Christmas gift ideas for musicians

Now every musician will probably want something very pricey, like a new instrument perhaps? Or an amp or mic or something like that. So what can you give to a musician for Christmas that doesn't cost the earth?

Here are a few tips for affordable musical gifts:

• Pencils - every musician needs a pencil even if they use a lot of technology. You can never have enough pencils and to make them a little more special as a gift you can give them ones with musical patterns. Actually any musical looking stationery will do. There are just so many options, here are just a few!

• Flash Drives

• Mugs

• Jewelry

Cufflinks for a guy

• Personalised gifts, such as guitar picks with the persons name on or a meaningful message.

                                                         

• A musical looking clock. Make sure it is not a loud ticking one as this can be very annoying while teaching.

• Awesome looking musical ornaments that can add to the aesthetics of a music room. This may be more personal as not everyone likes useless paraphernalia and it may also need to be instrument specific.

So those are just some ideas. Remember that music is a very personal thing, so if you want to spend a little more money on a loved one, don't be shy to ask them exactly what their needs or wants are. If you plan on buying a keyboard, for example, the person will probably have the exact one that they want in mind. You will save so much stress, anxiety and money if you just organise it with them. In the case that you really want it to be a surprise, maybe make your own 'gift card' for them and then after the Christmas madness you can go together to carefully pick out the item that the person wants.

Disclaimer: None of the above pictures belong to me. If you are in South Africa you can get some wonderful gifts from www.musicalgifts.co.za. They are based in Pretoria.

Looking back

What I will miss 2.

Staffroom teas

Amazing students who give me lovely gifts

Thank You Gifts

I really have been spoilt this year as I have been given such lovely gifts from students. I love scented candles and these vanilla ones are so gorgeous that I almost don't want to burn them. They smell so amazing as they are. Such a lovely Matric student gave me these and I am so excited because I am going to be teaching her again next year. She has progressed so well on the saxophone and did her Trinity Guildhall Grade 5 examination last month. She only started playing music in grade 8 at school, and has worked so diligently to achieve what she has done. Such a proud teacher :-)

Treble clef pendant

I'm so delighted by this beautiful pendant that one of my very special Matric students gave me as a thank you gift. It was accompanied by such a lovely note and really made me feel so special. I have been wearing it every day since I got it. It's amazing how sometimes we are so blessed by the people we have in our lives and do not always realise that we are making an impact on their lives. My students are the best part of my job. They teach me new lessons each day and they inspire me to be a better person. They have also helped me so much through the last three years, and the girl who gave me this pendant has been my 'right-hand man' at school this year. It is my prayer that each of the students I have taught, will be continuously inspired by the music that they learn and that they will take everything they have learnt with them when they leave school, even if they do not continue to play music. Although, I do hope that they would be able to have the freedom to continue to enjoy music.