Irritating musical family

[CurtainWitcher]

Namechanged, as this is outing.

We moved into this house in Jan. A neighbour introduced herself and we clicked well as we have DC of a similar age.

I'm a Music examiner and teach at a local school (which her DC don't attend). She was very keen to let me know how musical her family are, even inviting me over to hear her children play their instruments.

The problem is that it's ramped up a notch during lockdown. Her DC have been entertaining the close (four houses) by playing their instruments in the street. She even joined them today (her DH is the only one who isn't involved, but she asks him to film it on his phone).

The thing is that this all seems to be very much aimed at me, and seeking my approval, which is uncomfortable and intrusive. DH is convinced that she encourages them to go out and play as soon as anyone steps out of our house. She's also sent me lots of videos of them, on Whatsapp. I always praise them, but it's getting ridiculous. Their playing is fine, but certainly not extraordinary.

WIBU to politely discourage their persistent performances?

There's a bloke who keeps standing at the end of my street to "entertain" everyone by playing the bagpipes. We don't even live in Scotland, I'm close to shoving them up his behind but don't think A&E need the extra work atm!

Could you respond with concern that they could encourage others to come to watch them, which would equate to a mass gathering. You wouldn't want them to get into trouble after all?

Recommend the works of Napalm Death. Or tell her you don't give a fuck. Or both. Frankly I don't care. And neither should you.

I know I shouldn't laugh, but we are in lockdown and you aren't even allowed to move house!

My friend is a casting director, you should see the crazies that try to 'subtly' demonstrate their talent to him. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I'd start telling them that they need to get their instruments checked over as they are sounding dreadfully out of tune.

She sounds like my mother, @CurtainWitcher... please tell her that this behaviour is the fastest possible direction to drug abuse and eating disorders, not to mention problems with neighbours due to constant intrusion. She needs to get a life of her own and to stop living vicariously through her kids.

Don't praise them. Ignore whenever possible, or divert to other topics if not.

If she asks about auditioning again, say she should speak to their own music teacher about it.

They sound like those little men who play instruments in restaurants in Mexico to get money out of you and won't go until you reward them

Next time when she asks you about her kids talent, be blunt. Tell them that if they want to get in a music school, it would be better to work on such and such areas (mention their weaknesses and areas that need improvement). And don't forget to tell them to get a music tutor for it and that you can recommend (only if you can) some music teachers for her kids. You will have to recommend someone as you don't really want to be roped into teaching her kids. If she asks you just say to her that you want to keep social and work life separate so it would be better if the kids learned from someone else.

You need Martin from Friday night dinner to shout. "Oh no, it's those fucking tuneless gits again." As he leaves the house.

I have to live in very close proximity to these people and really need to think carefully how to encourage them to stop without causing a proble

Call the council and report them as a mouse nuisance

She needs to get to know you as an actual person rather than the "music examiner next door" I think. If you want to keep things friendly, I would just divert the convos away from music as much as possible... tell her about the bottle of gin you can't wait to neck once the kids are in bed, how your DP is annoying you on lockdown, whatever really but just avoid commenting on any videos she sends of her DC playing or music chat. If that won't work, time to be brutal and just tell her outright!

Whenever they start up appear at the door wearing industrial style ear guards.
Text her & say " what a racket am off to get Brahms & Liszt".

Mouse nuisance 😂😂

Definitely report them, OP Sorry... slip of the keyboard. That's every other thread on MN atm.

This is, without doubt, my favourite thread in these covid times.
I suggest you start coughing whenever they strike up.

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll you is a v funny mneter

This is hilarious. I really enjoyed this thread. Thanks OP.

I once worked with somebody who thought she was a rather fine singer. Whenever we went for after work drinks, we wouldn't have taken a sip from our first drink before she'd have started to sing. It was always the same old warbling type of song, you know the ones - long and they all sound the same. If anybody spoke during the 'song', she'd look at them crossly and say she hadn't finished and start it again from the beginning. We never knew what to do except look awkward and give her a little round of applause when she stopped.

In your case, I suggest you gather all the neighbours, make a train and chant choo choo in a circle around them. That should discourage them!

Call the council and report them as a mouse nuisance 

Oh FFS!!! Noise Nuisance that should have been. Mind you Env Health is the place for mice too

rent your house to some crackheads for week, for the love of god.

oh btw shes clearly angling for free lessons.

This is comedy gold, cringeworthingly hilarious 🤣🤣🤣
I've absolutely no idea how you should deal with them as Ives got a feeling they'll not be easy to ignore or put off.

Personally, I'd want to make a long Liszt of their most cringey moments and use it to pen my own sitcom series. They're providing you with plenty of material for free so you might as well make some money out of it

Although you may feel like locking them all in a Cage, best not, as they'll probably develop Stockhausen syndrome towards you. Maybe it'd be best to Handel them with good grace? But never mind, things should return to normal when the kids go Bach to school.

Good luck , and best of Britten.

OMG, I cannot stop!!!!

OMG, I cannot stop!!!!

You'll soon have enough material for a symphony.

OP you are missing a trick here, you need to keep them at it and write a lockdown diary in the style of Gill Sims. It would go straight to "number one"!

My neighbours like to practice their instruments in the garden every summer. One plays a trumpety thing and the other plays a French horn. I can't judge, as I don't have a musical bone in my body, but they aren't very good and after 4 years we still can't even get a full rendition of twinkle twinkle little star without hitting a bum note and starting over. Repeatedly.

Another neighbour shouted out the window at them... "Will you shut the fuck up?!"

Worked a treat. They stropped off inside with their massive music stand and we've not heard a toot since.

@OutwiththeOutCrowd ‘You have delighted us long enough’ is a brilliant suggestion 🙂
There’s definitely comedy sketch potential in this. It makes me think of the stereotype of the pushy stage school mum. She’s probably seen that viral video of the singing family and feels competitive. The kids are probably hating it.
I can only suggest limiting both your replies to her messages and your availability as an ‘audience’.

Oh dear OP, this made me laugh too!

But can I ask, why are you watching these performances? Cannot you not stay inside?

Keeping your distance and not being so available will help get the message across without risking the relationship.

Similar family near us. Mum has been coordinating muscular performances of Over the Rainbow, filmed and circulated on social media, with plans to expand weekly with singing and more participants. It sounds pretty terrible and these aren't cute young kids. Some people have a tendency to Make It About Them, don't they? The (very good) lone trumpeter playing Moon River in Hebden Bridge was quite nice but family bands, yes, irritating. My teens play and think it highly embarrassing and self-promoting... Sounds like she's One of Those Mums. It is also quite funny though

Sorry my teens play instruments. They don't play in the family band...

Fabulous thread op. Send them down to the council estate I live on (south London) they wouldn’t last longer than 5 minutes before someone told them where to stick their oboe