Mutes come in all different sizes, and most are used for effect in orchestral pieces. But for those of you who are planning on practicing in shared spaces with thin walls like apartments or dorm rooms, you probably want to consider getting a practice mute so you don’t get noise complaints from your neighbors =) It really dampens the sound, and the great thing about that is you can still concentrate on normal bowing technique and applying pressure without worrying about making too much noise.