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

Have lived above a cellist, and in my current flat, next door to one. Both were professional musicians, one in an orchestra and the more recent one had an international solo career.
Both were excellent musicians, BUT IT WAS BLOODY IRRITATING.
Not suitable for a flat.

@Piano1989

I’m flattered guys! Can’t believe you think it’s unbelievable my neighbour gave me that word for word compliment 🤣 If no one ever complimented someones playing at diploma level then something is not right there... sorry, but that’s a fact! Don’t you have a talent? And have you never been given a compliment before? Mines the piano, and I love that! Hence me pursuing my passion! Ok I really am going to stop commenting now, I didn’t realise there’d be 100+ comments! I have to wake up early tomorrow and practice the piano 😜😜😜 (And again thank you to the other ppls kind comments!! xx)

Oh look, just when you thought someone couldn't get any more obnoxious she goes and nails it! Must be because she is a 'diploma' level pianist. The most amazing pianist to have ever graced this earth. Urgh.

As for the rest of you, what a bunch of sad bastards. At least the OP isn't going to be playing Hear'Say, Westlife, Hanson, Crazy Frog or any X-Factor shite! Get some musical taste, all of you!

A few hours daily, every day of Shostakovich would be just heavenly to most people on the other hand.

Which is the point: what is music to someone’s ears is not universal. Just because it is “classical” doesn’t mean “is therefore good”. I love classical music, but I like my choice of classical music, not necessarily yours. Especially if your choice is Shostakovich.

Just wanted to say I'm pleased it's worked out for you, but also that I don't think 2 hours a day will be enough for diploma.

I play piano and violin to grade 8 so I know a little bit of what I'm talking about.

Last spring during lockdown with discovered our neighbour is a music teacher. We live in detached houses, but the windows were open and she was playing. Mostly rubbishy stuff like Einaudi.

Then one day she unexpectedly broke into a Gershwin prelude which was far nicer. So next time I saw her I made sure to compliment her on the Gershwin and mentioned that I like classical music.

From then on when I heard her play it was Gershwin, Liszt and Debussy.

Sorry OP, I hate to say it but I do think YABU on this one. I live in a flat, work night shifts in a hospital and I have a neighbour who regularly practices bagpipes in the afternoons. It is absolutely soul destroying. Even when I am not working nights, it’s still incredibly frustrating.

Mostly rubbishy stuff like Einaudi. Then one day she unexpectedly broke into a Gershwin prelude which was far nicer.

Ooh get you with your exquisite taste!

I love classical music, but I like my choice of classical music, not necessarily yours. Especially if your choice is Shostakovich

Shostakovich is bloody brilliant. I'd be in seventh heaven if my next door neighbour played Shostakovich for two hours a day.

But really, music (whether live or recorded), sounds of the TV blaring, kids jumping up and down, people arguing or humping - just one of the perils of living in a flat. If it's during usually sleeping hours or constant then maybe worth a complaint but otherwise it's just something you have to learn to live with.

And yy to pp pointing out that it is one of the factors in classical music being dominated by the middle/upper classes.

Oh god Einaudi though..... there should be a law against him 🤣

2 hours a day is plenty for a diploma. I have one on a different instrument and didn't do anywhere near that much.

Off topic but how much should you expect to pay for a beginners piano lesson? (I don’t have neighbours so it’s fine 😂)
I really want to learn

YANBU

Living in flats requires living with other people and their noise. IME the people that are "loathed" in flats on an equal level to noisy neighbours are the people who expect it to be like living detached in a vacuum on an isolated moon colony.

Most people in our block are pretty respectful, occasional party, the people upstairs seem to have a 20 year ongoing renovation that they do for about an hour every day and there's a person who complains about everything. The management company sends round letters asking people to ignore her

@Beseigedbykillersquirrels

Literally nobody is as impressed with your piano playing as you are yourself. How would you feel if every time you start practising, your neighbours played death metal at a volume you couldn't ignore. Would you think this was unacceptable? It's exactly the same thing.

This is quite abrupt but I completely agree!

My piano teacher lives in a semi detatched house. She has a decent modern Yamaha piano (obviously) which has something called a practice pedal which makes it very quiet. Perhaps you could find something like that?

@SphJane

Sorry OP, I hate to say it but I do think YABU on this one. I live in a flat, work night shifts in a hospital and I have a neighbour who regularly practices bagpipes in the afternoons. It is absolutely soul destroying. Even when I am not working nights, it’s still incredibly frustrating.

We're all with you on that. The bagpipes are an abomination to the ear.

I'm waiting for the next AIBU in a few months time....

"AIBU to contact the leaseholder about the pile of freshly dug earth outside my ground floor flat?

Also I haven't seen the person from the top floor flat lately. Or heard them play their piano."

@GingerNinjer

Off topic but how much should you expect to pay for a beginners piano lesson? (I don’t have neighbours so it’s fine 😂) I really want to learn

Depends where you live, but the average going rate (for a decent teacher) is £35/h. You could start with 30 mins, and you might be able to find some cheaper rates depending on your area. I recommend musicteachers.co.uk where you can filter by postcode and read a brief description about each teacher. Some will offer a free taster lesson. It’s fairly easy to start now, as everything is happening online.

@GingerNinjer
A bit controversial with all the piano teachers on this thread, but you can get a free fortnight’s trial of the Simply Piano app. I did it for fun, just to get a taster. I enjoyed it but couldn’t justify the €100 a month (IIRC).

Another skill left on the bucket list and expressed vicariously through the DC (one high level, one a happy noodler).