How To Create The Perfect Music Practice Space

Lessonface Music Studio, Online Music Lessons

Tuesday, May 7th 2013

Renting a studio can be the best way to achieve your musical goals.

Practicing music isn’t always easy. You oftentimes have to deal with keeping the noise level down while simultaneously keeping the passion level high, and finding the time for practice can be a challenge - although one definitely worth overcoming. If you’re a drummer in the city, for example, you may need to practice off your instrument, rent a studio space, and learn how to work with your neighbors. Those lessons can also be applied to just about any other instrument that might occasionally bother a neighbor with thin walls.

This article will focus on creating the perfect music practice space by looking at two options: renting a studio and soundproofing.

Renting A Studio

This is by far the easiest solution. Unfortunately, it’s also the most expensive, and thanks to the commute - which will vary entirely upon your personal situation - the most time consuming. That being said, having your own studio you can access whenever you want is truly liberating musically. A simple internet search like “music rehearsal studios” with your city or town tacked on at the end should get you off and running.

There are several important factors to consider in choosing which studio to rent, however:

The lease: Many studios will offer month-to-month leases, and these are the best. But, if you do sign a longer-term lease, for several months or even a year, make sure you are financially set and won’t have to uproot yourself for a new job or other major issue in short order. Also, if you’re going to commit to a longer lease, ask for a reduction in the price. A savings of 5-10% would be pretty reasonable.
Sharing your studio: In order to lower the costs, many musicians or bands choose to share their studios. This is a great idea, but you’ll need to hammer out all the details before you sign anything. Who will be in charge of collecting rent? What happens if someone is late? Who will be using which equipment? Where will your stuff be stored when it’s not in use?
Insurance: Make sure your landlord has insurance and that you’ll be covered in the case of theft or damage. Don’t show up one day and find thousands of dollars worth of equipment missing or ruined with nothing to help you replace it.
Take photos before you move in: It’s always a good idea to photograph any space before you sign on the dotted line - whether it’s an apartment or even a rental car - because you don’t want to be blamed for damage you didn’t cause.
Equipment: Amps, cords, instruments, PAs, computers - all of this needs to be carefully considered. Are you open to sharing in order to cut down on clutter and redundancy? What happens if drum heads are broken or an amp blows? Who replaces it? Not everything can be planned for in advance, but the less you leave to chance, the better off you’ll be.

Soundproofing

Foambymail.com Offers Eggcrate Soundproofing Options

Soundproofing your basement or a room in your apartment can be the most effective way of avoiding problems with neighbors or loved ones. The problem with soundproofing is twofold:

You’ve got to have the space
You may not be able to make serious changes if you don’t own the place

Cosmetic changes can make a big difference though; for example, covering the entire floor with carpet and taking some eggcrate foam to the walls can both lower the overall sound bleed and improve the acoustics. These are also relatively inexpensive solutions. Heading to your local fabric shop or carpet outlet can lead to a good price, and there are plenty of sites out there that offer deals, like OnlineFabricStore.com.

Putting up your eggcrate foam with a simple nail can do the trick, but if you want to get really fancy, consider soundproofing insulation. There are various types of soundproofing insulation, and you may want to ask one of our drum teachers for help during a lesson, since they’re likely to have the most experience with the process. If you book a lesson with Lessonface drum teacher Todd Isler, he can share some info on how he built his custom, raised soundproofed drum booth in his Brooklyn apartment. Another option is to check out a site like SoundProofCow.com, where they offer a free acoustic analysis.