How early can you play the trumpet?

[Rosamund1]

Writing on behalf of a friend who 'can't be arsed to sign up.'

Friend lives on end terrace. The neighbor next door is a grumpy old bat. E.g. Friend sent her a Christmas card and got no reply (lights on and off at the house, someone is in). The walls are very thin and neighbour used to bangs on the wall if the kids ran up the stairs. Friend texted and said come and lets discuss soundproofing and perhaps sharing costs. Neighbour did not reply and has not heard from her since.

Before that, one afternoon friend had a 'play date' and six rowdy children were playing pirates in the evening/afternoon after school 4-7 ish. Neighbour said she's off work with a bad back, keep the noise down. Friend texted 'sorry to hear that, let me know if you need help with shopping or anything?' Again no reply.

Now the problem is trumpet. Friends ds has been offered free trumpet lessons at school. The problem is getting him to practice. After school it's always 'I'm too tired' and it's hard to set a routine with scouts, swimming, football etc. They leave the house for school at 8.15 and friend thought 8am would be a good time to do 5mins daily but is worried about neighbour.

My opinion is that living in a terrace (as we do), you need to be prepared for noise apart from 9pm -7am. Neighbour can just deal with it.

AIBU

I once heard that music can be a great healer so I think the neighbour should try a wide range of instruments when she wakes up in pain until she finds one that take her mind off the pain and noise from next door.

Terrace-dweller parent of brass-playing children here. My DDs both practise their brass instruments daily, after school. DD1 has been playing for four years and is a pretty decent player - one of our neighbours calls across with requests for particular tunes from her. DD2 has only been playing since September so doesn't have the same stamina but goes to bed at 7pm anyway so doesn't play late, she's only awake at 8am under duress so there's no danger of early practice from her!

Our other neighbour plays music extremely loudly (so that the floors shake) from about 4pm until 2am most nights so an hour of trumpet playing in the evening is unlikely to spoil their evening.

You seem awfully over-invested in your 'friend's' potential trumpet playing DS and neighbour, OP.

FWIW if my neighbour started playing the trumpet at 8am, the instrument would be firmly inserted where the sun doesn't shine

Haha, as a music teacher I read the title and assumed 'how early can you play the trumpet' meant from what age- duh!

No @karigan I live in London. The neighbours like my singing. My 3 year old hates it!!! Ha ha

Firstly - too early for trumpet.
Secondly - five minutes to practice? Really??? What's the point?
Most musical instruments require at least half an hour per day to begin with and then more as the student progresses.
A trumpet is probably not the most socially acceptable instrument for terrace houses. Can he practice at school?

Your friend just needs to have a conversation rather than texts. 'Hi, DS is going to learn the trumpet, I know you don't like too much noise so when is best for you duythe day - 8am or between 4-8? Let's agree a time.'

If the doesn't engage then that's her problem.