About elderly neighbours and my daughter’s piano

[user1499173618]

My DD is practising for her Grade 4 piano exam, which is due to take in June. We live on the second floor of a very nice apartment building of six apartments. We are the only occupants with a school aged child living at home. DD is very quiet and polite.

Our neighbours on the fourth and fifth floors have complained about DD’s piano playing and asked whether she could wear a headset and use the electronic keyboard. While I understand that they would prefer not to hear the piano at all, DD only plays for 30’ or so a day, apart from on Friday afternoons when her piano teacher gives her an hour’s lesson.

TBH I am quite hurt! DD is beautifully behaved and we work hard to keep her usefully occupied. I would have appreciated a more supportive set of neighbours! AIBU?

I think they just need to suck it up. As has been said, when you live in an apartment block you need to give and take.

My daughter has recently moved into a top floor conversion flat in a large, Victorian house. She has an electric piano, so sets it to silent mode when practising. However, she also plays the clarinet and cannot do much to reduce the noise there. Luckily the neighbours have not complained. Mind you, she plays to a high standard. She would like to learn saxophone, but feels that inflicting that on the neighbours might be a step to far.

As your daughter is practising in earnest and not just thumping away making a racket, I feel they are being unreasonable in their request.