Before thinking about investing in equipment for studio recording (such as active speakers, among others), one of the first hurdles that any aspiring musician needs to overcome is finding time to practice. Simply put, you cannot grow as an instrumentalist if you do not put in enough practice time. However, that can be a difficult task to perform if you need to be conscious of the sound that you make by playing on your musical instrument.
Perhaps you live in an apartment or condominium where loud sounds can disturb your neighbors, which can lead to arguments and misunderstandings. Or maybe a baby or elderly relative is living with you and the sound of you playing music will repeatedly disrupt their sleep.
How do you overcome these problems? Here are a few strategies that you might find useful.
1. Consider using headphones
Nothing can be as satisfying as nailing down the lick you've been practicing while playing your instrument in full volume. But for most musicians, that is an impossible task, especially if you are practicing at home.
The next best thing that you can do is to plug in your musical instrument to headphones and an amplifier. This will allow you to practice without disturbing anybody.
However, this trick will only work for a handful of instruments that can be plugged into a headphone. These include guitars, bass guitars, electronic keyboards, and some violins.
With drums, you cannot totally eliminate the sounds they produce. The next best thing that you can do is invest in percussion pads which can dampen the sound. For brass instruments, you can try using mutes, which help minimize sounds.
2. Be mindful of your practice time
Practicing during the middle of the day when most people are at work or school minimizes the chances of you disturbing your neighbors.
Most people won't make a fuss if you practice during your typical business hours, especially if you keep the sounds that you make at a tolerable level. Plus, if you live in an apartment or condominium, you probably have a section in your lease agreement about quiet hours.
Certainly, your best option would be to talk to your neighbors about your need to practice your musical instrument. Most people will understand if you approach them politely and keep your practice hours at a reasonable time.
3. Check your home's layout
Another important consideration that you need to make is the location of your practice space. Ideally, you shouldn't put it in an area that shares a wall with your neighbor's apartment or condominium unit, especially if that wall is a part of your neighbor's bedroom.
One way to check the layout of your neighbor's unit is to go online. Alternatively, you can go to the leasing office and ask around. But the best thing that you can do is to ask your neighbor directly.
4. Invest in soundproofing
Even if your neighbors don't mind you practicing your musical instrument, trying to keep sound levels at a minimum is considered a polite gesture.
But even if you have the money to spare, in most cases, you cannot opt for permanent soundproofing solutions if you are leasing an apartment or a condominium unit.
Fortunately, there are a few options that you can explore to minimize the sound that can go through your neighbors' units without worrying about whether you are violating your lease agreement or not.
Although soundproofing products vary in the way they operate, most follow a basic principle: placing a barrier (typically a material with dense mass) between a sound source and surrounding areas.
One temporary solution that you might want to try is the installation of an acoustical window or door seal. These products can substantially reduce the level of sound that leaks through doors and windows.
Another simple yet effective soundproofing solution available to budding musicians is the use of dampening rugs that are fabricated out of rubber. There are some companies that produce absorption sheets that can be placed like a blanket over a surface, like a window, for example. This may limit the level of disturbance to your neighbors while playing your musical instrument.
When You've Tried Just About Everything
You've followed these tips carefully, and yet your neighbors continue to complain. What else can you do?
If you can't come up with an agreement with your neighbors, your only recourse is to practice outside of your home. Look around in your area; there might be practice areas that you can rent by the hour. Some music stores offer this service. Or perhaps, you have a relative living nearby and won't mind you practicing your instrument at their place for a couple of hours a day. If you are still studying, your school might have a music room where you can practice after or in between your classes.
If you can afford it, consider looking for a new place where the chances of disturbing your neighbors are comparatively low.
You cannot become a successful musician without putting in hours and hours of practice. However, you should always be mindful of whether your pursuit of musical excellence is disturbing the people living around you.
AUTHOR BIO
Amrit Shivlani is the Founder and CEO at Music Majlis, a community-driven e-commerce platform that offers a wide variety of musical instruments and equipment for every musician and sound professional. The company's goal is to make music-making, recording, producing and mixing accessible and available to everyone.
