To expect my neighbour to stop her son playing the recorder in the garden?

[Alonero]

Not sure if I’m being precious but I need a sanity check.

Next door’s little boy (8ish?) has taken up the recorder and every single evening he’s out in the garden squeaking away. He’s clearly just learning – bless him – but it’s the same few notes over and over, really loud and really shrill. It’s been going on for a couple of weeks now and honestly it’s starting to drive me up the wall.

We’ve had all the windows open with the heat and it’s impossible to relax. You can’t have a conversation in the kitchen without it sounding like you’re being heckled by a flock of geese. I tried to hint to his mum the other day – said something like “ooh, we’ve been treated to quite the performance lately” – and she just laughed and said he’s a musical genius in the making. Right.

I don’t want to be the grumpy neighbour who ruins a kid’s joy but surely there’s a time and a place? Or at least… maybe indoors with the windows shut?

AIBU to think a bit of peace in your own garden isn’t too much to ask?

Actually wooden ones are a bit less shreeky than the plastic ones.
But im still sure that this will be a passing phase.

Do you hate your brother? 🤣

I was about to say - don’t worry he’ll move onto saxophone soon 😂

I am sure that someday he will get me back but the video I was sent of them standing round his bed practicing at 0700 is priceless

How does "he might play beautiful music one day" translate to he could become a professional.

No, that’s the violin. Or the trombone.

Well the link I posted was Michaela Petri who’s one of the best known, but my favourite is Piers Adams. Here is a video of him playing a lovely Van Eyck outdoors. Perhaps the OP can show it to the lovely little boy next doors to inspire him to practice more.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FDfPsqnRXVI

When I was a similar age and was learning the recorder, my mum used to send me off down the fields to play it. (We literally backed on to open fields).
That way I didn't annoy her or any neighbours!

I think the weather is due to change from tomorrow. Hopefully he won't be out playing his recorder in the rain and you will get a bit of peace!

Yeah, no. Nobody thinks the recorder is a pleasant noise and likely not his parents either, seeing as they’re sending him out to the garden.

ABBA? How about “Thank You for the Music”?

Satan’s whistle was the best description I ever heard of a recorder. Might have been Vogue Williams.

Bit odd to let the child play in the garden I must say. I enjoy my next door neighbour’s DD violin. She started poorly as we all do but really persevered and is doing v well. I love the Christmas pieces in summer too. But that’s a muffled indoor rendition… 😂

What music does he play? What a joy.

I could play everything on the recorder - match of the day music, all the hymns every Duran Duran song upto and including seven and the Ragged Tiger. I know the neighbours complained but it was long before ASBOS.

I think you just have to live with it. He's not playing "I will always love you" by Whitney Houston on loop 24/7 - remember that case of a noise complaint, now that was warranted.

Agreed

Just get some earplugs, you bloody old misery!

He will soon get bored with it.

He might take up the drums instead of course .......

@Alonero
Did you mention bathing kids 🤔 ?

Just remember in a few years it will be your turn to chuck them outside with a recorder or some other noisy bit of kit. 😆

Is it just three blind mice or has he extended his repertoire to twinkle twinkle little star and london’s burning?

DD is never, ever allowed to play her recorder in the garden

Ever.

I would NOT wish that on the neighbours

Based on the fact he’s kept it up for a few weeks and seems to be actively trying to play it rather than just making a racket I think I’d try live and let live?

Unless this is his mother’s revenge for something you do. You don’t have any yappy dogs do you? 😂

30-40 minutes is fine. Outdoors is a bit inconsiderate though. Don't bet he'll outgrow it. It was a gateway instrument for me and I went on to become semi-professional and teach it, among other things.

My 10 year old has a keyboard and drums (but has headphones to not disturb neighbours) plus a recorder and saxophone (with no earphones) but he's hopeless at practising so probably only 10 minutes each week of "music". Now his loud mouth is another thing .... along with the football "I'm hurt" acting. He is reminded constantly and doesn't resort to performing outside but I reckon still not beyond a 10 minute annoyance once or twice a week. I on the other hand experience the loud tv and music/radio and yapping dogs daily all through the day whilst trying to WFH from my neighbours so it all evens out!

You’d hate to live next to me I have a budding drummer, a violinist and a chanter player ( introduction to bagpipes looks a lot like a recorder). Luckily I have no neighbours.

He usually goes for about 30–40 mins, sometimes longer if he’s “composing” (his word, not mine).
Oh my god he’s so cute!!! Composing!!!! (Sorry!)

Just chat to the kid.

Suggest how cool it would be to play the drums

😀