Putting an upright piano on top floor flat

[Khtchkn]

Preparing for a diploma hopefully end of this year. Grew up with a Yamaha grand piano, stopped for 10 years now back again but using a digital piano as no space for a grand in our flat. It’s really not working I think (piano teacher agrees). I’m wanting to hire an upright piano until my exam at the end of this year. I knocked on my neighbours door below me to ask but no answer, will pop a note through tomorrow. I told the neighbour I’d play for 1hr/2hr daily anytime between 9am-7pm as I have my 2 year old asleep. Also I won’t be playing twinkle twinkle little star or fur Elise constantly. I have done my grade 8 and preparing for a diploma recital! I will pop a letter to my neighbour downstairs but wanted to hear other ppls opinions . Hopefully they won’t care and will agree to it, as you’re allowed do whatever is your normal routine during the hours that aren’t too early or late. Just thought I’d be a decent neighbour and ask before

@user1493494961

How will they get the piano to the top floor?

Block and tackle. I know because my late DM inflicted this on her underneath neighbours

Crikey!
DD, currently at Conservatoire, has to practice violin for hrs a day when at home, so lockdown, holidays etc. NEVER any complaints from neighbours, tbh only curiosity and compliments. Neither have there been any of the actions suggested by PP's here (playing music back aggressively, banging on the walls etc) despite what most mumsnet terms clearly see as such a heinous and selfish act and we live in a completely normal, small London terrace. 🤷‍♀️
I think OP, you must think about muffling the action of pedals and consider how you can position the piano very carefully. Keep the practice room door shut. Also we have a much earlier cut off at 6 p.m and leave it completely at weekends, or only v minimal play through for an hr or so.

‘But not necessarily in the right order’ had to finish that beloved morecambe and wise (Andre preview) line. Prévin’s face, ernie’s stupid foolishness and Eric’s oblivious blustering pomposity have never been better.

That was for redcandlight - intervening posts might make my previous seem deranged.

OP, get some bagpipes and play them every day for two weeks. Then approach the neighbours and say that you’re thinking of exchanging the bagpipes for a piano. I bet you’ll get a positive response 😉

But seriously - one hour of professional standard music isn’t excessive. Musicians need to practise.

I live in a top floor flat and my beautiful Victorian upright Steinway lives here with me too. I’ve never had any complaints from my neighbours and I am certainly not diploma standard in my playing!

The reality is that at your level you can’t practice only on a digital. My old teacher used to have a piano with a silencer pedal that worked really well at muffling the noise when her baby was sleeping, but she did say it was very expensive. I’m not sure how widely available those sorts of pianos are for rent.

Putting a rug under the piano to muffle the sound can help, plus maybe a strip of carpet directly under the pedals so that you don’t get as much noise from the clunking. There’s a lot you can do to ensure the sound doesn’t travel as badly.

I never practice for more than an hour at a time and never later than 9pm in the evening. My neighbours make plenty of noise - washing machine on at all hours, music, singing, parties - we all contribute something to the rich tapestry of communal life and I would never dream of complaining. It is what it is when you live in a flat. We have to be able to live our lives and as long as you let your neighbours know and work around their schedule then I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all. Good luck with your diploma!

I would love to have you as my neighbour! But then a grew up with music and a cacophony of instruments being played. I'd only be concerned if you found our noise an issue if it distracted your playing. But then you just work out a schedule surely?
I used to live in a top floor flat and at night I could hear someone playing piano as I drifted off to sleep. The sound found its way up the chimney from a few floors below. I used to play along in my head as it was a tune I knew well, but they always got stuck at the same bit and it ruined the flow - a bit like lying next to someone and your breathing is in sync and then they suddenly stop. I cheered to myself the day they got it right!
Here's some neighbourly piano playing to cheer up the no piano lovers on this thread (get the tissues out, it's not what you expect at the end)... fb.watch/4ltoaTcD-D/

All isn't lost OP.
Hopefully you get in touch with your neighbours soon.

