BTW. I have done some research on this subject since I live in an apartment with less than good sound proofing and I really want to get a grand piano. I would also have a digital for “raw practice” which I agree can be really annoying and also night time practice (which I do a lot). I now have a silent upright, I usually play acoustic max 1 hour a day, more on weekends.
There are no exact laws here (Finland), but in general making music as a hobby/study is considered normal living activity and legal as long as the amount of playing is reasonable (if I remember correctly the court has considered up to 4 hours a day reasonable, as long as it’s not during the 'quiet hours' which are usually determined by the housing company).
There are at least 2 cases that went to higher court:
- A piano student practiced in her apartment day time causing trouble with the neighbor. In response the neighbors started playing recorded music extremely loud when she practiced. The neighbors were sentenced to a fine since their conduct was considered malice, while the pianist was just making music without intent to disturb anyone.
- A young girl practiced grand piano in an apartment 6-7 hours a day, also between 8-10pm. The family was evicted. The higher court decided that this was appropriate due to the huge amount of playing time, not due to piano playing itself being illegal.
If playing was only allowed in remote housing units, I guess not many kids would become pianists and the rest of us would need to suffer a life without an acoustic piano. If it ever goes that far I guess I would just have to stop working and move with my piano to our summer house which really is in the middle of nowhere
Topic: Extremist Laws!