Imami:

Not about piano but on similar subject - loud noise.

I couldn't help but feel that drumming is even worse. My kid is also doing drumming and I always wonder if I am indirectly spoiling his hearing.

waiyean:

6thisnthat9:

Well spotted Wai Yean!
We received feedback from piano teacher that dc is playing not loud enough. And dc was told to have to play louder at the teacher's studio even though at home practices can be softer. It was then that we realised abt this problem.
So does it mean it is best to put the piano in the living room?

Why not? Any space constraints in the living room, or too much distractions?

waiyean:

6thisnthat9:

Well spotted Wai Yean!
We received feedback from piano teacher that dc is playing not loud enough. And dc was told to have to play louder at the teacher's studio even though at home practices can be softer. It was then that we realised abt this problem.
So does it mean it is best to put the piano in the living room?

Why not? Any space constraints in the living room, or too much distractions?

6thisnthat9:

Well spotted Wai Yean!

We received feedback from piano teacher that dc is playing not loud enough. And dc was told to have to play louder at the teacher's studio even though at home practices can be softer. It was then that we realised abt this problem.
So does it mean it is best to put the piano in the living room?

Dreamaurora:

6thisnthat9:

Well spotted Wai Yean!
We received feedback from piano teacher that dc is playing not loud enough. And dc was told to have to play louder at the teacher's studio even though at home practices can be softer. It was then that we realised abt this problem.
So does it mean it is best to put the piano in the living room?
The current bedroom is furnished w curtains and carpet etc. Dun think we can further reduce the sound reflection.

I think unless your dc is playing some bombastic Rachmaninov or Liszt pieces for hours, you don't have to worry about ear damage. In fact I never have any ear fatigue playing piano despite often having to spend many hours on grand pianos last time during my full time study. Playing violin on other hand is far more risky to the ear as the sound is generated right near the ear lobe. Sometimes I got tinnitus from playing violin too long.

Your current setup is fine. Anyway, if piano teacher feedback that dc is not playing loud enough, it could simply be a case of your dc not playing deep into the keys. Students often sound tiny not because they are not playing with enough strength, but because they play with too shallow touch. Try to ask your dc to make sure the fingers sink all the way down to the bottom of the keys when he/she plays.

6thisnthat9:

Well spotted Wai Yean!

We received feedback from piano teacher that dc is playing not loud enough. And dc was told to have to play louder at the teacher's studio even though at home practices can be softer. It was then that we realised abt this problem.
So does it mean it is best to put the piano in the living room?
The current bedroom is furnished w curtains and carpet etc. Dun think we can further reduce the sound reflection.

waiyean:

85 db is loud, but probably not damaging to ear unless your child practices more than 8 hours a day. In a small room, the sound is bounced off the walls and floor and reflected all over, hence the sound is loud. Your child might be used to playing softly at home, since playing softly already produces 85 db. Other than size of the studio, you also need to consider the acoustics, ie. soundproofing, sound boards on the wall, is it carpeted, etc. Fabric material tends to absorb sound, and hence reduces the dynamics in the room.

If you have to put the piano in the bedroom, you might want to consider placing it on a rug, cover the piano with a thick cover, or even consider putting sound boards on the walls.