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I am just returning home after my daughter was Born on Monday, with her and her older sister (3) at home practicing without disturbing them is a challenge, I am considering making a mute or two to try to practice quietly. What have people done to DIY a practice mute on a budget. (Yes, spring weather will allow for out door practicing again)

Congratulations! My two boys are 6 months and 2.5 years.

Two thoughts:
* Might be a little while until you have time to worry about this? Life gon' be be busy!
* Get a Schlipf mute. I used to have one, and it was awesome. A little bit of an investment, but it was well worth it. I'm certain if I used that downstairs while the kids were asleep upstairs, there would be zero trouble.

I've only seen two things:

Art Hovey made a flower pot one:

http://www.galvanizedjazz.com/tuba/TubaMutes.html" target="_blank

Johm Manning for a foam core one:
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Personally, I made the second one, because it was cheap and I had left over foam core boards. I also changed the shape to be a hexagon, instead of a square, so it would fit better in my tuba.

That said, it does not mute anywhere close to enough to practice constantly at all times to play next to a sleeping baby. It does cut the volume, but you'd need to add weatherstripping or something to completely close of the bell

Practice out loud... They'll get used to it.

When my son was young, I just went in the back room and closed the door. He never complained or cried out. Of course, he was used to it as I had a bass guitar gig while he was on the way here, and practiced at home then also.

With each of my 3 kids, after they were born and came home from the hospital, I would set up a stand and practice right next to them as they slept. Of course, I wouldn't blow my brains out, but I would do routines, and etudes. My playing disturbing them or their sleep was never an issue. It might have even been familiar to them, as they they must have heard me practicing before they were born too.

That's what my fiancè said, just practice inside, they will get used to it

Don't worry about it they will learn to love music by listening to you.

My mother is a school teacher, and the school is 1 Mike away... Thanks Joe!!! I didn't think of that yet