Practicing your instrument frequently and consistently is critical to learning and improving your playing. However, if you live in an apartment, practicing daily can be tricky, as most instruments – especially acoustic instruments like violins – are very loud.

If you’re looking to improve your musical skills without making your neighbor bang on the ceiling with a broom, these are our top tips for how to practice an instrument in an apartment.

1. Choose Quiet Instruments for Apartments

One of the keys for how to practice violin in an apartment is your instrument. Violins aren’t exactly known for being quiet – the hollow body of a traditional acoustic violin helps amplify the sound, and a violin’s higher range can make it seem even louder. Many acoustic instruments, including acoustic guitars, have the same problem.

One way to address that is by picking a quieter version of your instrument for home practice, such as an electric-style instrument with a headphone jack. While electric violins, guitars, and drumsets still create some noise, it’s much less than an acoustic instrument and can be more readily masked with a simple white noise machine.

2. Observe Respectful Practice Times

Understand that there isn’t a perfect time to practice your instrument – likely, someone will hear it any time of day or night. The trick is to minimize your impact by choosing a time that you’ll disturb the least number of people. Depending on the culture of your apartment community, this might be around dinnertime or midday – in other words, when people are least likely to be working or sleeping. Be sure to check on your apartment community’s designated quiet times!

3. Use a Mute to Reduce Sound

Not ready to invest in an electric instrument? Consider purchasing a practice mute. Mutes attach easily to your instrument and help reduce the vibration of the violin’s bridge, which results in a much quieter sound. A mute allows you to practice on your instrument without as much amplification and doesn’t interfere with your technique. You can even purchase practice mutes for brass instruments such as trumpets! Remember that mutes do not totally eliminate sound production, so your playing will not be completely silent.

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4. Try Soundproofing Your Apartment

Basic soundproofing can significantly affect how much noise carries from your apartment to the next. This strategy can be helpful whether you’re practicing an instrument or just like to watch movies with theater-level sound.

There are a few different ways that you can add soundproofing to your home’s practice space, including:

  • Add fabric to your walls and floors with tapestries and rugs to absorb sound
  • Add furniture, including sofas and chairs, to absorb sound and reduce echo
  • Purchase renter-friendly, moveable, soundproof tiles and panels for your walls

While these soundproofing techniques won’t isolate your instrument’s sound, they can help reduce it, especially if your walls are thin.

5. Have a Conversation With Your Neighbors

Being proactive can help earn you a little grace from your neighbors. When you move to a new apartment, consider introducing yourself to the neighbors with whom you share walls. Give them a heads up that you play violin (or any instrument) and that they may hear you practice. This allows them to share their schedule, like their baby’s nap time.

While you certainly have a right to practice your instrument, putting a friendly face to the noise can help your neighbors be more understanding. Instead of the nameless, faceless, annoying musician who’s easy to resent, you’re [your name here], who always waves and brought cookies by when they moved in! If you have a concert coming up, consider offering your neighbors tickets. After all, they listened to your practice sessions.

6. Find a Separate Practice Space

If you simply cannot find a way to practice at your apartment every day, you may need to find a separate practice space. For students, that may mean reserving a practice room at your high school, college, or university.

For non-students, it can be trickier but not impossible. Many recording studios have practice spaces that you can rent for a fee or even set up recurring reservations for certain days of the week. A local music school, library, or concert venue may also have practice spaces open for public use. Some music stores also have practice spaces. Check with your local music store, your teacher, or even local online forums for information.

Bonus Tip: Be Kind!

While every apartment community has its grumpy folks, most people don’t want to complain or bother their neighbors. If someone does say something to you about the noise of your instrument, remember to be kind and respectful. Kindness and understanding will get you further than arguing, so try to find a solution that works for everyone.

Turn to CodaBow for Your Practice Bow Needs

Whether you’re in a shared living space or a house, you need the right bow to get the most out of every practice session. Discover CodaBow carbon fiber violin bows, designed for precision and comfort, no matter where you play. Shop now and schedule an in-home trial to elevate your practice sessions.