Muso Needs Help

[bigmacdaddybone]

I've got an annoying neighbor that says the sound of my trombone is not allowed to be heard in the hallway in front of my apartment door.... I've been a pro since age 16 and living in Pattaya 18 years without ever having a problem practicing in the mid afternoon for an hour or two. Is there any ordinance that explains the rights of musicians to practice in their own homes at decent hours of the day? I need to remove this bug from my life. No one else is complaining above or below me ...only one nut 3 doors down ... wasn't sure if they would flag me for spam ...here's a clip to prove i'm legit

 

 

[Lacessit]

It's a condo, not a home. There are rules about what is permissible in a condo. I'd suggest you need to talk with the juristic manager about allowed noise levels.

Is the person complaining a foreigner, or Thai? Thais don't usually care, but if it is, you are behind the 8-ball already.

[KannikaP]

How does the clip prove anything. I could post a clip of Lemmy from Motorhead and claim the right to thrash my Rickenbacker when I want to.

I would tend to go round to the complaining neigbour, explain to him that you need to practise and ask when would be a convenient time please. 

Some sort of soundproofing baffles in the practise room could help.

Hopefully your practising is better than a dog yapping all day.

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by KannikaP

[bigmacdaddybone]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

It's a condo, not a home. There are rules about what is permissible in a condo. I'd suggest you need to talk with the juristic manager about allowed noise levels.

Is the person complaining a foreigner, or Thai? Thais don't usually care, but if it is, you are behind the 8-ball already.

foreigner ..... i already got the green light from my landlord.... but not many people ever heard the sound of a trombone before... so i often get resistance when i 1st start practicing.... i understand about noise but if its in the hallway in front of my door and you choose to stand in front of it ..there's not much i can do

[bigmacdaddybone]

6 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

How does the clip prove anything. I could post a clip of Lemmy from Motorhead and claim the right to thrash my Rickenbacker when I want to.

I would tend to go round to the complaining neigbour, explain to him that you need to practise and ask when would be a convenient time please. 

Some sort of soundproofing baffles in the practise room could help.

Hopefully your practising is better than a dog yapping all day.

 

i just put the clip up to show i really play the instrument .... after 3 years in the bag it sound like a student after his 1st lesson... growing pain

[KannikaP]

4 minutes ago, bigmacdaddybone said:

i just put the clip up to show i really play the instrument .... after 3 years in the bag it sound like a student after his 1st lesson... growing pain

So how do we know that it is YOU? And if it sounds like a beginner, then I would complain. Rent a practise room somewhere or go down the beach. alone.

 

4 minutes ago, bigmacdaddybone said:

 

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by KannikaP

[newnative]

20 minutes ago, bigmacdaddybone said:

foreigner ..... i already got the green light from my landlord.... but not many people ever heard the sound of a trombone before... so i often get resistance when i 1st start practicing.... i understand about noise but if its in the hallway in front of my door and you choose to stand in front of it ..there's not much i can do

      I doubt a neighbor would be complaining if the sound was just in the hallway--and I think it's highly unlikely the sound is just confined to the front of your particular door in the hallway.  Sound travels and hallway noise can often easily be heard in the condos on that floor--but luckily the noise is usually only temporary, such as a door closing or people talking while they wait for the elevator. 

     I would be objecting, too, if I had to listen to someone disturbing my peace by practicing trombone for several hours--or likely most other musical instruments.  Your landlord giving you the 'green light' is meaningless unless he owns the entire apartment building.  If you are renting a condo, you need to abide by the condo's by-laws--which usually have a rule about excessive noise.  As others have said, you should be practicing somewhere else.  

[bigmacdaddybone]

31 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

So how do we know that it is YOU? And if it sounds like a beginner, then I would complain. Rent a practise room somewhere or go down the beach. alone.

 

 

i can't afford a practice room ..playing in public,,, now that is against the law ...my room is my only option right now ....and i'm not trying to go back and forth with you about the clip ..i thought it would be helpful .....if it's a problem i'll remove it ...no problem. everyone has to start somewhere ...i was specifically reaching out to musos like sax or trumpet players that have had to deal with this at some point

[CharlieH]

Troll remarks / off topic removed.

 

Lets not get stuck into whether its real or not and just assume it is.

