Playing an instrument in a terraced house

[ColouringPencils]

DD is currently practising for an exam, so she's playing more than normal. Also, it's hot and the windows are open... What do you think is a reasonable amount of time to play and between what hours in a terrace house? She does play very nicely but I am aware it is still annoying 😬

If it’s within reasonable hours I think a few couple of hours a day is fine. I mean I don’t particularly want to hear next door’s baby crying and screaming or their lawnmower going or their vacuuming or their kids trampolining at 8.15 on a Sunday. But that’s part of life when you live with close neighbours. I would call an end to it before about 7pm if possible so it isn’t eating into the evening, but before that I think unfortunately it’s just part of life.

Court was effective then ?

I mean I don’t particularly want to hear next door’s baby crying and screaming or their lawnmower going or their vacuuming or their kids trampolining at 8.15 on a Sunday

Do any of those realistically go on for a solid hour at a time up to 3 times a day seven days aw week though? It would honestly drive me mad. I had a neighbour who played the drums for an hour every night starting at 9pm except Sunday mornings when he'd start at 8.30am and it drove me crackers.

Everyone says 'oh well, it's neighbourly noise, you live in a terraced house, you have to expect it' but it works both ways. You should be considerate of the fact that you're all quite close together and try and be respectful of it instead of the usual MN bollocks of 'move to a detached house if you don't like it'.

Honestly yeah they do. My neighbours on one side have three kids - the baby screams for hours sometimes, and they let the older two play out whatever time in the morning they like. Their favourite game is jump on the trampoline and scream. On the other side they have one child who sometimes makes noise but not too much. But then I have four and I’m sure they hear noise from us too. Normal noise obviously, within sociable hours. To me a teen playing music for an hour at a reasonable time wouldn’t be a big problem - not because I think people should ‘just buy a detached house’ but because I see it as part and parcel of everyday life.

That really isn’t enough practice time if you’re halfway decent. Yes, keep it to a reasonable time of the day and don’t go on for hours at a time, but 30 minutes won’t even get you a run-through of a complete set of higher grade exam requirements.

I had a neighbour who literally played ONE SINGLE PIECE by Bach on the piano over and over and over for an hour every day after school, for an entire school year. If ever I hear that piece now it still makes me cringe 😂 But assuming your DD is changing it up a bit - scales, studies, and a few different pieces - it would bother me not at all. (And to be honest, even that other neighbour was being perfectly reasonable practicing from 4-5pm).

I have a young neighbour who is learning to play the trumpet - very, very beginner - but I find it cheerful and entertaining to hear odd notes blast out around lunch times on weekends. I’m actually really cheering for her! I’d love to hear a semi-competent clarinetist. My DD (5) is just starting to learn to play the cello and is very excited. Introducing kids to music really is magical!

Wow, didn't expect a thread in Music to be so active! She is in 3 bands and has 1 lesson at school so in normal times doesn't practise that much at home during the week as that feels like enough. It is just now that she's leading up to an exam she is probably doing 30 mins - 1 hour some days. We don't have any rooms that don't share a wall with neighbours. I didn't know about mutes, will look into that!

She did play for about 2 hours yesterday which is what made me think of it.

I'm in a mid terraced house. I'd prefer to listen to someone practising a musical instrument than listening to screaming kids or parents of them who blast music to drown said kids out.
If you get on with neighbours directly either side, I'd just tell them she needs to practice and just to let you know if the particular time she's doing it annoys them.
Most decent people will understand and won't mind it so long as it's not someone who works night shift and gets woke up a couple of hours before they're due to get up I suppose.

I’ve heard some good things about Saxmute for clarinet, although I don’t think it reduces as much volume as some of the brass mutes (but brass is a lot louder to start with, of course!)

An hour after school. Maybe again at 6ish.

My dc play various woodwind plus piano. I love the sound. I think generally 30 minutes per day is enough practice for a child, regardless of what is acceptable to neighbours. As long as you aren't playing during unsociable hours I don't think it matters, but any longer than 30 minutes I would make sure doors and windows are closed.

My DD plays clarinet, they are loud! She needs to practice though so as long as it's not too early or too late she just needs to get on with it. There are much worse noises they could be having to put up with

I’m a professional musician, on days I don’t work out of the home I need to practise 5-6 hours a day. I currently live in a flat. Like others have said, talk to the neighbours when you move in (or when there’s a change in routine). Never outside of 9am-9pm - or times agreed with said neighbours. I once lived next to a family with three under 4’s who requested I didn’t practise past 6pm regularly so they could do bedtime quietly. Not an issue. I never open the windows though. I bought a cheap fan from Lidl and that does the job.

I’d be fine with this any time before 9pm. We have a few local musicians and I really like to hear them.

2 hours ms. But ideally split into 3-4 blocks. Dd plays 5 instruments and sings. Thankfully we were detached when she was growing up! Now she just stick to practicing in the kitchen between 5&8pm as neighbours wfh

5 instruments, wow! I must admit I am not at all musical, so it is all new to me and I always forget to tell her to practise. Luckily she is quite motivated herself. I also have hearing loss, so I know what doesn't necessarily bother me might annoy others. Thanks for all the responses.

When I used to sit my music exams my parents used to say to the neighbours I'd be making a right racket, apologise and give them the chance to say if it's all a bit too much!
As I got older I practiced at school in lunch times.

Those who have done exams, how many hours would you expect to practise in the lead-up to an exam? She is about to do grade 5. She does 3 hours a week across wind band, jazz band and orchestra, but that's obviously not playing her exam pieces. 30 min lesson a week.

That's FAR too long

Just be a bit cautious introducing a mute especially in the run up to an exam. Mutes change the resistance, weight and balance of the instrument as well as the sound. Like anything it takes time to adjust to using a mute which is why they aren't usually recommended for pre c. Grade 5 students unless for a specific purpose e.g. a particular passage in an ensemble piece.

I think 2hrs every night would be too much, in normal times. But she is running up to an exam, so it's fine.

If you are worried, mention to the neighbours that her exam is in x weeks and noise will go back down after that.

That's good to know thanks @WithOneLook her exam is next week so maybe we will wait... Her teacher does always tell her she should be playing louder, not sure if that is relevant.

About 40mins per day for Grade 5 clarinet.

The most mine have ever practised is 30mins daily. One is G5 standard, the other G8. I know plenty of kids do four times as much and get to grade 8 by 11, but it's ok to take it a little easier as well.

Also, if your DC is under 12, don't forget how physically tiring woodwind instruments can be. Even the local conservatoire has the younger woodwind students on a reduced timetable while they build up stamina.