muting the sound of a grand

[Wimblees@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 5/3/00 5:26:46 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
bases-loaded@juno.com writes:

<< He asked me yesterday what recommendations I might suggest to make the
 piano significantly muted so that he can practice without disturbing the
 neighbors too much.  (We have already voiced the piano down as far as he
 wanted me to go.)  
 
 According to him, a friend of his "has heard of" such a product.  Are any
 of you aware of such a thing?
 
 The only thing I told him was to cover up the whole works top and bottom
 with a thick blanket.  He has some digital instruments, but prefers to
 practice on the real thing, for obvious reasons....
 
 Any suggestions? >>


This is not going to solve the problem of softening the piano, but my 
suggestion would be that he plays the piano during "normal" hours, and the 
let the apartment complex hear what he is playing. As long as he doesn't do 
strange things, and doesn't play too loud, I doubt neighbors will complain. 
If there is a neighbor who sleeps during "normal" hours, perhaps a schedule 
can be arranged. 

Hearing your neighbors playing the piano, or hearing their stereos, TVs, 
etc., are all part of living in an apartment complex. If neighbors cooperate, 
there is room for all of it. 

If he wants to practice at "odd" hours, he can plug in the ear phones on the 
digital. 

Willem