As most people in Genoa, we live in an apartment block. In Genoa city very few people live in houses - there simply is no land where to build them. But this being Italy, we are not talking about high rising ghettos: the apartment blocks are normally 5-6 floors, very close to each other, carefully painted in calming colours such as muted yellow, mauve, light pink or light blue. The buildings look quite pretty, grouped close to each other. We live on the second floor and next to us is an elderly lady and one other family. I have not yet seen the inhabitants of the two other apartments.
I used to live in a block of flats as a child in Finland, so I instinctively know the rules: don't bang the door, don't shout in the corridor, and always say hello to neighbours. The biggest problem is noise. For example, you are not supposed to drag a chair on the floor - you are expected to lift it up and put it in its place with as little noise as possible. Plus you have to put soft, sticky material under the legs of any furniture to avoid leaving any marks on the parque floor and limit - yes, you guessed it - noise.
I happen to play the flute. It is a beautiful instrument and most people like the sound of a flute. Playing couple of merry tunes every now and then would not really matter. But practicing scales and endless technical exercises could easily strain the relationship even with the most patient neighbours, if they feel that an overdose is being administered. I asked the landlord if it would be ok to play. He did not think it would be an issue. The building is quite sound proof, he assured me.
I discussed this with some people who play instruments for a living. And they are telling quite intresting stories about how to combine apartment living, neighbours and music. My flute teacher, an American lady living in Genoa, said that their neighbours first started knocking on the walls. Then they got together and approached her with orders: she can play certain times during the day and only in one particular room. Another friend told me how someone in her apartment block plays drums and was drumming quite late in the evening. The neighbours called the police. It turned out that he studied drumming in the local conservatory and therefore, the police told the neighbours that - as it is important for him professionally - he is allowed to play up until 11 o'clock in the evening. I have some sympathy for the neighbours in this case but playing late at night is not as unsual as one might think. Italians have a very different rhytm to the day compared to many other nations. The only time that is absolutely sacred is the midday lunch/rest: practically everything stops between 12.30-15.00 and that is the time everyone expects to have some peace and quiet.
Armed with these stories, I have now identified a room (a small storage room originally) in our apartment. I only play between 10 am to noon, as most people are at work. Between 1600 - 18000 is quite allright as well.
Then last weekend, Saturday night, our apartment building suddenly came to life. There was at least one lively childrens' party on our floor and a larger gathering somewhere upstairs later in the evening. Dogs were barking in the hallway. Someone was playing the piano until midnight. There was laughter, conversation and the sound of furniture being moved. Somewhere else another person was playing the guitar and singing.
Perhaps playing the flute might not be such a problem after all.
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