January Music Thread

[Wafflenose]

Happy New Year!

Sorry I'm a bit late starting this thread - I've been away for a few days without internet access. Anyway, this is our monthly thread for musicians and parents of musicians of all ages and all abilities. It's a great place to chat, or to ask questions about lessons, practice, exams, auditions or anything music-related.

I have two DDs: Goo (11 and in Year 6) who plays the flute, recorder and piano, and Rara (8 and in Year 4) who plays the cello, recorder and clarinet. I think we have Grade 7 Flute and Grade 1 Clarinet coming up this term, and also the local music festival and Junior Young Musician competition for Goo. Grade 7 Recorder and Grade 3 Cello are tentatively pencilled in for the summer, but we'll think about those nearer the time. Goo is also in NCO, and lives for it... it's all she talks about, she loves writing to and texting all the friends she's made there, and she is in Under 12s this year. I am a teacher of woodwind and have a little clarinetist who's just got into Under 10s. I hope to have a few more trying out next time.

I haven't asked school about the workshop yet but have the form now so will send ds in with a note for the music teacher if he says it's ok then it should be fine with the attendance office
First had to get ds's ear sorted which thankfully was a quick and painless procedure today so ds is back to practice now though everything is much louder !!

Trumpet DS2 missed the Spring Concerts completely last year (2 separate concerts) due to an amazing music opportunity he had. Music Dept was fine, hopefully yours will be too.

I am delaying a vaccination because he's playing timpani that night and the last thing he needs is a sore arm. I feel the same about sport matches etc. People whose kids don't do music don't understand though and think it's hysterical. ..

Oh no I totally get it drummers , but you're right others don't understand. I also feel the same about braces ds's bottom teeth are not coming through as straight as I hoped but I will take a lot of persuading to let him have braces I don't think he would cope well. ( and I really can't face the arguments about practice if it hurts). Going to the dentist at half term so keeping my fingers crossed

DS teeth are not perfect but it's either braces or music lessons, instruments and music books. Dentist said in his case nhs would not cover. So hopefully he'll be a good musician with a very individual smile (thinking of Bowie here )

Thank you Neverever, that's great

All, still on my new year resolution however need your urgent advice please. We had a complaint from our (lovely) old neighbor in the past when we played piano around 7.30pm since then we have never played the piano(with a sound) after 7pm(she is a nice old lady living on her own). We had another complaint today at 5.30pm that we are not considerate and "need to respect the others" and "the wall is really thin" and she cant stand the piano noise. I was told that our 9 yrs old has been playing 30mins or something in the afternoon. Is it too much? Does it mean we are not allowed to play at all. We are only home 3 afternoon a week, should I ask her if these 3 afternoons for 30mins is reasonable. We live in a terraced(although not too small) and the other neighbors have never complaint. We play some on Sundays only as we are packed with activities on Saturdays, so 30 mins 3 days a week and 1hour Sunday. What happens if she still doesnt want it(impression is she knows we have silent piano and she said we should always be on silent however we were advised by our teacher to listen to the real sound is better-its an acoustic silent piano). What would be your advice

P/s: I have done my year end appraisal, just gone through a chicken pox round with our toddler and have been focusing on planning her academic side the last few weeks. Missing you all and tried (very hard) to only focus on the "real" daily issues.

Green just quickly, I think you've been kind enough, I would now just INFORM her that the piano will be played between 5,30-6 (or whenever suitable) for a limited period of time. I wouldn't ask for her approval, ultimately as much as I respect my neighbours and old people more so, the piano cannot be that loud in the day to drive her crazy. I live in a new build and the walls are really thin and while I can hear the piano if I go upstairs (piano is downstairs) the sound is quite muffled, not loud at all.

She can't do anything except officially complain to the council who would tell her to put up with it as it isn't played at unsociable hours.

Of course you could also take the approach of taking some biscuits over and talk to her and see if there is a suitable time but I have a feeling you are past that level of communication, she doesn't want the piano played full stop.

Your DD should also play as much as possible with the sound on as it just isn't the same with headphones on so I can see her teacher's point of view.

That wasn't quickly

String - I've pulled miniprada out of netball for this whole term as it is school scholarship audition time. I didn't give the school the choice...

Ealing - bad luck! Keep trying with the compa though.

Green - neighbours are a pain in the ass. Older people just in general are not very tolerant. 7.30pm is not unreasonable. 9.30 is. I would ignore and don't engage as you don't want to create a dispute and not be able to sell your house ever!!! Do not budge or your child will never have a chance to practice as she gets older if the precedent is set in place now. I would however (if you are staying) consider soundproof plasterboard or similar. Move the piano so it is not on a shared wall. That way you've done as much as you realistically can.

Bad luck with the pox and appraisal! We've missed you on the forum 😢

Green, this is how to resolve such issues with neighbors
www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes/overview

And an article on a subect
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/12/family-of-piano-prodigy-win-court-noise-complaint-battle-for-him/

Pity you are not here anymore, I need a company for violin gr5 exam!

