I'm just hoping someone can answer this for me.

I share my bedroom with Boba, my Syrian Hamster. I always practice in the lounge because:

a) I don't want to wake him
b) I'm afraid of what damage my tuba playing (or attempts at playing) might do to his delicate little Hamster ears.

We have a vet' in our Band, but she is unsure.

Will my "music" harm him at all if played in the same room as him?

Some (many) animals have much better hearing than humans. They can hear a different range of frequencies, and they can hear noises that are much quieter than humans can hear.

My cat, for example, often does a 'silent meow'. Only, it's not actually silent - it's just at too high a frequency for human ears! She can hear it, and so can other cats.

My cat doesn't like my recorder. I know one reason for this and I think I know a second reason.
Firstly, cats don't like high-pitched noises; kittens make high-pitched squeaks for their mum, so a descant recorder probably sounds like screaming babies to my cat.
Secondly, cats can hear faint noises. So what is a reasonable level of noise to me is proabably VERY LOUD to her.
Very loud screaming babies, that's why she doesn't like the recorder (she is better with the lower pitched recorders).

See if you can find out about how your pet hears! I've just looked at one page where it says hamsters can hear ultrasonic (lower than human hearing), but it didn't say anything about high pitches.
Also bear in mind that if you do play in the presence of your hamster, he will probably get used to it and in the end it won't even wake him up

My cat sits in on some lessons (with prior permission from the student and definately not in children's lessons) and purrs happily throughout. My friend never teaches Hindemith, because she can't, her dogs howl loudly at it.

Have to say, I always thought dogs had a lot of intelligence! Exactly my response to Hindemith!!

My cat hated the violin, but when I used to play the cello, he'd lay across one of my feet.

Dogs, cats and a lot of other animals hear frequencies way above those of a human, and many musical instruments actually emit these sounds as harmonics. We don't hear them, but obviously the sounds upset animals in some way, or at the very least, make them feel uncomfortable, which why they leave the room.

It's funny how they quickly learn what sounds will come from what though. My cat couldn't leave the room fast enough when the violin came out

My violin teacher has three dogs who are always there in my lessons, infact one of them quite often lies just below the music stand on his back, waving his feet in the air and they also sleep under the piano, so the noise can't upset them that much.
Our friends also have dogs that love to be there while we're all playing recorders, although that may have something to do with all their "peolpe" being in the same place and not moving But still, it doesn't bother them.

Maybe dogs are just a bit more willing to put up with it. Cats tend to be a bit more picky about what they will and won't put up with.

My dog sits with me while I am practising, sometimes at my feet sometimes on the sofa and often snores!

My cat sits on top of the piano when I'm practicing; sleeps when I'm singing, and runs a mile when I get the recorder or clarinet out!

I often rehearse with my 7-piece band in the living room where my hamster sleeps. He usually comes out if our drummer is there - when he is assembling his kit. Otherwise, he stays tucked up in his nest until everyone has gone home. I don't think it worries him at all. When he is cross he makes it known by "tutting" but has never done this for band practice.

Past hamsters have ignored my own practicing but have come out and had a look when I am singing (the only living creatures to appear to enjoy it, but who knows....)

I used to have a cat who liked walking up and down the piano keys. He would do this both when I was trying to play and when there was no one in the room.

One of my rats was the same, she loved me singing at her. But then, she was a little strange

my cat stays in the room if I play the piano but quickly runs out if I play the violin! I don't think hamsters ears will get 'hurt' by Tuba playing, like someone else said, it will probably get used to it. see how it reacts, if it makes him/her run like crazy around the cage then maybe he/she doesn't like it?

Our Dog always heads for the front lounge when someone experienced is playing the Piano. She doesn't bother when it's our girls so she can obviously recognise quality playing It's only because their Piano teacher comes wiht a pocket full of treats. Their Recorder teacher is allergic to dogs (only if they touch her) so it's fun keeping the odg out of the way when she's playing piano.

We have two young budgies and one of them loves anything musical. He chirps along with my daughters playing. He particularly makes a noise when it's the Violin. Don't think he's distressed though he seems to be enjoying himself.

Thanks for replies.

I'll give it a try. See what he does. Maybe he'll tap the tune!

Wouldn't worry about it at this stage.

I suppose its like us standing beside a jet engine in full flow. It's most likely deaf by now!!

Awww! He won't be deaf! Mine most certainly isn't and he's had to put up with a LOT.