 

If you have cleared it with your Landlord then any objections should simply be referred to him, tell them go see him.

 

 

 

 

[warrima]

I remember there was a schoolchild learning the tuba in the last condo i stayed in. 2 hours of hell each week. I never complained as it was a kid but it drove me crazy. 

 

2 hours (daily) of someone playing a trombone regardless of their talent would be a nightmare. 

Edited May 3, 2022 by warrima

[bigmacdaddybone]

8 minutes ago, newnative said:

      I doubt a neighbor would be complaining if the sound was just in the hallway--and I think it's highly unlikely the sound is just confined to the front of your particular door in the hallway.  Sound travels and hallway noise can often easily be heard in the condos on that floor--but luckily the noise is usually only temporary, such as a door closing or people talking while they wait for the elevator. 

     I would be objecting, too, if I had to listen to someone disturbing my peace by practicing trombone for several hours--or likely most other musical instruments.  Your landlord giving you the 'green light' is meaningless unless he owns the entire apartment building.  If you are renting a condo, you need to abide by the condo's by-laws--which usually have a rule about excessive noise.  As others have said, you should be practicing somewhere else.  

i had my daughter stand at the front of the elevator to test ...she said she heard it but wasnt like a rock guitar ...i practice for one hour a day in the afternoon ... i believe u have the right to practice an instrument in your home at a decent hour ...at a reasonable time ...obviously you never had a child that played an instrument ...thats why i'm asking for musos to advise me i'm sure they've experienced this... but your comment was appreciated and well taken thanks

[Bill97]

1 hour ago, bigmacdaddybone said:

i understand about noise but if its in the hallway in front of my door and you choose to stand in front of it ..there's not much i can do

Unless you are in a very unusually well soundproofed building your noise goes well beyond your door and understandably would be bothersome to many.  They probably just have not spoken up yet.  How long have you been doing it there?
 

Your landlord does not have the power to exempt you from the laws related to excessive noise, public disturbance or common sense and consideration for others.

 

PS Trying to find some law to help you here rarely helps.

Edited May 3, 2022 by Bill97

[bigmacdaddybone]

6 minutes ago, warrima said:

I remember there was a schoolchild learning the tuba in the last condo i stayed in. 2 hours of hell each week. I never complained as it was a kid but it drove me crazy. 

 

2 hours (daily) of someone playing a trombone regardless of their talent would be a nightmare. 

this covid none sense has effected every1 ...i'm in the process of ordering practice mutes ....cuz my old ones just wore out ....but its gonna take a few weeks for the items to get to me ..... i'm a pro.... if the tools arent available to reduce the noise i'm hampered too ....work has to start somewhere clubs just opened ....got to get ready ...2 hours if i heard it in my room would be annoying ....there are more than 10 walls between his place and mine ...no complaints from upstairs or downstairs ...cuz i asked if it was bothering them,,,, i think this guy just a bit over the top .... and i might have to deal with some bs with him .... i appreciate your honesty and your comment

[CharlieH]

 

The following may be of assistance:

 

[bigmacdaddybone]

7 minutes ago, Bill97 said:

Unless you are in a very unusually well soundproofed building your noise goes well beyond your door and understandably would be bothersome to many.  They just have not spoken up yet.  
 

Your landlord does not have the power to exempt you from the laws related to excessive noise, public disturbance or common sense and consideration for others.

my other 2 neighbors say they dont hear anything in their apartments same floor ...yes in the hallway .. but not in rooms ..just sayin .....i'm no where near the point of excessive ...i've lived here for 2 years with out issues   ...your comment is appreciated

[bigmacdaddybone]

3 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

 

The following may be of assistance:

 

thx so much !!! exactly what i needed

[KannikaP]

18 minutes ago, bigmacdaddybone said:

thx so much !!! exactly what i needed

90 dB is classed as a high level noise, equivalent to that at a concert. Averaged over 8 hours? 

[phetphet]

If you need to practice at home, I can only think of two suggestions. One depends on your type of apartment.

If you have a separate bedroom, could you practice in there and close the door? At least that way, you would have two doors between you and the hallway.

 

The only other thing is perhaps either fit some of that sound deadening foam on the inside of the front door or create some sort of sound deadening barrier or curtain that you can put in front of the door while you are practising.

