Songwriter Forum > Recording

Can't find a good place to practice/record

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Killjoy:
This is one of those frustrating things that I'm sure most musicians undoubtebly face st some point. I play piano and sing and my biggest obstace to going full om with recoeidng my album is that I don't have the most suitable facilities. I live in a shared house and there is almost ALWAYS other people in the house, this means that A: there is unwanted noise whilst I wish to record, and B: my window of practice time is very small as I don't want to annoy the other tenants. I also can't seem to get anywhere near my level of vocals that I produce when home alone, like other people beong around prohibits me from exerting my full voice.

If I played guitar instead, then it would be easier as I could take my guitar and practice in a chosen private area somewhere...but my piano is big and stationary so I only have this sspace. My university campus does have music rooms with pianos in them, but there is so much surrounding noise from other people practicing and also I really don't like the way the pianos sound there.

Are there any solutions to this type of situation? Or am I just stuck with only being able to go full on on the rare occassion that I have the house to myself?

CaliaMoko:
Does the university have a recital hall that is sometimes idle and that they would consider letting you reserve for specific periods of time?

Killjoy:
I'm honestly not too sure, but I could find out. I'd imagine that they would just tell me to use the practice facilities though.

CaliaMoko:
I would try going to the music office or dean or director or whatever/whoever you think might have some authority, explain your dilemma, and ask if there is a possibility the music department could help you solve it. I think such a person would understand the noisy environment of the practice room area won't work for recording. And, where I live, there's a nice grand piano in the recital hall.

cowparsleyman:
Hmmm, there are a few workarounds here, one is to do everything in the box, that is use VSTs of pianos etc. but plonking out MIDI notes for a pianist aint no fun at all.

Do you have a MIDI keyboard, it would at least enable you to practice with cans on, make some progress towards getting your album ready to track, and then you might not need so long.

Even if the rehearsal room were empty you'd have to spend quite a while getting the mics placed just right, (mic'ing up a Grand can be quite fiddly)

Anyway, not much help really, let me know what you manage to sort out...Which Uni is it? and what are you reading?

Best of luck with your results...

Another way is to get the musicians that are in the rehearsal room to practice your  album, unlikely but worth a punt, or join a society that might make this possible.

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