If you are concerned about guests hearing you, my flute teacher suggested playing in front of the TV with the volume turned up. I never tested this suggestion, so I can't guarantee that it works.
I wouldn't try to practice in front of a TV with the volume cranked up...That's just going to make it difficult to hear yourself, and likely result in a decrease in tone quality and a general lack of musicality (not to mention increase the overall volume level). As for suggestions, if you're going to practice, do it at a reasonable hour when others won't be trying to sleep (I prefer afternoons for this), and should anyone complain, be a responsible guest and lay off the practicing. Other than that, it's pretty much business as usual.
Regardless of how loud the TV is, all it serves as is a distraction. There's no reason to use it...It won't mask the sound of the flute unless you have it LOUD, and in fact will only up the overall volume level coming from your room (just by virtue of it being on, though you'll likely end up trying to play over it, and thus playing even louder than you would if it weren't on at all). Such "background" noise is only likely to make the value of practice time decline....You wouldn't try to practice near a freeway if you could help it, so why do it with the TV, radio, or any other item making noise around you? Musicianship and tone are likely to suffer from such auditory distractions...And if you have limited practice time in a less-than-ideal situation, tone should be one of the biggest items you're working on.
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And to Patrick, I have no doubt that that's true...I've heard some mighty interesting tales myself!
when im home and practicing, i play with my stereo on, music playing. rock music. i, personally, would say if youre ok with the whole tv thing, try it. when i stay at hotels and i practice, if a balcony is avail, i practice out there during the afternoon. that way its not inside and people cant complain and its during hours that a "quiet period" is requested by hotel management and staff.
actually, the reason for daily rigorous disciplined practice is so that, when you are on a trip, you can still play great even though you can't practice...when I travel all I think about is sleep and food...
When I travel all I think about is sleep and food...
I usually getup at 4 am. Not to mention I’m thinking about making prefect 500 or higher, (in competitions). But I have most of my day free to do what ever I want. So should put my time to some use.
when im home and practicing, i play with my stereo on, music playing. rock music.
Let me get this straight: You're listening to one kind of music while you're playing another, in a different key, in a different meter, fitting over different chords? Can you say cacophony? It seems to me anyone who would even consider such a thing is automatically disqualified from the discipline of music--at any level. If I were in the same room with you, I'd throw the stereo at your head.
Unless you're practicing pianissimo passages, I think you're better off taking a walk outside and looking for a park to play in. I used to do this with my cornet all the time. There's also such a thing as mental practice.
when i stay at hotels and i practice, if a balcony is avail, i practice out there during the afternoon. that way its not inside and people cant complain and its during hours that a "quiet period" is requested by hotel management and staff.
This is bound to be even more disturbing to the persons on either side of your room and directly below and above your room.