Grateful Utah Parents Praise This Mute Option for Children Learning an Instrument

If you have a child who has learned or is learning a musical instrument, you know how the hours of practice can wear on you. My son played the trombone and listening to the same four notes repeated for an hour had me jamming fingers in my ears. 

Technology Mutes Brass Instruments for Others During Practice 

I felt guilty for cheering in my heart when he gave up the trombone for the guitar. It is good to know that I’m not the only parent that has felt this way as proven by this technology developed by Yamaha to make practice less grating for people nearby. 

The Silent Mute is a device that goes in the end of the horn or brass instrument that quiets the sound for others and provides an earphone jack for the student to hear what they are playing. This invention is right up there with the refrigerator, wheel, and flushable wipes. 

Parents Cheer for Piano That Plays Through Headphones 

I talked with John Sato from the Piano Gallery recently and he told me about a piano that has the same kind of option. If you push a peddle down it only plays through headphones.

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This way your child can bang those keys, and you only have to hear it when it's perfect. Of course, this might make it easier for them to get out of practicing. How would you know if it really happened if you couldn’t hear it. 

If you have a neighbor in a band who practices in their garage you could suggest these mutable instruments so you are no longer treated to a free concert every evening. Of course, you also might end up with a drum stick in your ear.