Living in a flat and want to play, but not to go to war with the neighbours? You do not have to stop or play in secret. Just pick an instrument you can play at full volume through headphones, or quieten the one you already have. We show you the top quiet instruments for a flat and a few tips that keep anyone from hearing you through the wall.

The concert flute is one of the most beautiful and versatile wind instruments, but it is easy to get lost among the models on your first purchase. We explain how it differs from the recorder, what to watch for in the keys and material, and which concert flute suits a beginner or a child.

The violin is one of the most beautiful, but also most demanding instruments to start on. It has no frets, so you have to find every note by ear, and bowing is a science of its own. We tell you what you need, how to start with holding the violin and bow, and how long it takes to play your first melody.