<p>This is a repost from the Parent's Cafe - I apologize in advance for my ignorance of this field. My D has been dating a very nice young man for 18 months; they are inseparable, sort of like frick and frack, and they are moving towards permanency. He is graduating in two weeks, and has been named either valedictorian of his school, or of his major (I cannot remember which my daughter said). Whatever it is, he is graduating with top honors (summa????) - the category where you have to have a 3.7 or something - he is graduating with a 4.0 in music engineering, and with a minor in computer science. </p>
<p>I would like to get him a tasteful graduation gift, but I am lost, knowing nothing at all about musicians or even anything about the field. He already has traditional employment beginning after graduation, but then he also has a band, a record label, a recording contract, and some of his work is on iTunes. He plays an instrument but I cannot for the life of me remember what (one of the horns - sax?). </p>
<p>I was sort of thinking it might be nice to get him book that addresses the business issues entertainers/artists face, but I am not sure if any such thing would be worthwhile - agents cover this sort of thing, right? </p>
<p>What I would really like to do is get him something that recognizes his achievement...but...no idea what that might be...any ideas?</p>
<p>lts, you may want to pick your D's brain a bit and see if he's mentioned anything specific in passing, but over the years we've given our son numerous music related gifts. Out of print books and recordings, concert subscription series, music/instrument related artwork (including an autographed William Primrose concert poster). </p>
<p>There are some very nice high quality unique wooden music stands available from a number of (online) sources if appropriate.</p>
<p>I converted his first student viola into an operable table lamp for him. He's said that so far has been his favorite, as he thought the instrument long gone. Wife had stashed it away and I found it cleaning out a closet.</p>
<p>For close friends, we've offered a voucher for a month or two payment on student held student loans for graduation.</p>
<p>I'm sure the group here will deluge you with suggestions.</p>
<p>Congratulations - sounds like a wonderful guy! I love Violadad's autographed poster idea. Perhaps you could find out from your daughter which bands and artists he especially likes, then scour ebay for autographed posters, music, or whatever. Or maybe you could go to the artist/band's website and figure out how to contact them directly to obtain something. Or find out when they might be performing in your area and buy a couple tickets. (Although if he is performing regularly himself, that might not be easy to schedule.)</p>
<p>Another thing on the performance aspect - if he travels a lot, a nice leather travel case or suitcase?</p>
<p>For specifically musical ideas, I like this website: The</a> Music Stand
They have things like music-themed bookends, lamps, etc.</p>
<p>I was also thinking a music stand....always good to have one in the house, not just a travel version (which fold down tidily). A biography of an artist from his genre and/or instrument, perhaps.... You could ask him if there are professional organizations for his instrument, check that site for ideas, etc.</p>
<p>Another gift idea would be to find out what classic (i.e. older) musicians were inspiring to him and try to get your hands on old albums from that artist. Some relatives gave my son five classic jazz albums (and their corresponding CDs) for a gift--he loved them, and now has the albums framed in his room.</p>
<p>Had another thought. Musicians tend to be fascinated with instruments - even ones they don't play. (See the old thread about how many instruments we all have in our houses!) Some of my S's favorite gifts have been off-beat instrments - the clay ocarina, or the djembe (drum). He loves harmonicas, but that probably a bit too commonplace!</p>
<p>And if you could ask your D exactly what instrument he plays, there are some nice accessories available - if he plays sax, for instance, a nice reed case, or strap. More generic - a nice metronome. The kind with the swinging arm (mechanical, versus electronic) are expensive, but nice.</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone for the replies; I wished I had been paying closer attention as my daughter has chattered to me about this young man's music for the past year+ but unfortunately I sort of let it all go in one ear and out the other without retaining much of what she has told me. Accordingly, she is going to send me an email with all of the pertinent information, including what are his graduating awards exactly, and what instrument(s) he plays. </p>
<p>When we spoke on the matter yesterday, she told me that something specific to business issues would be ideal - and I do tend to agree. He has a record label, a recording contract, and is evidently sought after. He has an LLC set up for this purpose, but apparently there is a lot he needs to know about the business aspects. (This was against my advice last year - I advised the S Corp, but, he didn't listen. I'm o.k. with that though - I'm happy he's an independent thinker and besides I might have been wrong anyway.) Therefore, I think the idea of a membership to a credible professional association would be awesome - assuming one exists. </p>
