Hi all! I'm new to this forum...first forum I've joined actually. I have been playing the flute for 13 years but have recently stopped playing because I moved into an apartment and have not the balls to play knowing that my neighbors can hear me. I've never been one to play for others so it's very important to me that I find a way to play with no audible noise. I've heard of flute silencers where you can somehow hook the flute up to a contraption and then hook up some headphones to the contraption. I have no clue what said contraption is or if it even exists. Can anyone please help me out?! I really miss my flute

Find a headjoint with a darker low volume tone. This will help a lot. High volume bright tones with tons of harmonics will definetely go through the walls.

I know, I live in an appartement too. Once practiced with a Sankyo NRS-1, and a (ignorant) neighbour thought I was playing a saxophone!

I'v eheard of these silencers but they are for Trumpet. They are inserted like a mute and a headphone mini-RCA is available for the player. You can almost not hear anything. This is not possible for the flute. The only possible thing is to make a relatively soundproof room which is fairly costly.

Music is for performance. I would only fear playing if the others in the apartment complain about the noise. They could have you evicted because of the volume. Otherwise your fear of being disliked may just improve your playing.

you could just go and ask them if they would mind you practising during the day and arange a time with them when you could practise and for a certain amount of time with out them complaining and if you have been playing for that long you should be pretty good anyway

Practice in front of the TV set with its volume turned up. You can wear ear plugs or headphones if the TV distracts you.

I have lived in many apts. so I understand your consternation, go ahead and practice and let them complain, then find an alternative, I have rarely had a problem. Also, try to practice when you know they are gone, if you can't do that and do get complaints, then do what another contributor said and find a local church or meeting hall..I did that once and played for free a few times a month for use of the space to practice, I got some students and some good gigs out of it and the accoustics were amazing..

Did anyone see what Leigh said?

She has it correct. Just ask the neighbors, and if they say they will complain, say, "Well, I have to practice, it is what I do." I will try to do it when you are away if possible."

Be as nice as can be, and they will let you. You have a right to live your life after all!

Good pure answer from a young mind!

You may want to try putting some blue tack (or similar removeable sticky gum) on the lip plate, after the embouchure hole (your lips, the embouchure hole, the blue tack). It messes up with the air vibration and lower the flute volume. Experiment with placement and height of the blue tack.