Thanks so much fleur, I eventually have her to sit down to play it on her own even just 30mins, 3 days a week, I am worried that if I told her to put the headphone on then she wont bother at all, at the same time whats the point of playing piano when we could only play it on silence. We respect and appreciate our neighbors, we often send foods, or just 3 weeks ago some local biscuits we got from our holiday trip. I do try to understand although this case is so hard. The piano cant be moved onto the other side as we have the fitted units, loo etc, no where else to leave it except that side. And its on the covered fire place where the wall is supposed to be (much) thicker than usual. Will need to speak to her this weekend however worried that it could be a heavy conversation that I'd like to avoid.

I find neighbours like that so picky, I can understand some instruments can sound quite disturbing specially when played badly, including clarinet (when it squeaks during high notes) that is why DD practice it first and if it is past 8pm not at all, but piano it is really hard to sound bad, out neighbours' DS just started and I can hear him practice (just) and it still sounds lovely even if it is ba ba black sheep.

Grade 5 level pieces sound even better so I really don't get why some neighbours are happier to hear tv noise rather than a piano.

Luckily we're in a semidetached and the neighbours we are attached to are the ones who's DS just started piano lessons about 6 months ago. We've asked them in the past if it is too much or too noisy and they said it is lovely hearing DD play, they wish it was louder.

Only -can you imagine paying £5m on a house and you can still hear the neighbours!!

Green - sounds like you are doing all you can, and would be nice if the biscuits etc approach won out, rather than an argument. Hopefully she can identify times that work for her too (although your hours seem pretty reasonable to me.). Maybe she has other stuff going on or is feeling lonely and the music is making her feel worse?

Fleur - our neighbours recently commented how much dd's playing had improved, and sometimes they turn off the radio/tv and listen to her apparently!! I wasn't sure if they were being nice or it was subtle way of making a point.....i do make her stop by 8pm though as the cello can be incredibly loud too.

Prada, Only, thank you. I do miss this thread dearly too, although will still need to go back on silent to concentrate on some other aspect of my (messy) life. The piano cant be put any where else in the house, its on a covered fire place, and she has a fire place on the other side, I would have thought this is double the thickness?

I dont think we could go semi-detached in my area ever, it could be easily £2mil for a nice one similar to this one(but semi detached), we are saving for private too as secondary schools in our area are not as great.

I dont know what she is playing these days as I am happy only to focus on violin G5(hello Only!), I think it was Bach or the Beethoven sonatina, we dont have piano exam this term, it was only for her pleasure. I am quite upset as I did take her complaint very seriously last time and have never played with sound since then in the evening(I got back home at 6.30). And she knows that we would stop if she asks, although this will affect her playing for unforeseable future and I feel lie its unfair.

One of my silly questions.... Did any of you ever felt that your dc need to change a teacher, for no particular reason but because it just feels right? Or may be teaching method does not work anymore because dc grew up but teacher failed to adapt, or motivation is gone, or to make things moving there is just a need of a new scenery?
Just out of interest, not in relation to any RL situation

Green, how about buying some sort of insulation board and put it between the wall and piano? Permanently of whilst practicing?
We live in detached but some of the neighbors in our close were commenting on nice violin playing in our house , apparently detached house in not a complete solution either.

or smth like that www.efoam.co.uk/acoustic-foam-tiles-panels.php?gclid=Cj0KEQiAiMHEBRC034nx2ImB1J0BEiQA-r7ctlz0yBxoClBXbdvA8w9VLTRF6v3EuVIQ4BV5ebbbLbUaAvnN8P8HAQ

Green Good to hear from you but sorry to hear about the problem with the neighbour - I'm sure you don't need the stress! I agree with Alexandra that the fireplace may be making it worse. However, the neighbour doesn't have any grounds for complaining!
Maybe stress you are keen to limit the noise but it can't be 'silent' all the time because dd needs to hear the acoustic so this feels like a reasonable compromise.
Hope the little one is making a speedy recovery!

only funny you should mention teachers - hasn't happened to me but several friends were saying something like that today about a teacher, for various reasons. It may be the teacher has also outgrown them, though, to be honest.

Hello Loose! Yes we were told to hear the "real" sound, never thought it could be an issue during the day hour especially she isnt into it as much(yet). I was told it was 30mins max.
Oh what a great idea Alex, will call yamaha tomorrow to understand this option better. It troubles me a great deal as the last thing I want is having an upsetting neighbor as she is old and lonely.

Oh, this happens too LooseAtTheSeams (with teachers, I mean), all teachers we had complained about some students who never practiced, could not understand anything, etc/ I can understand their frustration very well as obviously it makes them doubt themselves too

But being on a student side.... I guess it is more difficult as if one doesn't really have any disagreement with a teacher, only a feeling, it makes it all very difficult.....