 

HTH

[bigmacdaddybone]

1 minute ago, phetphet said:

If you need to practice at home, I can only think of two suggestions. One depends on your type of apartment.

If you have a separate bedroom, could you practice in there and close the door? At least that way, you would have two doors between you and the hallway.

 

The only other thing is perhaps either fit some of that sound deadening foam on the inside of the front door or create some sort of sound deadening barrier or curtain that you can put in front of the door while you are practising.

 

HTH

appreciated

[bigmacdaddybone]

19 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

90 dB is classed as a high level noise, equivalent to that at a concert. Averaged over 8 hours? 

i just tested my sound level right in front of the horn with the music ...the level is at 70 db ....i'm sure behind my front door it's a lot less ....90 db is not so much a concert level but its a very high output from a home system easily ...i just downloaded an app to get a real idea of the level of sound ..... that article was helpful to at least know what the law is ...i think 1 or 2 hours is a decent compromise to the 8 hours the law allows ...lol

Edited May 3, 2022 by bigmacdaddybone

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, bigmacdaddybone said:

foreigner ..... i already got the green light from my landlord.... but not many people ever heard the sound of a trombone before... so i often get resistance when i 1st start practicing.... i understand about noise but if its in the hallway in front of my door and you choose to stand in front of it ..there's not much i can do

If you can hear it in the hallway, you can hear it next door and opposite of your room too. I would want to listen to somebody practicing an instrument for a couple of hours too. Find a practice space somewhere.

[bigmacdaddybone]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

If you can hear it in the hallway, you can hear it next door and opposite of your room too. I would want to listen to somebody practicing an instrument for a couple of hours too. Find a practice space somewhere.

i pay 20,000 baht a month for my practice room thats enough..... its not a rock guitar or drum  sorry i dont agree especially when the people living in the locations you described don't hear anything except when in the hallway ...where nobody sleeps..... appreciate you taking the time to comment

[OneMoreFarang]

Have you considered a sound isolated door, or sound isolating your existing door.

All doors are installed with a gap at the bottom. Some gaps are small and some are bigger. And that is where a big part of the "noise" comes through. There are systems for existing doors which seal the door to floor gap when the door is closed. Maybe something like that solves already your problem.

When I see this right a trombone does not produce low frequency sound. Mid or high frequencies are relative easy to block. Only with low frequencies it is (very) difficult. 

[moogradod]

You have to admit that a trombone is not one of the quieter instruments. No way to mute the horn somehow and insert a micro listening then by earhones to the sound ? Having said that I would probably be at least disturbed by an hour of trombone a bit, too - and I am a musician myself (mostly electric guitar with earphones, thats a neighbor friendly and time independent thing). I play since nearly 50 years.

I would really say it is like someone above noted already: Some instruments (Drums, Tuba ?) call for a practice room (which may be in your own house). With a bit of creativity there might be cheap solutions (practicing in a somewhat deserted bar for the moment ?) Talking to a music school where they produce already enough music (hopefully it is).

And you have to face that – no matter how good you are – just solo trombone for an hour nearly uninterrupted is not far away from violin practice of a beginner for an hour from the viewpoint of an innocent listener.

Last solution: Change the instrument. A piano / keyboard may be a good choice – I have a keyboard connected to my DAW (Digital Audio Workstation on my PC) which let you again enjoy by earphone without disturbing anybody. With the right software (I use True Pianos since years) or a bit of synthy touch very nice.

[Denim]

7 hours ago, bigmacdaddybone said:

...here's a clip to prove i'm legit

 

 

Try the trumpet. Less annoying. Unless its Nik Nak No

 

 

[FritsSikkink]

6 hours ago, bigmacdaddybone said:

i pay 20,000 baht a month for my practice room thats enough..... its not a rock guitar or drum  sorry i dont agree especially when the people living in the locations you described don't hear anything except when in the hallway ...where nobody sleeps..... appreciate you taking the time to comment

It isn't a practice room it is rented as a living room just like the ones of your neighbors, who didn't sign up for these practice sessions when they started to rent. The sound carries much further as the hallway which you should know as you are a professional player since you where 16.

[CharlieH]

I dont see any benefit to the OP in this remaining open any further.

 

CLOSED