Another option would be to encourage
your neighbors to purchase a set of
synthesizer drums. These play in exactly the same was as a conventional
drum
kit, but are basically rubber drumheads (and cymbals) "powered" by
electronic
synthesizers that can be played through earphones. The rest of the
world
hears a sound no larger than you might hear if you were drumming on a
pillow, but
the sound in the earphones are recordings of real drums. Go visit the
Washington Music Center on University Blvd in Wheaton and you'll see a
good range
of options (and not wildly expensive).
I used to live in an apartment, and, in an effort to maintain civil
relations with my neighbors, I bought a digital grand piano that could
also be played
through earphones. Problem solved, 24/7. Same goes for my electric
guitars
-- I hooked up a system whereby I could play along with my stereo and
feed
all the signals to the headphones -- at full volume in the middle of
the
night, and no one the wiser.
There's been a revolution in electronic instruments -- many kinds are
now
available in electronic versions, strings and reeds, included. Smaller,
often
more versatile, they sound good and play well, and some never go out of
tune
(like my piano)!
Chip Levy
Jenifer Street
************
**Play online games for FREE at Games.com! All of your
favorites,
no registration required and great graphics – check it out!
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1211202682x1200689022/aol?redir=
http://www.games.com?ncid=emlcntusgame00000001)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]