Practicing the piano, accordion, drums or violin at home can be expensive. The proposed amendment to the Public Order Protection Law provides for fines between 150 and 300 euros for anyone who disturbs the peace using musical instruments.
Katja Valič’s family found out the hard way that noise takes an increasingly high toll. The daughter is learning to play the piano and practices at home, or used to practice, because since the police rang her doorbell things have changed.
“The two police officers explained to my daughter that this is prohibited at any time of the day, all week long. The piano can never be played if it bothers anyone.”
For Dragica Kunaver, the problem was a violin. The son doesn’t want to give up his musical instrument, but the solution isn’t easy.
“My son, very sad, went to the basement, to the storage room, where he barely found a corner to play his violin bow in peace.”
The change in the law in Slovenia is generating criticism among experts and music schools. Simon Bučar, founder of Bučar Music School, considers that these restrictions could have negative consequences on the training of young people.
“Instead of encouraging playing instruments, these laws stifle it and promote more screen time. That’s what should be limited, not playing an instrument.”
Organizations linked to the promotion of childhood argue that the law should provide exceptions for playing instruments during the day, for example between 8am and 9pm, and suggest mediation mechanisms between neighbors before imposing fines.
