Do you know what to get for that aspiring musician on your list? No? Well, here are some ideas:
Metronome: these annoying little gadgets should be every musician's best friend. Proper use will instill a sense of timing that will greatly help your musician's rhythm. Plus, their teacher will love you!
Tuner: another very useful little gadget, that you will also grow to love. Unless you like hearing "Jingle Bells" in a minor key, you'll want your musician to have one so every note can be pitch-perfect. As an added bonus, you can get clip-on tuners, or even metronome-tuners, that contain both functions.
Stand: another essential for every musician that uses music (yes, that's all of my students). Of course, if your musician plays entirely by ear, and has no desire or need to use music, then this is less helpful. They come in folding varieties that are easy to transport, nice sturdy black stands, even extra tall stands for the giants among my students!
Assorted music: if you know what kind of music your musician enjoys, and their approximate level, you can pick up some extra sheet music for them to enjoy.
Subscription to Strings: This is a great magazine with something for every string player! I'm a subscriber, so if you want to check it out first, I've got several copies at the studio. There is so much in every issue for such a low price; I'm still reading issues back at least 6 months!
Tickets to the Symphony: Every musician needs inspiration and motivation, and nothing is quite so inspiring and motivating as watching a really good symphony perform live. I have a whole list of local symphonies up on the website.
CD's of really good musicians: Not quite as good as watching live, but these you can listen to over and over again! Joshua Bell and Itzhak Perlman are my two favorite violinists. Or, get them a CD of some alternative music - jazz, fiddle, even rock can be great fun.
A new instrument. Yep, there's always room to upgrade. Investing in a really nice instrument that your musician can really shine on will really help them go far with their music. Plus, they might even want to practice!
An electric instrument. Do you and your musician have conflicting ideas of when a good time to practice is? Maybe they only like to play after 10pm, but you need to sleep because you have to get up at 5am? (this was the case when I was a teenager!) Well, an electric instrument can help calm the waters and make everyone happy. Just have your musician plug it into some headphones, and they'll be able to hear themselves play, and you'll be able to sleep.
A box of pencils. Great stocking-stuffers. Musicians can't get enough of them. That, and a good eraser.
A book about music. Music history, composers, history of stringed instruments, music dictionaries, famous musicians, music in film - there's tons of options. There's even book/CD combos out there that can allow your favorite musician to pop in the CD, and read about the composer they're listening to.
Specific upgrades to their current instrument. Whether it's a new case, a new/better bridge, a better chinrest, more effective shoulder rest, new strings, new/better pegs, or a new bow, upgrades can be made to their current instrument that can really make a world of difference in their playing.
Get their current instrument maintained. Yes, that's right, instruments require regular maintenance, and it really does make a big difference. A simple-seeming adjustment to their bridge or soundpost can make all the colors really blossom.
Nice headphones to help your musician listen to themselves or their favorite CD. This way, you won't have to get tired of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, or even the Vivaldi a minor.
Nice rosin. Rosin? Yes. A small cake that can really do wonders. While the cheap little $5 cakes work, mostly, some really nice rosin can really improve your musician's playing.
Instrument Stand. If your musician has a safe place they can display their instrument (out of the reach of pets and small children), these can really get a musician practicing! Ever hear the saying, "The hardest part about practicing is getting the instrument out of the case"? Well, it's true. If the instrument is hanging up, visible, your musician will practice a lot more.
Okay, I hope that gives you some ideas. If you're still stuck, there are any number of "Music Gifts" at both your local music stores and your favorite online music store.
Happy Playing!
