Maintaining a cordial relationship with your neighbours is generally beneficial. They’re more likely to overlook minor annoyances like parking mishaps or the occasional loud noise if they have a good rapport with you, and there may come a time when you need to lean on those around you.
However, sometimes you find yourself living next to someone whose irritating habits make it impossible to let bygones be bygones. Perhaps they consistently blast music late into the night, or maybe they persistently park across your driveway, blocking your access.
One man has reached his breaking point due to his neighbour’s vexing routine, which has been robbing him of precious sleep for the past four months.
In a Reddit post, the man revealed that he lives in a block of flats, and his upstairs neighbour insists on playing the violin at the crack of dawn every day. He shared that she doesn’t cease for several hours, and given that he works night shifts and doesn’t return home until 2 am, this has severely disrupted his sleep.
Nonetheless, the woman has a valid reason for her early morning violin sessions. She tutors children in violin from 10am to 8pm, and requires the early morning hours to rehearse before her classes start.
He said: “I moved into this apartment four months ago. Every single morning at 6am, my upstairs neighbour starts playing the violin. It goes on for 2-3 hours. I work night shifts and don’t get home until 2am, so this is destroying my sleep.
“I’ve tried talking to her nicely several times. She’s actually very sweet, a music teacher who gives lessons from her apartment. She explained that 6-9am is her only free time to practice because she teaches students from 10am to 8pm.”
The man has also examined the tenancy agreement for the building they reside in, and has discovered that the quiet hours for noise complaints operate from 10pm until 6am, meaning that if she begins playing after 6am, she isn’t breaching any rules.
He added: “But I’m losing my mind. I’ve tried earplugs, white noise machines, and sleeping in my living room. Nothing blocks out the violin music directly above my bedroom. I’m making mistakes at work because I’m so sleep-deprived.
“The apartment management says it’s not their problem since both leases allow practice hours. They suggested I find a different apartment if the music bothers me. I can’t afford to move; I just paid first/last/deposit here. She can’t change her schedule without losing income from students.”
He then sought guidance from commenters on how the pair could coexist harmoniously.
Numerous respondents suggested he approach his neighbour about practising with a mute, a compact device that clips onto a violin’s bridge to muffle vibrations and lower the instrument’s volume.
Mutes aren’t an ideal remedy, as they also alter the violin’s tone.
However, the neighbours might strike a compromise whereby she rehearses with the mute for the initial few hours before discarding it at a more civilised time.
One individual remarked: “Could she practice with a mute from 6:00-7:30? Then practice without from 7:30-9:00? I completely understand your frustration.”
Another commented: “This sounds incredibly frustrating. Unfortunately for your sleep, she is totally within her rights. It might be worth asking her about a practice mute. I highly recommend investing in sound cancelling headphones!”.
