Practise in my apartment

[NorthSax]

I live in a high-rise apartment. Is there a device, baffle, silencer, or other accessory I can obtain to greatly reduce the sound when I practice?

NorthSax

[Thomas]

stuff a sock in the bell-you can buy commercial mutes but a sock works as well and we all have some of "those" socks-you know the ones whose mate was eaten in the laundry.

[gary]

Regarding socks, the sound still comes out all the other holes. I've seen cats drape cloth over the bell, as well. Do you have a walk-in closet? I had a small one and ran some speakers into it for play-alongs. The closet was well-stocked with sound-baffling clothes. Worked well but I had to have a chat with the neighbor whose apartment adjoined the closet wall-and with no problem.

I've had that thing that looks like a gig-bag that you put your horn in but has openings for the hands. It definiteyy cut down the sound but, for my horn, the octave key kept hanging and there were some problems with hand position.

In the past, and in your same predicament, I have found places (aside from the closet) in storage rooms, and apartment complex's party room, the underground garage. Sometimes I have given up the convenience of practicing "at home" and found room in church buildings to practice in. That actually worked really well except I got tired dragging my music stand, boom box, books etc.

[JS]

I've been running into this problem for years - when I was living in Philly, I used to put a wadded-up t-shirt in the bell of the horn, I even used to put towels in the windows to mute the sound. Once I got married and moved into another apartment, I went to the local Guitar Center and bought what they call the "Roominator" - for $400, I got a ton of sound-proofing foam and other goodies - it's really helped out. Sure, it's not a permantent fix, and yes, you can still hear the horn outside, but now it's no louder than a small stereo, and better yet - no one complains!