SOLO: a Macau piano room designed around soundproofing
If you want to play at three in the morning, you can. These rooms were built so that people could practise at full volume — close the door and you do not need to watch the clock, or think about the other side of the wall.
For musicians in Macau, the hard part about renting somewhere to practise has never been the rent. It is whether you will disturb anyone.
So everyone works out their own way around it: nothing after ten at night; the soft pedal held down the whole time; a mute in the bell; or an electronic keyboard and headphones. You get the practice in, but not the sound you meant to make.
Avoid complaints from practising at home
Most homes in Macau are in high-rise blocks, where flats share walls and floor slabs and sound travels easily. Everyday residential noise is handled by the Public Security Police Force, and complaints of this kind have accounted for sixty to seventy per cent of all noise complaints in Macau for years.
At home you fit around family and neighbours
Most people practise in one of three places: at home, in a music-shop room rented by the hour, or in a school or orchestra rehearsal room.
At home the hours have to fit around family and neighbours. Music-shop rooms are mostly built for piano, so bringing your own instrument does not always work. School and orchestra spaces run on a schedule, so practising on the spur of the moment may not be possible.
The same piano, heard from next door
* These are soundproofing design figures; the real-world result varies with the structure of the building.
24 hours, play when you like
The room is already built. You move in, close the door, and play right through at a volume you would not normally dare use.
Finished work at two in the morning and want to play? Come straight up. No waiting for daylight, and nobody to ask.
An ordinary flat vs SOLO
Leave your instrument, in a room that is yours
Sheet music, a stand, your instrument, your gear, your music bag — all of it can stay in the room. Next time you open the door, sit down, and pick up where you left off.
The room is yours long term, so there is no booking each time and no checking whether a slot is free.
More than just a room
24 hours, play as much as you like
Come up at any hour, and play at your usual volume without worrying about disturbing anyone.
No booking each time
The room is yours long term. Come up whenever you want, without checking whether a slot is free.
Shared lounge
Sit down, wait for someone, or have something to eat in the lounge — you do not have to stay in the room.
Water dispenser
Practise for hours without going out to buy water.
Wi-Fi
Useful for reading scores, listening to reference recordings and uploading video.
Individual air conditioning
Each room sets its own temperature; nothing to agree with anyone else.
To see a room, message us on WeChat
No forms, no waiting list to join. Tell us what you play and roughly when you would like to start, and we will come back with what is available and what it costs.
If a room is free we will arrange a time for you to come and hear it. If we are full, we will put you on the waiting list and let you know the moment something opens up.
Common questions
To arrange a viewing, get in touch
SOLO is a 24-hour self-service piano room in Macau, with long-term studios designed around soundproofing from MOP 2,000 a month. Tell us what you play and roughly when you would like to start; we will come back with what is available and what it costs, then arrange a time to show you round. If we are full, we can put you on the waiting list.
WeChat · arrange a viewing WhatsApp +853 6825 3513Long term from MOP 2,000/month · large, medium and small rooms · Open 24 hours · * Please book viewings in advance