How not to make your neighbor go insane.

I often hear from my students how difficult to practice without annoying some people around them, their families, roommates or their neighbors. Even if the student didn't get the actual complaints, he/she is still dealing with the fear of disturbing some people, makes him/her less want to practice.

A simple solution, use a practice mute.

Here is what I use.

The metal one is heavier, so it reduces the sound quite more than the rubber one. Just be careful when you use the metal one. If the violin is tilted when you're holding the violin (when not playing), it could come off and damage the top plate of your violin. I had a similar situation and it almost made a scratch mark on my violin.

I use the rubber one for my 5-string violin (I cut one more slit by myself). It reduces the volume, but not too much, if you prefer to hear more sound.

They also sell the one that combines the metal and rubber which seems quite nice, having the good features from both.

Both are pretty inexpensive to get and will certainly let you practice anytime you want without disturbing anyone.

Enjoy your practice!