As stay-at-home orders are extended and Americans practice social distancing, everyone is spending a lot of time indoors. To combat boredom and expand horizons while hunkering down, some people have taken up new hobbies or are revisiting old ones, including practicing and playing music.

How To Reduce Noise In An Apartment While Enjoying Music

We’ve all seen the videos of Italians singing together from their apartment balconies or Spanish police strolling empty streets and serenading residents, all in an effort to raise spirits and build a sense of community during quarantine.

“Music creates a sense of belonging and participation,” notes the World Economic Forum. “It is an antidote to the growing sense of alienation and isolation in society in general – even more so now we are being asked to actively practice social distancing and isolation.”

Whether you’re a certified violin virtuoso or just a wannabe guitar god, it’s important to be considerate and aware of the noise you make — and its impact on your neighbors. Luckily, you can pursue your dream of becoming a jukebox hero without striking a sour chord with your apartment neighbors.

Tips for playing music in an apartment:

  • Communicate with your neighbors. Introduce yourself to new or existing neighbors and tell them about your hobby or why you need to practice. Let them know that there is an open line of communication especially if you’re being too loud.
  • Pick the right time. Most people are working from home right now, so 9-to-5 might not be the best time to practice scales. In addition, some apartment leases contain provisions outlining “quiet times,” so make sure you review your lease and aren’t breaking the rules.
  • Keep it to yourself. The easiest way to reduce noise while playing music in an apartment is to plug headphones directly into your electric guitar, keyboards, or violin. Another option is to use an amp or modifier with a headphone jack.
  • Find an alternative practice space. Maybe your apartment community has a clubhouse you can utilize during off-peak times to practice. If the space needs to be rented, offer to use it in exchange for providing entertainment at the next community gathering. A last resort is to consider renting a shared rehearsal space offsite.

How to Soundproof an Apartment

If you still feel you could be making too much noise during your jam sessions, it might be time to take these extra steps for soundproofing. This way you rock on without risking negative feedback from your neighbors.

  • Consider your space. Try to set up instruments in an area of your apartment that does not share a wall with another apartment. If you are a singer, practice your do-re-mi’s in the shower or a large closet surrounded by sound-muffling clothes.
  • Fill the space. You want to absorb as much vibration as possible. To do this, furnish your practice space with lots of upholstered furniture, curtains, pillows, and plush carpets. Put foam pads and thick rugs under the instruments and get a foam jamb seal to fit under the door. And if you really want to muffle sound, you can invest in some temporary acoustic panels or egg-crate foam to put on the walls. Just be sure to check with apartment management before making any major modifications.
  • Use dampeners. There are several sound dampeners for specific instruments, including mutes for horns, the quiet pedal on a piano, or drum practice pads.

Make Sweet Music at Southern Management

For all of us practicing social distancing, our homes have become everything: office, gym, restaurant, movie theater, and maybe even an intimate concert venue.

Whether you’re a soloist or part of an orchestra, Southern Management wants to help nurture your talent while maintaining a peaceful environment for all our residents. Contact our team to ask questions or explore our 75 apartment communities online today!