Living with a musician can be a lot of fun because they can fill your home with beautiful music. That is, until they’ve been going at it for hours and you just can’t stand it anymore. Or you want to take a nap. Or they’re just learning and that music isn’t quite so beautiful after all.
The truth is, living with a musician can be a challenge. Fortunately, you don’t have to squash their dreams when it’s time to turn it down. Here are a few ways you can cut back on the noise so everyone can live, and practice, in harmony.
Invest in a Good Pair of Headphones
Some instruments are unbelievably loud, and musicians like it that way. You know exactly what we’re talking about if you live with a guitarist. It just doesn’t sound the same when it’s turned down—or so they claim.
Instead of arguing over volume control, invest in a good pair of headphones that come with a quality cable. For example, Moon Audio sells high-quality audio cables for Focal Elear headphones. That way, your favorite musician can listen to him or herself at their preferred volume, and you won’t even know they’re in the other room practicing.
Soundproof the Room
If only you could plug every instrument into a pair of headphones. Unfortunately, if you share your home with a percussionist or a saxophonist, that isn’t an option. Instead, there are some easy things you can do to soundproof a room:
- Hand drapes on the windows and the walls
- Lay down carpet and/or rugs throughout the room
- Decorate the room with rough-surfaced furniture that will catch and absorb sound
- Weather-strip underneath and around interior doors
- Create a rough ceiling texture with acoustic spray or a popcorn finish
Every little bit helps, but these DIY techniques are more likely to dampen the sound instead of eliminating it. If it isn’t enough, you can try installing acoustic panels on the walls, or you can call in a contractor to install sound-proof walls.
Earplugs
At the end of the day, your favorite musician lives in the house too. They should be allowed to practice. That means taking control of your own comfort with earplugs.
There are quite a few different kinds to choose from, ensuring you can find earplugs that are right for you. A foam earplug is the best way to get a tight fit, but if they’re uncomfortable, you might want to try a pre-molded plug instead.
If you’re still struggling, look for noise-canceling earmuffs, or invest in a high-quality pair of noise-canceling headphones. Just because you don’t want to listen to their music doesn’t mean you don’t want to listen to music of your own!
Sharing your home with a musician is a blessing and an honor—most of the time. For those other times, making sure you’re prepared to drown out some of that noise is important. The items on this list will help you do just that! Getting an electronic drum set is a great way to learn how to play drums.
Have more tips? Share them in the comments!