<p>If that doesn't quite work out, I will look to perhaps some of the other nice ideas here - I do like the idea of finding out which musicians have been inspiring to him, and getting albumns or other artifacts...or collector's pieces...</p>
<p>I wish my daughter would hurry up and send the promised email so I can get started on this...graduation is coming up fast...</p>
<p>Binx, thank you, here is some additional information from my daughter (edit of an email): </p>
<p>He plays electric bass guitar (metal/rock) and classical trombone and jazz trombone. Specifically he uses the bass for his band, and he plays trombone for his college. After graduation he does not know when he will have the opportunity to play trombone except for personal practice. He is graduating as the outstanding student of his major (bachelor of music in music engineering and computer science) as well as summa cum laude with a 3.985 honors grade point average. He also completed a minor in marketing. His plans for the next year are to develop and invest in his LLC. He will primarily be doing live sound engineering, live sound/on-site recording, and studio recordings. Examples would include 1) the guy who makes sure that the music/band at a wedding is good with no screechy 2) recording¸ the toasts at a wedding or church albums sung IN the church 3) recording artists and real musicians in a professional studio for cd production/sales. He will do these things with equpiment he already has and equipment he would like to invest in.</p>
<p>Given that, does membership in a professional association still make sense, and if so, is AFM the best one? Will he miss the trombone, or, is this the sort of thing that you would be glad to get a break from for a while?</p>
<p>AFM acts like a musician's union. Yes, it would be an appropriate organization for someone like this young man. But I'm not sure you can join for someone else, or would want to. An offer to pay the dues, done up on a certificate or something, might be the closest you could get to it. My kid doesn't belong yet (although I expect he will one of these days) so I don't know too much about it. </p>
<p>I'm thinking that there might be other organizations more appropriate to "gift." My kid belongs to a "horn society." I don't know if something exists for guitars, or for bands.</p>
<p>There are a bunch of books out there, and any of them might be appropriate. I don't have personal knowledge of any of them - so if anybody else is familiar with them, please weigh in! Here are a couple:</p>
<p>*Legal Aspects of the Music Industry: An Insider's View
*This Business of Music Marketing and Promotion, Revised and Updated Edition
*This Business of Music: The Definitive Guide to the Music Industry
*Secrets of Negotiating a Record Contract: The Musician's Guide to Understanding and Avoiding Sneaky Lawyer Tricks </p>
<p>Unfortunately, I just don't know as much about the kind of music that plugs in. Bassdad is an electrical engineer - he might know some really cool gadgets that a recording engineer would drool over.</p>
<p>Missing the trombone... I'm not sure. I suspect that's individual. Since he will still be involved in music and performance, the trombone might not leave too big of a hole.</p>
<p>I don't know which is the mainstream, or if one is stronger in specific geographic regions.</p>
<p>He can ask his colleagues, instructors, fellow students. It may also be beneficial for him to be a member of AFM as a further means of developing a network.</p>
<p>edit after binx's post above:
lts, my son is an AFM member, but is a performing musician. If your D's other wants or has opportunities for sub or free lance gigs as a trombone player, some of these are limited to union members only. He may want membership for that reason alone.</p>
<p>I don't know the extent of info/resources AFM devotes specifically to the music business/recording aspects, so the industry specific societies might be a better bet.</p>
<p>By the way, the AFM is the Musician's Union. You join the Local, and automatically get the paper and are a member of AFM.</p>
<p>I suggest something specialized that not all musicians buy for themselves--many of the symphony players have KORG tuners (AW-1). They are small tuners with a screen that can be clipped to part of an instrument. Very cool! About $60.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the suggestions; I appreciate them very much. I am going to share these with my daughter this weekend, and see what she thinks...I do like the idea of the professional association membership, I think it will be a matter of deciding which one...Binx, the books look interesting too - that might be a nice fall back position, or, perhaps an idea for someone else in the group...</p>
<p>I had another idea for anyone looking for a special (expensive) gift for a graduating musician --- A session with a photographer for headshots. It's something I've been trying to get my own kid to do - he keeps sending in amateur mediocre photos everytime someone asks for a headshot.</p>