Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Neighbour complaining about drum practice

121 replies

Cleanermaidcook · 20/10/2022 21:06

First, I know that drums are loud and not everyone enjoys them but does my neighbour have a point here or do I ignore.

Ds 14 is a drummer. He practices on his acoustic kit 3 afternoons a week between 4 and 5pm for a maximum of 30 minutes.

He practices on a Sunday afternoon at 3pm for 30 minutes. Neighbour is not in at this time on a Sunday.

The kit is in the room furthest away from the neighbours house. He uses dampeners on his drums to reduce the noise but I accept that they are still loud. He closes all windows and doors before he starts.

He's grade 6 so not a kid banging tunelessly.

Neighbour has said any drum noise is unacceptable and he needs to practice out of the house. He does twice a week.

I tried to ask her to talk about it and could we arrange a set time when she is out walking her dog but she just facepalmed me and shouted at me that she's not discussing it.

We've always got on ok, I don't want to fall out but I don't want to stop him either. I can't afford to soundproof a room but am open to other suggestions

If she complains to the council will it be upheld?

(Donning hard hat for having a drummer)

OP posts:
Regularsizedrudy · 20/10/2022 21:08

Electric drum kit w headphones?

Hugasauras · 20/10/2022 21:09

I don't think that's an unreasonable level of noise at all, and you've been willing to work with her. I doubt the council will be interested in two hours or so of drumming a week during daytime hours.

bighairbigdreams · 20/10/2022 21:10

Short of soundproofing a room a don't know what you can do.
If it's only for half an hour at a time and within those very sociable hours I don't see the problem. It's before most people would finish work anyway, so would only be a problem if she WFH but I'm sure she'd have mentioned if that was the issue?

Savingpeoplehuntingthings · 20/10/2022 21:11

He does have an electric kit with headphones that he uses for the rest of his practice. She can't hear that however he needs to run through his exam and concert pieces on his acoustic kit because the sound is completely different.

Savingpeoplehuntingthings · 20/10/2022 21:13

She is retired. She has a dog that she walks and I've tried to ask her to tell me when she walks it but she won't.

Arucanafeather · 20/10/2022 21:13

It sounds as though you’ve done all you can.

Pumpkintopf · 20/10/2022 21:15

You've been eminently reasonable and she is not willing to meet you halfway. Nothing more that you can do.

1stWorldProblems · 20/10/2022 21:16

DD2 is a drummer. We only let her practise in the daytime. No complaints luckily from our neighbours but when we went outside to listen it was the cymbals that carried more than the drums - are those dampened too? I'd get a decibel monitor on your phone & see how loud it actually is so you've some data to argue with. If she won't talk to you, then write a letter offering to arrange times when she's out dog walking. That way if she ever does go to complain to the council you can shout you've attempted to make reasonable adjustment for her.

@Regularsizedrudy electronic drum kits are totally different to play so not really interchangeable as they change technique - no bounce back, no side rims, etc. Personally I prefer the sound from the acoustic kit too.

Talipesmum · 20/10/2022 21:16

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable. It’s not for long, and at reasonable times. Could you ask the council yourself?

Fillingsforever · 20/10/2022 21:16

I think you are being entirety reasonable.

Comefromaway · 20/10/2022 21:16

I’d ignore.

My son’s friend is practising for conservatoire auditions up to 3 hours per day. It sounds like you’ve done all you can and it’s in reasonable hours.

Hyvsvaar · 20/10/2022 21:17

I have this with mine

electric kit is no use, completely different

damper pads and 30 mins 4-5 not at weekends

i live in a group of 6 houses and no one complains as we put up with random bonfires/dogs barking/parties/taking in parcels so all civil so far

he’s also an excellent drummer so sounds amazing
its like putting up with someone cutting the grass at 10pm
im not sure what to say but in my armoury if anyone complained I was planning on, studying so hard to join the nhs/so good for mental health/so glad he’s not out doing constant 3 point turns learning to drive/it’s so lovely that teenagers are able to have a creative outlet today when so many teenagers are troubled because of a lack of hobbies

🤨

no idea if l Would have said any of those

PermanentTemporary · 20/10/2022 21:17

I'm sorry, I'd find this hard too. I think she's unreasonable not to give you options on the time, but tbh I used to live several doors down from a drummer and it was pretty hard work. He was completely reasonable about time so I never complained but i didn't find it easy.

Could he not do his acoustic practice in the off-site room, and the headphone practice at home?

Savingpeoplehuntingthings · 20/10/2022 21:27

Sorry name change fail. I'm the op.

OneCup · 20/10/2022 21:28

I'm with your neighbour. Everyone is entitled to peace and quiet.

Comefromaway · 20/10/2022 21:39

Not 24/7 they aren’t unless they live on a farm in the middle of nowhere. You get worse noise from DIY and usually for longer at a time.

No wonder kids end up wandering the streets causing trouble if they aren’t even allowed to practise an instrument/play music at a reasonable hour.

No10codswallop · 20/10/2022 21:44

Drumming noise is awful and I'm a drummer. I couldn't even bring myself to drum my acoustic drums. I now have an electric kit with big bassy headphones. It's amazing! Highly recommended...

Original poster
Cleanermaidcook · 20/10/2022 21:45

PermanentTemporary

Yes he does acoustic practice away from home twice a week, at home 3 times a week for 30 minutes a time, so an hour and a half a week in total at home.

OP posts:
Savingpeoplehuntingthings · 20/10/2022 21:47

No10codswallop

He has an electric kit with headphones for the majority of his practice. He uses his acoustic kit just to run through his grade pieces and concert pieces.

Comefromaway · 20/10/2022 21:47

My son’s friend brought his kit round for a week when they were practising for a gig. It didn’t bother me one bit. The neighbour drilling bothered me more.

Lcb123 · 20/10/2022 21:47

I think you’ve been wonderfully considerate. If you have close or attached neighbours you have to accept some noise. You could ask again what the best times are for her, but otherwise let him do the practice. There’s a lot worse neighbours can be doing!

Original poster
Cleanermaidcook · 20/10/2022 21:48

And so sorry, no clue why Mumsnet keeps changing the username I'm using tonight!

OP posts:
Boomboom22 · 20/10/2022 21:48

It's fine before 7pm possibly 9pm as quieter than using tools, and your house. Your neighbour doesn't get to decide! 1.5hrs a week is more than reasonable, I'd think up to an hr a day in daylight hours is fine. Ask your council if you want something to show her as proof.

AlwaysLatte · 20/10/2022 21:51

The times are very very readonn m able and not excessive. But you've obviously got an intolerant neighbour. If you've asked them to let you know when they're out to establish a reasonable time and they're not compliant there's not much you can do, just keep on. Good luck for his grade 6 exam 🥁

AlwaysLatte · 20/10/2022 21:51

Sorry. Very reasonable. Mumsnet auto at its finest!

Swipe left for the next trending thread