What are our rights playing the drums?

UrbanDanceSquad

chris_m wrote: »

I think that you'll find that your perceived animosity in this thread is as nothing compared to that you'll get if you pi$$ off your neighbours.

Do yourself (and them) a favour by going round to discuss it with them amicably and establish some mutually acceptable ground rules before they are driven to complain.

Even to this day, when I visit my parents I am sometimes reminded by neighbours about when I used to play "those bloody drums" when I was kid. In my case, the complaints didn't get to the council stage because my parents stopped me from playing at home. I used to play when they were at work but as soon as the complaints started they 'shut me down' and made me use pads on the skins and cymbal damping material. However, I did p*** off a lot of people.

A drummer friend of mine played in his parent's garage and the council did get involved. His playing was monitored by a council guy who measured the db levels on the street. His parents were warned by the council - the end.

My old drum tutor had the best idea though. He built what looked like an old shed in his garden but was actually a well sound insulated drum 'studio'. You couldn't hear a thing from the outside. But then again, he charged £40 per hour for lessons so he had a good business case for building such a structure LOL.

With regards to the OP, if you think your son has a talent for drums then get him on the Roland e-Kits with the mesh heads. Towards the end of my drumming days, more and more venues were getting stricter with db levels. The drums are the biggest culprit when it comes to volume because the rest of the band has to turn up to the same level. It wasn't until I ditched acoustic drums in favour of an e-kit that the band were able to have a good sound on stage and be at an acceptable volume for the venue. Also, it meant that we didn't have a ringing sound in our ears after a gig and onstage feedback was more or less eliminated. Not to mention that the e-kit allowed us to use in-ear monitoring.

Today's e-kits are great, the sound is already mixed and compressed. Am not sure why 'normal' bands still insist on using acoustic drums in small venues such as bars/pubs and hotels?

auldblerk

UrbanDanceSquad wrote: »

The drums are the biggest culprit when it comes to volume because the rest of the band has to turn up to the same level.

Lol, when we used to practise, the guitarists would have to keep turning up their amps as they couldn't hear their own guitars because of my drums.
It was amusing then but I'm deaf as a post now.

chris_m

auldblerk wrote: »

Lol, when we used to practise, the guitarists would have to keep turning up their amps

Did they go all the way up to 11?

Mr_Costcutter

OP, you asked 'what are our rights playing the drums?'. If I were your neighbour I would be thinking 'what I my rights for a little peace of quiet?'. I'm afraid if I was living in a semi I would never inflict such noise upon on a neighbour. Has the 'For Sale' sign appeared yet, I wonder.

auldblerk

chris_m wrote: »

Did they go all the way up to 11?

Ha Ha, probably towards the end of the practise session, all guitar stuff was alien to me and I kept well away from their stuff but it was a cert that if I ever left the stool to go to the toilet, stretch etc, a guitarist would jump on the seat and try and play

bigfreddiel

chris_m wrote: »

Depends on whether you're any good or not

I really don't care I enjoy it so that's all that matters

fj

UrbanDanceSquad

auldblerk wrote: »

Lol, when we used to practise, the guitarists would have to keep turning up their amps as they couldn't hear their own guitars because of my drums.
It was amusing then but I'm deaf as a post now.

A lot of bands don't realise that people have been conditioned to accept mixed and compressed music. Yes, they're a hardcore of folk who love raw live bands but in reality a live band without mixing, compression and a decent PA with Subs sound tinny as hell - way too much middle to high frequencies.

Towards the end of my drumming days, the band realised that all amps were better to be facing the player whilst the PA, Subs and guy on the mixing desk made sure it all sounded like the DJ's music out front. The introduction of an e-kit enabled the other musicians to point their amps at their heads as opposed to the back of their knees.

In-ear monitoring then changed everything.

Jaffa_cake

towser wrote: »

yes and kid is loving it.



It does not get rid of the sound altogether and kid can always take them off. Just like he knew he was not supposed to play them at messy church he knows he was not supposed to take them off. It's just too irresistible - only a drummer would know this. This is why i am seeking drummers point of view rather than anti noise point of view.

I understand the misery noise causes. Can you understand the joy, the ability to be free when you are trapped all the time by autism? The sensory therapy, the input ect ect

i'd also like to hear from people who teach disabled people the drums.

stinks of trolls

Just be careful, an irate neighbour doesn't come knocking and sticks said drumsticks right up your nose.

Jhoney_2

Stop... they told me, pah rupapum,pum.
Our POV to see, pah rupapum,pum.
We cannot stand the drill, pah rupapum, pum
Our ears are ringing still, pah rupapum pum, rupapum pum, rupapum pum.

So, I bought a shed pah rupapum, pum. For my drum....

It's Christmas, lets hope the OP has reconsidered before violence or any formal warnings prevail.

giddypenguin

Probably a troll, but I have 2 experiences which may help. My BIL is a drum teacher, he recommends all his students to have electronic kits at home and to use his real kit during lessons at his house. He does that for everyone's sanity!

Also, my husband used to be a DJ, most evenings he would have a play, and inevitably the music got loud when his mates were over. The houses next door were fine with it, unbeknownst to him a neighbour across the street could hear it. They went to the council and he had an abatement notice warning if he didn't stop they would remove the equipment.

I understand your child is autisic, but shouldn't you be teaching them now respect for others? Allowing them to do what they want whenever they want is setting them up for a rough time in adulthood when they discover life isn't like that (no matter your diagnosis)