Opera singing is driving me insane

[hilbobaggins]

I’ll try to make this brief. Our lovely upstairs neighbours went travelling for a few months. They had a lodger in to stay while away. She’s an opera singer. She practises. A lot.

I bloody hate opera. Or at least I hate listening to someone practising their bloody opera singing.

We just about dealt with it over the last few months - it seemed to get more frequent over the time they were away. I complained once at 8pm when I wanted to get my little boy to bed. Admittedly that was later than she usually practises.

They’ve just got back and we were looking forward to the singer leaving but oh no, “wonderful news, she’s got into the Glasgow conservatoire” and will now be staying on until September when she leaves for Scotland.

I’m just sitting here now listening to the same few notes of “Fa-la-la-la-LAAAAA” over and over again and feeling completely pissed off. She practises in their kitchen which is above our bedroom and she just ruined my nice cup of tea. I know it’s not the worst sound in the world but it feels really instrusive and beyond my control.

This is a housing co-op and I adore our neighbours. What do I do about this? Or do I just suck it up? I’m crap at confrontation but if I don’t say anything I’ll really resent her/them.

[Fekko]

I'd love it. We had a bloke with a karaoke machine next to us - I was ready to rip my own ears off.

[AreYouTerfEnough]

It’s cultural though innit?

[Fekko]

I'd ask if she does requests.

[Pheasantplucker2]

Honestly, I'd go and speak to them in a really nice way. Say that her singing is lovely, but because of the repetitive nature of practice it's quite intrusive and whilst you don't mind her practising between x and y (when you're not around) please could she find somewhere else to practise at other times as it's becoming intrusive. Said with a smile. I'm a musician and would react well to this. I teach piano from home and constantly check with my neighbours to make sure it's not a problem. Luckily I'm semi detached, we have thick walls and there's a staircase and hall between them and the piano, so they say they can't hear it. But most musicians are aware that practice, no matter how good you are, is deathly to listen to, and so will be apologetic.

[yawning801]

If she does request, you could ask for her to sing the Birdie song! That's instrumental, so...

[PavlovianLunge]

We had an opera singer staying with us for a while, and he was loud; I had no idea. It was so much louder than regular singing.

OP, six months is a long time. As you get on well with your neighbour, why not invite her in for coffee while the singer is singing. If she hears how loud the practicing is, she might be willing to speak to her guest about being more considerate.

For a plan B, can she go and practice at the conservatoire?

[TenancyTroublesAgain]

That sounds like torture. A one off may be amusing but that sounds really intrusive. For months and months. No.

[liquidrevolution]

Just think it's going to get worse when the weather finally breaks and you want the window open.

[Idontdowindows]

I'd try to get them to agree to only practice between certain times and limit their practice time.

[AlexanderHamilton]

She must be very good if she’s got into RCS

[Neverender]

I'd complain.

I once went out with an Opera singer for five minutes. He did my head in and used to sing at me. He was well annoying...

[boxthefox]

The neighbours will surely have to listen to this also now that they are back. They will shut her up soon enough surely.

[hilbobaggins]

Thank you. Always reassuring to know IANBU. I think the idea of suggesting times is a good one so I’ll try that.

[jay55]

There are practice boxes, that basically mute the user. They need one.
www.beltyafaceoff.com/home.html

[BlossomCat]

I feel your pain, I used to work in an office overlooking the main shopping street. My colleague and I were driven up the wall by a woman busking by singing opera music most days.
But then the pan pipers would start up, and we'd sort of miss her...

[smurfit]

Yanbu. My sister sings opera and she's loud when she practices and it's usually not even full voice. Adding that music practice my nature is extremely repetitive it's definitely not ideal.

Perhaps you could negotiate so that perhaps she practices at the same time daily. It would still be heard but at least if it was expected you might be able to work around it more easily. Finding appropriate practice spaces can be difficult but there should be a reasonable compromise here.

[Pixelpuffin]

Oh' If I were in your shoes I would become the neighbour from hell!
I'd get something extremely bassey AKA boombox and when she started turn the effing thing up HIGH, ensuring the bass pulsates through the floor above. I would do it continuously.

[theluckiest]

I went to Glasgow Conservatoire!! When it was RSAMD and sounded more impressive. So YABU.

Although I have to say, I wasn't on the Opera course and pretty much across the board, the Opera students were all knobs. So YANBU. I remember a party when an opera student asked if anyone had any coke. We poor drama students replied that we had some Lambrini if she was interested...

Sounds hideous. Can't you dig out some Black Sabbath and play it really loudly?? Or get the Hamilton soundtrack and sing it word for word....over and over again...

[JessyJames]

As children we lived next door to a singing and piano teacher. She also dabbled in amateur operatics.
She drove us mad. My father used to take great delight in throwing open the windows and joining in with her singing. He was tone deaf.
He would also blast her with the Beatles.
Great memories!

[dingdongdigeridoo]

Learn to yodel?

[BMW6]

Get a cd of bagpipe playing and play it as loud as you like in your bedroom every single time she starts up

[MrsCrabbyTree]

I have the perfect solution. I can't sing AT ALL. Let me stay at yours and neighbour will not be able to keep a tune while I am 'singing'.

Of course I will supply earplugs for you and your family.