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?

I thought you were going to comment on that irritating family that somehow seem to have wangled a couple of slots of BBC Breakfast (The Marsh Family, from Kent).

So did I! I was just settling down for a good bitch, but I can't really bitch about a family I've never seen or heard.

OP, you're just going to have to be honest, and tell her that her kids are in no way exceptional, musically speaking, and that it would be unkind to allow them to set their hearts on ambitions that are unachievable.

And video her reaction for our amusement!

It may have to come down to a sing-and-play off, OP.

Team Curtainwitcher against Team Irritating Musical Family.

A rendition of Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better from Annie Get Your Gun by both parties, all instruments allowed as accompaniment, the winner to be chosen by other neighbours.

The prize would be exclusive rights to public musical expression.

It might be the only way, unless you can get them all practising quietly indoors with Gareth Malone for his Great British Home ( and definitely not outdoors in the close) Chorus.

You know that come Yuletide you are going to have to address their card to 'the Von Trapps' don't you?!

Or Von Crapps, if they're really awful.

Three options. Maintain status quo, tell them to stop, or give them what they want.

Personally, as they're persistent, I'd give them what they want, which is honest opinion and advice. No need to be nasty, just tell them where they need to get to and what to work on to achieve their ambitions. It's actually the kindest of the options.

Oh dear, that's so funny! I can just picture the scene. Sorry, I can imagine it's a bit much for you. I don't know what you can do without being blunt.

Now that the weather's warmed up, keep your windows open wide, OP.

That way you can jump up and slam them shut the minute they start their racket.

I think you and your family should all rush out with your instruments next time they start. Do a music/sing off.

Sorry I watched pitch perfect yesterday

What do the other neighbours think?

Sorry OP, but that's hilarious.

I am lucky I don't live in your close!

I think the video of the Les Miserable family was bloody brilliant actually!

Similar family near us. Mum has been coordinating muscular performances of Over the Rainbow, filmed and circulated on social media @cactus2020 Oh good lord I wonder if that's the family I mentioned in my post at Fri 10-Apr-20 21:57:56. They are a lovely family actually!

I have rethought this, @CurtainWitcher and begun to suspect you need to be assertive. You need to find out what other people in the street do for a living. Ask her if every time Shirley the dentist pops out, does she rush out with her kids brushing their teeth? When Angus the Flight Attendant comes home from a trip, does she insist on asking him if he’d prefer chicken or beef, and getting her kids to perform a safety demo for him? What about when Helen the gastroenterologist from number 14 gets home from a shift? Does she ring out an ice cream container and make her inspect little Jocasta’s stools, because she’s “terribly sensitive, you know....”? INTRUSIVE and attention-seeking. You have a right to quiet enjoyment of your own home.

Lockdown is clearly driving people mad.

Think I would be tempted to send you tube links 'Singing for Beginners' or 'guitar for beginners' etc, there are also lockdown free lessons for beginners too .

I think the video of the Les Miserable family was bloody brilliant actually!

I agree!

I might think slightly differently if I had to put up with hours of rehearsal to be fair

@cactus2020, I’d love to see a “muscular” rendition of over the rainbow 😂😂😂

Brilliant thread

Job done! She’ll have read this thread before her next scheduled appointment, and I’ll bet my life it will be cancelled, due to unforeseen circumstances.

Not unforeseen circumstances: 'creative differences'

If waiting for them to finish and then cutting them off at the end with a brusque Simon-Cowell-style "It's a No from me!" is a bit too awkward, and you don't have two elderly grumpy male neighbours who could pop up out of dormer windows and do a textbook Waldorf & Stadtler, you could take her aside and tell her you're concerned that, in these times of uncertain employment and coming economic depression, she must be spending a fortune paying the Performing Rights Society for all of their public performances of copyrighted music. From your professional experiences, you know that their fees can really mount up; and the fines for those found performing without complying legally can be extortionate - it only takes one person to record them on a phone and that's all the evidence they need.

That could just work. Might also instantly provide some highly-potent fertiliser for any keen gardeners in the close.

I’d love to see a “muscular” rendition of over the rainbow

I'm imagining Robbie Williams pouting and puffing out his chin whilst singing "Somewh......" before stopping for the whole rest of the song, pointing his mic at the crowd and saying "I think you all know this one!"

Then again, the stopping singing does rather sound like a bonus....

Von Crapps though... 😂

Fake your own death.
Though they might turn up with their arrangement of Mozart’s Requiem

Yes, but you could bang furiously on the coffin in the same way that people bang on the walls when the NDN practises their bagpipes at 3am

You have to stop meaking eye contact. If they turn up in front, don't look, go upstair to the loo, or go to the back of the house. She seems to think you like it.
I'd also be refering to her as Mrs Bucket when chatting to my family

Could you stop them next time with "what are you doing?" in an irritated slightly condescending tone, and if they actually tell you, the response is "why?". Make them fully explain themselves, so they can hear the ridiculousness come out of their own mouths.

OP you are coming across as terribly superior, and snobbish.
I’m sure in real life you are charming, but honest to God, are they really causing any harm?

I am crying laughing at this, sorry. Join in playing the recorder? That will put a stop to it soon enough.