I'd personally love it & id listen out for you playing. I love the piano... I wish I could play but I'm old and skint and have no time

We once bought a house next door to a pianist. We moved out within a year, and I can still remember the tension and rows we had with him during that time. It was a nightmare.

Update...
Left a note to my neighbour this morning explaining the situation and left my contact details. She called a few hours later and said “I hear your piano playing and it’s wonderful. I would love to hear it louder. Even if you would play 10hrs a day I wouldn’t mind”. I’m so happy! I’ve now booked my appointment with the piano showroom as soon as shops open on 12th April to chose my upright! Very excited and happy!.

Thank you to the few ppl who have been positive about my question ... playing 1hr a day within reasonable times (I did mention earlier 1hr acoustic, 1hr digital) and asking my neighbour beforehand is justifiable and the right thing to do. Ppl comparing it to “heavy metal” or the sound of a “trombone” ... is really not the same sound as an advanced classical pianist.. you’d think someone with 2 brain cells would know that.

Luckily I have happy neighbours enjoying my playing, and not some miserable ppl on here. Have a lovely day everyone!

Ps sorry I haven’t read everyone’s comments I didn’t realise they’d be so many!!

She called a few hours later and said “I hear your piano playing and it’s wonderful. I would love to hear it louder. Even if you would play 10hrs a day I wouldn’t mind”.

Well that’s a load of bollocks 😂😂😂

So people are automatically miserable if they don’t want to listen to a neighbours piano practice on a daily basis?

I’m glad if it’s worked out well for you and your neighbours, but that’s just mean. And you’re wrong if you think that listening to an ‘advanced classical pianist’ is going to be a pleasing sound for everyone. It really really isn’t.

Gosh, how conveniently lucky OP!

She called a few hours later and said I hear your piano playing and it’s wonderful. I would love to hear it louder. Even if you would play 10hrs a day I wouldn’t mind.

Thanks OP, that's made my day! 🤣🤣🤣

@Khtchkn I'm so pleased for you! 🎶🎶🎶🎹

Ppl comparing it to “heavy metal” or the sound of a “trombone” ... is really not the same sound as an advanced classical pianist.. you’d think someone with 2 brain cells would know that

You'd think someone with 2 brain cells would understand that everyone tolerates different things.

How can the neighbour have heard your piano playing if you haven't bought the piano yet?

Plot Twist.

The OP is Richard Clayderman.

Good news OP. I have found that most neighbours tend to be sympathetic, if not downright supportive.

Living in a flat inevitably comes with some compromises with regards to sound. Anyone who doesn't realise that . . . well, I don't know what to say.

I suspect most of those moaning on here don't think of all the noisy things that they do daily, and how much their neighbours tolerate them for that.

I've done piano diploma work and a digital piano would not be suitable. As a neighbour I would be happy to hear it for a couple of hours as long as it wasn't too late or early. Grade 1 violin now that's another matter...

Just saw your update, that's lovely. Good that you don't have some of the people on this thread as your neighbours!

We're in a flat and I'd love it! In fact, we have a concert musician living in our building and I love, LOVE hearing her violin recitals! I'd probably think differently if it was percussion but piano would be fine. Put a note through the door to tell them what you're planning for the next couple of weeks.

Ps. Our lease allows musical instruments and specifically mentions pianos.

We live in a semi and our neighbours have their piano pushed up against the only party wall. In every other respect they are lovely neighbours and good people, so I grit my teeth, but it's like their children are playing in my actual house. There is nowhere you can't hear it, and at the other side of the house you're a good distance from the party wall! Something about the sound just carries and it's awful. If I had to listen to it for four hours a day I would go barking mad.

Just seen your update

She called a few hours later and said “I hear your piano playing and it’s wonderful. I would love to hear it louder. Even if you would play 10hrs a day I wouldn’t mind”.

But of course.