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i recently moved to an apartment complex in virginia for my summer job. i'd like to be able to practice in the apartment on my days off, but with an apartment above and an apartment below mine, i worry about being too loud. i plan on speaking especially to the neighbor above us since i'll be shooting so much sound up there...but does anyone have ideas (that don't include silent brass) on how best to practice in an enviroment where you don't want to disturbe others?

I am in a similar situation. What I did was talk to my neighbors. Also, I keep my practicing to the hours between 11am and 6pm. Before these hours is too early for the ones who work late and 6pm is too late for those who work a 9-5 and don't want to hear tuba after a long day at work. Luckily I teach in the mornings till around 1pm and can practice from about 2-5 everyday. As far as who is above you and below you it doesn't matter. Most of the frequencies a tuba emits are non-directional or omni-directional. It's the same concept as a subwoofer; you can place it anywhere in your home entertainment room. People above, below and beside you will all get about the same volume when you play your CC tuba in or below the staff. Good luck and don't push the issue if asked to stop. Most places have a "no loud musical instruments" policy hidden in the lease rules. You'll appreciate this if you ever live next to a rock band.

You're starting off right by talking to your neighbors. Explain to them who you are and the importance of practice for you. Ask them what times might or might not be best for them. It might be best to have a friend with you so that you can blow the horn in your place and your friend can observe the neighbor's reaction (it might not be that noisy). Bottom line is that both you and them live there, both you and them have rights and responsibilities,and that a friendly pro-active gesture by you should help.

If not, get a dog, a big dog, a big barking dog.

Good luck.

Alex " who is fortunate to live in a sound-resistant condo with neighbors who have hearing problems" F.

i probably should have mentioned that i play euphonium, although i'm sure all of those omni-directional ideas are still applicable.

the apartment did have a "no practicing of musical instruments at any time" section of the lease, but we're trying to play dumb and just talk to our neighbors...i don't envision doing much playing here but it would be a nice option (my apartment at school last year had such thin walls that i think i can't help but be a little paranoid that the sound is going through the walls...however i haven't heard the TV or dogs of the person above us or next to us at all...hmm...)

When I was looking for an apartment, the 1st words out of my mouth at each place was, I am a musician, will this be a problem? Luckinly I found a place where the management would support me and I talked to my would-be neighbors before I moved in (not that that helps you now). I can practice until 9pm at night (which is pretty great) or if I don't see her car out front. But, I usually clock out around 9 so the sake of the other neighbors. In the morning (before she leaves for work) I'll throw in the silent brass to just do some warmup kinda stuff and I'll throw it in after 9 if I need to keep cranking for a little.

So, talk to your neighbors, talk to the management and see what you can work out. I had a problem in an apartment here in Atlanta, but luckily I was still in the Military and I told them that it interfered with my duties as an Army Musician and they let me out of my lease. But, my current apartment couldn't be a better set-up right now.

Good Luck,
Bill

they make silent brass for tuba

I was in your situation back in grad. school. Where I was , there was a local college and I just drove over and used their practice rooms whenever needed. I never asked permission and no one ever bothered me! You might want to ask permission just in case!

Good luck,

Hey....you working at Busch Gardens?

What show?

I have been using the Silent Brass for tuba on and off for the last month and gotten good results. My Silent Brass for trombone (fits bass trombone also) should be arriving today. I have used a trombone silent brass before and it works even better than the tuba one, so I don't expect to have any issues with it.

I did a pretty lengthy writeup on the tuba one here:
viewtopic.php?t=14183

The only drawback I have noticed is in my soft playing; since I am always "working harder" to overcome the mild resistance of the mute, I am not practicing PP any. My fault, more than the mute. I am tempted to try and practice PPP without any mute and see what happens.

Euph....if you're at Busch then you're in Red Festhaus....

Welcome....I'll be in the other cast playing tuba (Blue Festhaus).

If you're here for BGW that is.....hehehehe.

correct, i just started on tuesday as the euphonium in the red cast of the festhaus show. it's a riot...the guys and gals in the band have been playing the music since (at least) march (if not for years), so i look a little foolish. oh well. look forward to meeting you.