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?

God help them if she gives up piano and discovers death metal music . Precious idiots.

Can she use a practice room at school say 3 days a week?

God help them if she gives up piano and discovers death metal music

though she may give up and discover needlepoint... or any number of more or less suitable hobbies. Would personally still expect consideration of others to be both taught and shown.

Write a note that reminds them that piano playing is permitted in the deeds and say that you will do your best to compromise by only playing at prearranged times, but your DD will need one hour per day (even if she doesn't use it).

Keep within reasonable hours, keep a copy of the deed handy and if they let up complaining drop in some wine at Christmas.

Maybe advise them to move house. Selfish twits.

Those who are saying the neighbours chose to live in an apartment block could be wrong. The option of buying a detached house is not available to everyone, for obvious reasons.

I don't understand why you wouldn't use headphones if it's an option to you? Your dd could be very talented but even if she is I'm sure she is repeating her playlists again and again to practice which must be annoying for some.

Because using the headphones just isn't the same experience - neither the touch of the keyboard, nor the sound. And I can't listen to her, which she likes and finds encouraging. And which I enjoy! It's a lovely moment to share when she plays the piano.

I have church bells which mean I have to close the window. They are at a set time. Could this not be a way forward to suit everyone?

There aren't any "practice rooms" at school and her piano has nothing to do with school anyway.

Because using the headphones just isn't the same experience

but turning it down a bit is.

OP you haven’t answered why you don’t just turn the volume down a bit...

Aw, yanbu. If it is only 30 mins, they are being V.U

It's not loud - it really isn't. I'm sure it travels up the chimney breast, but there are chimney breasts in every single room in this apartment and the piano wouldn't be far from a chimney breast in any other position, plus it would be much closer to the bedrooms (something I was very careful to avoid).

Could she take up the bagpipes instead?

It sounds like you're being very reasonable about it, and unfortunately they'll have to just suck it up.

I would look into a digital piano. Some of the newer ones are amazing. I have two professional pianist in the family - both have got rid of their pianos in favour of digital ones. If they find them acceptable then I doubt a grade 4 pianist will have any issue.

For some reason your family pianists find it acceptable. Most pianists don't - added to which the best of the digital pianos are unsurprisingly priced accordingly.

OP YANBU. 30 minutes a day is nothing.

Are you prepared to compromise at all OP ??

Normal lifestyle noise is allowed

I don't understand why you are avoiding being below their bedrooms so are presumably below their longes/dining rooms. But surely at the times you say your dd plays then your neighbours are more likely to be in their lounge /dining room than their bedrooms?