When I first read about the residents of McCordsville who lodged noise complaints against the music at Daniel’s Vineyard, I thought: “Those poor folks, being kept up until the wee hours of the morning!” I figured the music would have to be unreasonably late for so many people to be upset.
I went to the website for the vineyard, and the hours listed for entertainment were Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 5 in the afternoon, and Saturday evenings from 6 to 9. They also have a concert series on Fridays from 7 to 10 p.m.
These are not excessively late for music on weekend nights. It’s important to allow the vineyard to have music, as this will make it a destination place and bring commerce into the area. Agritourism is a vital part of our Indiana culture and should be encouraged.
Rather than detracting from the quality of life, I would think music would add to it. Free live music, and you don’t even have to get dressed up and leave your house? I feel entertainment is the kind of thing that would make someplace attractive to move to in the first place.
It’s possible that not everyone is as much of an enthusiastic music fan like I am. But we are talking about professional musicians here, or at least bands who are good enough to be booked for a real gig. It’s not the same as having to listen to some novice practice a squeaky clarinet or screechy violin.
It sounds like the noise ordinance in McCordsville is too restrictive if it allows residents to call the police if youngsters are making noise playing in a pool. That’s what they do; it’s called childhood. (But I am sympathetic; I was recently around a pool and had “Marco, Polo” stuck in my head for the rest of the day. Was I annoyed? Absolutely. Did I complain or try to curtail the dumbest game ever invented? Of course not.)
That said, Daniel’s Vineyard should be willing to make some accommodations out of respect for the neighbors. The way it stands now, there are about 12 hours a week when music is possible. Cutting out a time slot would make sense, or else consolidating the Saturday hours to one shortened block like 2 to 7 p.m.
Why not also survey those in closest proximity to see when they would prefer music? Maybe then it would be clear what times are more problematic—evenings when parents are trying to get the kids to bed, or afternoons when folks are out working in the yard? People are less likely to object when they feel they have had some input.
Also, the music at the vineyard needs to be turned down. How do I know this, despite not having been there? Because generally everywhere I go I think the music could be about half of the current volume. If a resident living 1.5 miles away can still hear it then it’s far too loud. How about some kind of sound-absorbing wall? Structure(s) that help to contain the music to the vineyard grounds could go a long way to making peace with the community.
How about acoustic music. Like old-fashioned instruments that don’t need to be plugged in. It might change the schedule of bands but it might also add some diversity to the lineup. And if it enables the music to continue then I’d think the pro-music faction might consider the change worth it.
This is a solvable problem. The parties involved need to commit to a dialogue in which solutions are proposed. There is a reasonable compromise right around the corner.
Stephanie Haines is a Greenfield native. She can be reached through her website, www.stephaniehaines.com.
