Jurong neighbours complain woman plays cello almost daily, she says it's only in the afternoon & they're making a fuss

A woman who plays the cello in her Jurong West home every afternoon has faced complaints from four downstairs tenants who claim the music is akin to "sawing wood." The tenants, including a 31-year-old engineer, two university students aged 22 and 23, allege the constant sound disrupts their rest and have resorted to seeking refuge outside their own house during practice sessions.

The cello player, 25-year-old Lin, maintains that the music is her livelihood as she is a music teacher and student at an arts school. She claims to only practice for two hours at a time, starting around 1pm or 2pm each day. Lin asserts that she keeps the doors and windows closed while practising and has resided there for over a decade without any prior complaints.

After receiving complaints from the tenants, the landlord sought help from the Community Mediation Centre, which arranged a meeting between the two parties. Lin reportedly did not attend the meeting, insisting that her actions were not causing disturbance. She argued that the tenants, who have been changing over time, should have communicated their concerns directly to her since moving in.

The tenants, bound by a tenancy agreement, cannot move out, and they hope Lin can adjust her practice time or use soundproofing measures. Lin expressed exhaustion due to the ongoing situation, including police involvement, and questioned if playing an instrument in her own home was inherently wrong. She suggested the tenants could study at the library if they required a quiet space.