stop playing piano He could be dusting his roof or something. I would wait till he comes to you in person and complains otherwise keep practicing to your hearts content. Try not to play too loud when living in apartment situations, you can restrain yourself and still produce the same results.  If he approaches you you can say you are sorry that the playing has caused him such problems and you are embarrassed that it has caused him so much distress. You do not have to do exactly what he says but at least he gets it off his chest. You can say you can't stop completely as you are required to practice and it is a pleasure for you to practice, you can tell him you will try to keep it quiet and remind him that you never play during early morning or late night. If he still has a problem with it then you can kindly ask him to talk to the manager of the premises so you both can come to some agreement through another party.

[slow_concert_pianist]

Or killed himself...

So you don't like Horowitz either? I understand the issue now. You are saying it is because I play so much like Horowitz you find my performances offensive.

It ALL makes total sense now!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pianisten1989]

So you don't like Horowitz either? I understand the issue now. You are saying it is because I play so much like Horowitz you find my performances offensive.

It ALL makes total sense now!!!!!!!!!!!!

You aren't very shy are you?

[mike1515]

I have the same problem, when I play the piano (I only play it for 2 hours a day at home), she puts on a CD with operas, and it's really annoying when you finish playing a piece and hear someone shouting (because her music chain must be very low quality  )

I'm thinking of isolating the room, so she doesn't hear me and i don't hear her CD.

Are there any solutions apart from that one? Thanks in advance!

[gyzzzmo]

Get a digital piano, or a silenced accoustic piano. You might find them annoying how they respond on your music, but they also have every right to be annoyed of your music. You (probably) wouldnt like it either if a neighbour would put his radio on techno music for 2 hours long, every day.

Being able to play with headphones wont bother anybody and will make you able to play any time you want. Very worth the investment.

Gyzzzmo

[mike1515]

I completely agree with you, I have a digital piano with headphones, and I use it in the mornings when she's asleep.

I don't like playing there, but its the only solution in the morning. In the afternoon, I play from 6 to 7:30 or 8. I think she should understand that playing the piano is a part of my life. When I see her, I try to speak to them, but she starts shouting at me, although I'm very tall and stronger than most men (I'm only 17 years old) and I could end the conversation easily, I don't and I let her shout all she wants (she's like 50 years old). All my other neighbors like it when I play...

Maybe I should blow her brains out and get a piano in my prison  , like someone said above

No, I don't think that's a solution. I think I will isolate the room.

Michael