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Original poster

Is 8.30am acceptable time for piano practise?

117 replies

Minimimimi · 29/11/2020 09:05

We live in a semi and our piano is on the side of our neighbours (not by choice- but only place available due to position of heating et al)
Both my children plays the piano and I have always made sure that piano practise is during acceptable hours 6-7pm during term hours and after 10am weekends.

However- due to lockdown- my sons actual lessons are now at home, weekends 8-10am. (Normally we go to the teachers house at 8am)

I have done everything I can to delay touching the piano first thing and the first 30 minutes is spent on theory, thus the noise starts at 8.30am.

The children are grades 4 & 5 and they are actually playing the piano rather than piano bashing. Youngest is age 7 and still go to sleep very early. The piano teacher does not have any other slots.

Is 8.30am too early?
Does anyone know the legality of piano playing at such hours?
AIBU?

OP posts:
Notonthestairs · 29/11/2020 10:14

It's too early - but you knew that already .

SueEllenMishke · 29/11/2020 10:16

I'm surprised so many people think it is too early. I think it is fine, and personally I would prioritise my DCs learning, enjoyment and well being over grumpy neighbours who might want a lie-in.

My one lie-in a week is something I look forward to and is much needed to recharge my batteries for the week ahead. It doesn't make me a grumpy person.
Making lots of noise early in the morning is very anti-social though.

AlwaysLatte · 29/11/2020 10:17

We've got kids so we're up early and it wouldn't bother us, but if they don't have children or are retired etc then they may want to sleep in later. So to play safe I'd leave it till after 10.

ErrolTheDragon · 29/11/2020 10:20

If the neighbours are up and about dealing with washing at that time then I think it's ok.
It's a lesson, at the only time available, not messing about.

A digital piano sounds like a really good idea if that's feasible though.

DariaMorgendorffer · 29/11/2020 10:25

Family of pianists here, it's too early.

Notapheasantplucker · 29/11/2020 10:31

I'd be pissed off if I was your neighbour...oh wait, they are pissed off.

Pinnacular · 29/11/2020 10:49

Our neighbours' child plays the piano most weekday mornings at around 8am, and is also learning the violin, although that tends to be after school. The other child plays on a drum kit around 8am. Both drum kit and piano are on the shared wall. They also have loud, late parties regularly, but less so with lockdown. And have just got a dog that barks a lot. We've said nothing as my own children are pretty noisy sometimes (though certainly nowhere near as regularly), and we're planning a full house renovation, so they'll have plenty of noise to put up with. Their own house renovation was done before we moved in, thankfully. So it's a bit of give and take, but they are not a quiet family!

Comefromaway · 29/11/2020 10:50

@SueEllenMishke

I'm surprised so many people think it is too early. I think it is fine, and personally I would prioritise my DCs learning, enjoyment and well being over grumpy neighbours who might want a lie-in.

My one lie-in a week is something I look forward to and is much needed to recharge my batteries for the week ahead. It doesn't make me a grumpy person.
Making lots of noise early in the morning is very anti-social though.

This. I have to be up at 6am in the week and rarely manage to get to bed before 11pm.

By the weekend I’m exhausted and need that lie in.

Seeline · 29/11/2020 10:50

I am a huge fan of kids having music in their lives, but 8.30 on a weekend is far too early for many - especially every weekend rather than a one-off.

Our DCs are late teens so usually in bed until mid morning at the w/e. It is the only chance we get if a lie in, and whilst we are probably not still asleep at that time, we are still dozing and would hate scales being pounded out every Saturday.

Does the teacher really not have any other slots available?

Skyr2 · 29/11/2020 10:51

@Redburnett

I'm surprised so many people think it is too early. I think it is fine, and personally I would prioritise my DCs learning, enjoyment and well being over grumpy neighbours who might want a lie-in.
This is wrong on so many levels, you need to install consideration of others and good manners on this DC learning you mention.

This reminds me of when my children were young, they were very early risers as many children are. We would never let them outside to play until after 9/9.30 am, and would keep them quiet in the house too until the whole house was up (especially if we had visitors or we were visiting others) . But the number of times we have had weekend friends and family stay who have obviously never heard or felt this unwritten rule and allowed their very noisy young children to be full volume downstairs when the rest of the house is still sleeping or into the garden to play at anytime they want from about 8am has shocked us.

