Music Teachers, Students, Children and Adults:
It’s time to find the best Holiday Music Gifts!
As the Director of Music at Encore/Coda, every summer I go through our camp inventory and search for all the music supplies and accessories we will need for the summer. More often than not, I take note of things I want to buy for myself or for my students. I’m excited to share what I’ve come across as you search for holiday gift ideas!
PRACTICAL GIFTS
As an oboist who needs to constantly buy reed and instrument supplies, I know the value of a practical music gift! Take a few items off of your musician’s monthly supplies budget with these suggestions:
–Metronome/Tuners: Our staff continue to tell me how much they love our screen-free policy. In fact, it has inspired some to get rid of their metronome/tuner apps and instead go back to the trusty Korg-brand hand held metronomes for their practice. Let’s get rid of screens when we focus on our instrument!
–Reed Case: I know we don’t all play woodwinds, but cases can be practical and fun! Feel free to find more ornate cases by googling “Fancy Reed Cases”. I was given this reed case by my oboe teacher when I graduated high school and I still use it today!
–Music Stand Light: Perfect for performances, or for fun mood lighting when you’re practicing at 4:00pm and it’s dark outside!
-Instrument Specific items like rosin, swabs, oil, cleaning cloths, the list goes on! Musicarts.com is a great resource for instrument supplies.
-Tea for Vocalists! For those that need to take care of their voice, Throat Coat Tea or any tea with Honey, Lemon, and Ginger are great (and cozy!) gift ideas. Upgrade this gift to a tea gift basket and include actual honey and lemons with a customized mug!
Customizable Gifts
You can customize anything these days. In fact, I recently designed a Memory Jar for our directors emeritus during our 75th alumni reunion that looks great and was filled with meaningful memories. Check out the Personalization Mall for all your customization needs!
–Mugs or Tumblers: You can upgrade this gift by also getting a mug warmer to keep the cozy drinks warm during a long day of lesson teaching.
–Music Notebook: The multitude of styles of notebooks found at Ink & Volt will give you the perfect notebook, customized towards your musician’s needs.
–Pencils: I love to give a music pencil to my students along with some candy and a certificate after a recital. There are some good bulk options on the Personalization Mall website. Level up your recital goodie-bag game!
–Personalized Sheet Music Folder: This is the first item on my own holiday gift list. A quality folder is important for all musicians, and you can emboss these folders with the name of your musician! Give a practical and meaningful gift with these folders.
Artistic Gifts
–Concert Tickets: Ticketmaster has gift cards! You can also get Broadway Gift Cards for any on-or-off-broadway production in NYC. Now I can gift someone a concert without needing to see their availability calendar!
–Books: This book comes highly recommended and helps anyone by inspiring their creativity. There are so many books out there that could work as great gifts, from novels to memoires. Don’t get a music dictionary or anything like that. This reddit thread gives a lot of great suggestions (I’ve already added some of these to my personal reading list!)
-Music Quote Print or Artwork: A meaningful DYI gift: find your favorite musician quote, design the text on your computer, buy a frame from Target, and you’ve given your musician their next practice-room inspiring wall art! Here are some example quotes:
Beethoven: “Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets.”
Sibelius: “Music begins where the possibilities of language end.”
Stravinsky: “I haven’t understood a bar of music in my life, but I have felt it.”
Louis Armstrong: “What we play is life.”
Gift of Gratitude
Finally, nothing can ever beat a handwritten thank you letter. I just spoke with a camper interviewing to be a CIT for our camp. During the interview she pulled out a letter her counselor had written her at the end of the camp season. This letter meant so much to this camper! Everyone needs thoughtful encouragement, and what better way to strengthen the bonds in our musical community than expressing our gratitude in writing!
Give the letter accompanied with some chocolate, and you just might be the best gift giver this season. I hope you enjoyed these suggestions and that your holidays are filled with music!
