New neighbours playing the piano

[pianaoff]

We live in a apartment block and they live above me. They are from Hong Kong so language barrier. But they are so noisy & loud. I wrote a polite note a few weeks ago just asking if they can keep the banging down after 9pm (they are renovating the apartment) this goes on from 7am till gone 9. I spoke to the after and they apologised and said the renovations have finished. They are now playing the piano from 4 till gone 8pm and it's driving me insane! I've just got in from work to settle down and can't even hear the tv without the volume being turned right up! I'm so close to banging on the ceiling! If you live in a apartment you have common decency at least keep the noise down and it's not a great idea to be playing a piano every single night! Aibu?

Poor you! I suppose you are very much of the mercy of your upper neighbours noise wise in an apartment but this sounds excessive. The polite note worked last time, I’d try that again. Banging the ceiling might well happen but only after I’d exhausted diplomatic avenues!

Check your deeds, a lot of apartment buildings have specific rules around flooring and pianos.

If they've put down wooden/laminate floors and do not have the piano on a rug and not right against the wall then yhe sound will be amplified.

Are there other neighbours who are likely to be affected? have they taken any action?

Hmm I think you will need to talk to them about it, they might not even know how much you can hear it.

If it's a digital piano it would be easy enough to resolve by getting some headphones or turning down the volume on it.

If it's acoustic then that's more of an issue, if they play then they need to practice but you need to try and find mutually convenient times.

Get them to come and hear it in your flat. They might not realise how loud it sounds. Ask them to cover the floor if it is not already carpeted. Check your lease for noise restrictions - lots of flats have no noise after a specific time, and no unreasonable noise at other times.
Do they rent? If they do, you could complain to the landlord.
But playing the piano is part of a normal lifestyle really, they are entitled to do so. If they are stopping by 8, they do have some consideration.

Fasten speakers to your ceiling and give them loud Black Metal every night until they agree to be civilised.

How on Earth did they get an acoustic piano up the stairs in a block of flats?! They weigh about 500kg! And if it's not an acoustic, i.e. it's a digital, then they could turn the volume down or use headphones.

Having said that, you've probably hit against a cultural difference. When I lived in China the cultural norm was everyone makes as much noise as they like and if you don't like it, you go elsewhere/use earplugs/get a white noise machine etc.

They probably don't know it's different here if they're new to the country.

id speak to them as they might not realise the noise carries. If digital piano they could turn the volume town or wear headphone. If an actual piano then maybe put a thick rug under? Our upstairs neighbours practice their instruments in the evening a lot, but usually stop by 9/10pm. Don’t mind too much as they’re really good!

Check your lease. There will likely be rules. No need to stress about it, just point out the rules and if it doesn't improve - do you own a share of the freehold? If not contact the freeholder. If yes, raise it as a joint freeholder.

There are loads of really good digital pianos they can play with headphones.

Worst case scenario, start learning the violin/tuba/bongos.

😂😂 good shout

Honestly know idea. We do have balconies so maybe it was took up that way with a fork lift 🤷‍♀️

@PeekabooAtTheZoo not a fork lift 🙃you know what I mean

Thanks for all your advice, I will try the note again. They are a lovely couple. I do think it's a culture difference and them not realising how loud it is.

It s likely to be digital. Many Asian people have a more serious attitude to music practice than Western people. I'm surprised they are only playing for 4 hours tbh.

Ask them down to your flat, leaving the pianist upstairs to demonstrate the noise. If the piano is digital they can turn the volume down.

Honestly? I get that it’s annoying but if they finish at 8pm that is not dreadful.

Start shouting requests up, at least that way they'll be aware that you can hear them

Do you have a management company for the flats? I'd go through them if possible

If it's a digital piano then I can recommend Yamaha HPH-150 headphones. These are specifically designed to be used with a piano. (The cheaper HPH-100 should also be good.)

(They do need to turn the volume down to nearly halfway with the headphones as well, otherwise the sound distorts, but it's still plenty loud enough.)

Play the CCP National Anthem at 6 pm every day - they will get the message.

It's cultural differences. From personal experiences, buildings in East Asian countries tend to be more sound proof due to differences in construction materials etc, so it's likely they don't realise how loud you could hear them. Invite them to your apartment to hear for themselves.

Also, in Hong Kong they generally have a later bed time, so stopping by 9pm/10pm is considered early for them. Explain the cultural differences to them in a diplomatic way. Personally I think face to face explanation would be better than leaving a note, to avoid misunderstandings. But it is completely up to you.

I don't mean to trivialise but are they good at playing the piano? I once had a neighbour who played the violin and rehearsed every night. And sometimes held the string quartet rehearsals at hers as well. Heaven. Live music all the time.

But if it's just scales, then okay I see your point.

They won't have realised. Apartment buildings in Hong Kong are really solid construction with concrete walls and floors so sound doesn't travel like they do through wooden floorboards.

Please don't complain to their landlord. That would be mean. Try and sort it out with them. And I think finishing practice at 8pm is ok. If they were playing at 10pm, then that would not be on, but 8pm is ok.

What terrible sound insulation you have. I wouldn't even know I have people living above me

Until 8 sounds very reasonable. That's the time I would stop any music practice, although I prefer the DC to finish before we eat.
I think our house regulations say 10pm. It's one of the things you have to accept when you live in a block of flats. They're doing nothing wrong.