Piano playing neighbour

charlie792

Ive been living in my flat (converted house) for the past 10 months and have somewhat accepted there will be noise from upstairs. The do tend to keep themselves to themselves, and often come home around 11 every night and then out again early morning so our paths very rarely cross.

They've had several (actually 6 I can remember) massive rows over this time (typically weekends when they're home), by which the woman screams for an hour or so and then spends the day stomping around the flat. Ive just about put up with that but over the last month or two upstairs have started to drive me mad.

They know (because Ive told the bloke!) our bedroom is below their lounge. Directly above our bed they have a piano! One of them keeps deciding to play Happy Birthday (wrong) over and over again at around 7am and this has been happening for some time now - not every morning but probably once a week or so and to be honest Im beginning to loose my patience.

As I said they are very rarely in other times and they don't see to really want to be very sociable - in fairness the bloke is ok although he's rarely there- we share a back garden so very very rarely we might bump into each other and he talks to me but his wife on the other hand totally blanks me and pretends I don't exist.
Needless to say this makes the whole thing even more frustrating as I don't really know when I would even get the opportunity to talk to them about this.

I don't want to cause trouble and involve the EA or LL unless I have to, but I honestly think 7am is a bit early for piano (we don't get up till 8) Do you think a note through their door stating the above would be acceptable?

huangdi

sounds like you have now found out what living in a flat is really like! speaking from experience, there is no easy answer. if your the kind of person who doesnt want confrontation then i suggest these which i have been using for 2 years;

http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Pharmaceuticals-Muffle-Wax-Earplugs-5-Pairs-_1129526/

if you do bump into them then maybe a quick word to the husband will do. the only reason i dont complain is im trying to sell and do not want any council involvement. on a personal note, if i found a note through the door i would be slightly annoyed, although everyone is different!

who knows, maybe they will forget any dream of becoming Mozart, and leave the piano gathering dust in the corner of the room!

Mazzawa

Sounds like someone is trying to teach themselves before work! If the piano is a cheapy then I'm very sorry, there is nothing you can really do about the sound travelling. However, if it is a reasonably good one/modern one, it may have something called a silent practice pedal which would solve your problem. Perhaps a word with the husband would be a good idea? Ask him if the piano has three pedals and if it does, use the middle one...

Other than that earplugs until they or you move out.

mrcol1000

If the noise is causing you a nusiance then you should take some action. 7am is a bit early for playing the piano. Not everyone gets up that early. A note through the door or talking to them face to face would work wonders. Its amazing how often people are ignorant that they are causing a nusiance even if its obvious to the rest of the world. If it still causes you a problem after this then I would contact your local council. They can write a warning/advice letter. These things can snowball though so if its only just annoying and you could put up with it I would. If its causing you nusiance though and waking you up I would take some kind of action.

tommie1shunt

My brother had a similar problem Karaoke at 3.30 in the morning. He has an old 1980s stereo CW speakers the size of small cupboards, and when he left work at 7.am when the karaoke queen had gone to bed, he selected Rock FM turned the volume up to eleven and went to work. It did work, but it,s not big and it,s not clever!!!

mrcol1000

tommie1shunt wrote: »

My brother had a similar problem Karaoke at 3.30 in the morning. He has an old 1980s stereo CW speakers the size of small cupboards, and when he left work at 7.am when the karaoke queen had gone to bed, he selected Rock FM turned the volume up to eleven and went to work. It did work, but it,s not big and it,s not clever!!!

It will also allow them to complain about you to the local council who will have to deal with their complaint seperate to any complaint you make. People say to do this but it ends up either with you in trouble or it just escalating. They play their music even louder for even longer...

tommie1shunt

mrcol1000 wrote: »

It will also allow them to complain about you to the local council who will have to deal with their complaint seperate to any complaint you make. People say to do this but it ends up either with you in trouble or it just escalating. They play their music even louder for even longer...

This did happen and they threatened prosecution He is a rather blunt speaking lad and to put it delicately he told them they could commit a sexual act to his person. He also reminded them that he kept a noise diary as advised by there goodselves and in his words sweet ....... was done about the karaoke queen. The council would seem to be all gums and no teeth. Am not suggesting anyone goes down this path, just saying there is alternate ways to walk.

pinkshoes

As a piano player, then yes, 7am is way too early, and I don't practice until 8am!! I do at least play nicely though, and don't let my 7 month old near it until much later in the day, preferably when my neighbours are out!

Just ask them politely if they'd be able to start their practice a little later!

I used to live next door to someone learning guitar, and the only thing he could play was the intro to "under the bridge" by red hot chilli peppers!

Brallaqueen

What does your lease say? Does is specify that noise duistrubance can't be made between certain hours? If for example it is between 11pm and 7am you've got no leg to stand on.

lincroft1710

Tell them you've been inspired by their musical talents and have decided to learn to play the drums. Perhaps they would like to join you in a jam session.

googler

Get a violin. Any violin will do, doesn't matter if you can play it or not.

At 7am, when they're playing piano, stand in the room below and draw the bow over the strings, any which way you want. Don't even bother to tune the violin. Hopefully this will send them a message......