DARLENE ROSS
'RIGHTS' AS A MUSICIAN PRACTICING IN AN APARTMENT BUILDING
Posted on 24-Dec-13 10:17Viewed 1840 times
HI, FIRST, I'M NOT SHOUTING, I JUST PREFER USING CAPS...MY QUESTION IS A CHALLENGE FOR ME: I PLAY TENOR SAXOPHONE AND KEYBOARDS AND I LIVE IN A HIGHRISE APARTMENT IN CHICAGO....I ASKED MANAGEMENT WHEN I MOVED IN IF I COULD PRACTICE MY INSTRUMENT, WHICH WAS AT THAT TIME (15 MONTHS AGO) A SOPRANO SAX....I WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE, AS LONG AS IT DIDN'T CAUSE ANYONE TO COMPLAIN TO THE OFFICE....I ASKED 6 MONTHS LATER, AND THERE STILL WERE NO COMPLAINTS.........SO, I FIGURED I WOULD PURCHASE A 'PROFESSIONAL' INSTRUMENT AND QUIT MY INSTRUMENT-RENTAL OF 30 YEARS, SINCE NONE OF THE MONEY WOULD EVER BE APPLIED TOWARDS OWNING IT. AND I THINK 30 YEARS IS LONG ENOUGH TO PROVE TO ONE'SSELF THAT THEY WERE SERRIOUS ABOUT IT........NOW ABOUT A MONTH AGO, ALL TENNANTS GOT A NOTICE THAT STATES THAT ANY FORM OF 'DISTURBANCE' (RELATIVE) IF REPORTED WILL RESULT IN A 30-DAY LEASE TERMINATION....I ASKED MANAGEMENT TO PUT IN WRITING HER 'O.K.' TO PRACTICE, BUT SHE WOULDN'T...I'VE BEEN DEPRESSED EVER SINCE, AND CAN'T PRACTICE WITHOUT FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE AND GUILTY...I SKIP SCALES AND LONG-TONES JUST SO IT WON'T BE SO UNBEARABLE TO MY NEIGHBORS....THERE'S NO WAY TO MUTE A SAXOPHONE.I HAVE CHECKED...AND PUTTING A TOWEL IN THE BELL MAKES IT SOUND LIKE A DYING ANIMAL!!!......I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN FOR ADVICE.SURELY I'M NOT THE ONLY PLAYER/STUDENT WHO'S GONE THROUGH THIS.I CANT AFFORD A PRACTICE ROOM AND CAN'T AFFORD AN ATTOURNEY...THE LEASE CLEARLY STATES THAT NO ONE SHALL CAUSE ANY DISTURBANCE THAT AFFECTS THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF ANY RESIDENT OR OTHERWISE MAKE THE LIVING CONDITIONS HERE UNREASONABLY 'UNCOMFORTABLE'...BUT I AM UNCOMFORTABLE!!! DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE.THIS FEELS LIKE A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE, BUT MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S SO HUMANLY PERSONAL TO ME.........PLEASE REPLY..........DARLENE ROSS.......E-MAIL IS uranusrising@comcast.net..
André Uhres
In order to protect people from noise, certain rest periods are to be observed. This naturally includes the sleep 22-7 clock and any rest periods , which are determined by the house rules. Furthermore, in order not to strain the nerves of the other residents of an apartment building , the duration of the music-making is still limited in time. Exact details are difficult to make, however, normally applies a basic rule of conduct , which states : It is quite common per day to practice one to two hours on his instrument or to train the voice vocally . If due to the properties of an instrument this cannot be reduced to low volume , widely is considered one hour as appropriate. Drummer must usually restrict, depending on the season, on 45 to 90 minutes daily.
What to do if the house music bothers your neighbours?
To learn an instrument , it is necessary to practice a lot . This will normally take place in the domestic dwelling, and neighbors should also show understanding .
However, if the noise is more than the usual level , neighbours can act. Before you put the good neighbors at risk, you should first seek the friendly conversation and describe your problems. Most can find a mutual solution.
Travis Alltop
Darlene,
If you live in an apartment complex where there are alot of retired elderly people, then this can cause complaints because elderly people as a rule don't tolerate noise well at all day or night. Just the way it is. A possible solution is to practice at a friends house where there are not people right on the other side of the wall from you.