Comefromaway · 29/11/2020 10:51

@ErrolTheDragon

If the neighbours are up and about dealing with washing at that time then I think it's ok. It's a lesson, at the only time available, not messing about.

A digital piano sounds like a really good idea if that's feasible though.

Great for practice (my own son uses headphones on his digital pianos (we have four) but that’s no good for a zoom lesson.
Pinnacular · 29/11/2020 10:52

(The worst of it is when they're practising a song that you can't stand, over and over. Such a relief when they move on.)

PineappleUpsideDownCake · 29/11/2020 10:53

Ah so the neighbours have complained. Like many on this thread will be unhappy.

Maybe they let the first couple of weeks "go" thinking they weren't regular but now its regular felt the need to say something.

So you need to do something about this.
What are you going to do?

Can the teacher do any other time?? Can you use a digital piano for sat morning away from the wall?

You need to do something.

PurBal · 29/11/2020 10:54

We are normally up and about at 7 so whilst I don't think it's particularly early I probably wouldn't start before 9am.

papaelf · 29/11/2020 10:55

It wouldn't bother me, I have no objection to sound though. A lot of people on here think they should never hear a single noise other then of their own making when the reality is people do create noise. Unless it's really loud and stopping you from being able to sleep or watch tv/do work from home etc then I see no reason to be annoyed at noise. I would probably ask your neighbours in those circumstances. My neighbours make a whole manner of noise, dogs barking, bike engines running, door banging and instrument playing. I am probably the quietest in the street, but I do t get worked up about others living.

PrattHancock · 29/11/2020 10:55

Of course it’s too early and disruptive for neighbours - which you are clearly aware of because they have already complained.

notapizzaeater · 29/11/2020 10:57

It would be too early for me too, I'd be complaining !

user1497787065 · 29/11/2020 10:59

8.30amI would consider to be fine. In fact any time after 6am would be fine. I'm always surprised at the number of people on MN who would consider it to be too early. I remember one lady being asked not to dry her hair at 6am before leaving for work at 6.15am. The general consensus was she was grossly unreasonable and should either leave her hair wet or dry it at work!

PineappleUpsideDownCake · 29/11/2020 11:01

@papaelf its not a "single sound". Its 8.30 -10am every Saturday. Thats a long time.

And its loud playing as its next to their wall.

And they have complained.

Quite different to the odd noise of living here and there

papaelf · 29/11/2020 11:04

[quote PineappleUpsideDownCake]@papaelf its not a "single sound". Its 8.30 -10am every Saturday. Thats a long time.

And its loud playing as its next to their wall.

And they have complained.

Quite different to the odd noise of living here and there[/quote]

I didn't say it was a single sound I said people often get annoyed about every single sound. Now I am autistic and even I didn't mean that quite so literally as you seem to have taken it.

It's irrelevant anyway, I did suggest OP speak to her neighbours in this particular situation, not that people should put up with it as you appear to think.

papaelf · 29/11/2020 11:06

Sorry I did miss the bit where they had complained. In that case I would still try to speak to them, but at the same time I would t continue to do it if an agreement couldn't be reached.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 29/11/2020 11:07

Have you asked the piano teacher specifically about a different slot when you can't go to her? Some People's time tables are quite different now.

LastGoldenDaysOfSummer · 29/11/2020 11:11

Far too early for the weekend.

ErrolTheDragon · 29/11/2020 11:25

Great for practice (my own son uses headphones on his digital pianos (we have four) but that’s no good for a zoom lesson.

Surely there must be some way to connect the output from a digital piano to a computer - whether it could then feed into a zoom meeting simultaneously to you listening via headphones I don't know but it seems like it should be possible.

Maybe straying OT if the OP doesn't have a digital piano but if she's thinking of getting one it's something to ask about.

Disfordarkchocolate · 29/11/2020 11:28

Well it wouldnt bother me. Its not early, most people are up and about with tv/ radio/washing on etc by then.

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