<p>I thought it might be fun to hear what parents are getting their musician kids as Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) presents. And maybe I'd pick up a few ideas along the way. Over the years, it gets harder and harder to find things they don't have!</p>
<p>So far, all I've got my S is a couple tubes of Chopsaver for his stocking. He likes it, but it's expensive, so he doesn't often buy it for himself. I bought it directly from the Chopsaver website. Base price is cheaper on Amazon, but Amazon charges lots more for shipping, and actually ends up costing more.</p>
<p>He has a technique book on his list as well, but I haven't looked for it yet. We'd love to get our D an electric violin, since she often performs in a "band". But we can't find one that looks appropriate that we can afford. Input welcome.</p>
<p>Oldest S put "Piano" on his list. He isn't getting one (at least from me!), but it made me feel good to see it there, since he has hardly touched a piano since high school!</p>
<p>I absolutely love chopsaver… my friend is bringing me back quite a few tubes of them from All-State.</p>
<p>I’m nagging my parents for a keyboard. My current one only has 60-something keys, so it lacks… a lot. Plus it doesn’t have hammerkeys, and I oh-so love the feeling of hammer keys.</p>
<p>LOL… I believe I will be getting my DD a summer program! isn’t that enough? Oh you mean there still must be something to go under the tree? hmmmm…whatever shall I do?</p>
<p>I’ve bought my composer son a box of scores - some were from a flea market sale at the local music school - and the rest - all contemporary composers - I ordered from England from Boosey & Hawkes. Thomas Ades, Magnus Lindborg, John Adams, Oliver Knussen. After one was already in the mail my son sent me an email asking for it for Christmas.</p>
<p>And, if I hadn’t already bought it for him as college required software, I would have bought for him “L’il Miss Scale Oven” one of the coolest scale editing tools ever.</p>
<p>I also saw an ad for a roll up digital piano for $19! Thought that could be a hoot but wasn’t willing to drive an hour to the store to buy it.</p>
<p>Back in August, I took my wife’s beloved 1956 Martin 00-18 back to its birthplace to have the neck reset, the saddle replaced and the bridge reglued. It was supposed to be finished last week, but they are now telling me Dec. 20. That will be one of her items under the tree assuming it is finished by Christmas.</p>
<p>Daughter is off on her own this year, so she needs a bunch of practical stuff. Her main gift is going to be four new tires for her minivan that will be used for her band’s spring tour. I have no doubt that my wife will come up with a few nifty tchotchkes that will be somewhat less practical and much easier to wrap.</p>
<p>Son is difficult. My guess is that he will want cash from his parents and grandparents to fund a trip to Mandolin Bros., perhaps to trade in his low-end Fender on something that plays a bit better.</p>
<p>Bought D a LP to digital turntable. But big gift will have to be the “ball gown” that the director of the Phil said she needs for a Mahler cycle she is singing in concert. I have bought her plenty on recital dresses…but a “ball gown”??</p>
<p>Binx, you are wise to check on which electric violin might work for your D. They vary, weight, feel, etc, etc - ideally, she should try several. How about a gift certificate???</p>
<p>We bought one of the “roll-up” pianos as a gag gift once - it actually went to music school and kid used it for doing theory homework in dorm room. Who would have thought???</p>
<p>We’ve purchased music for ours some years. Amazing how much “standard” violin music there is that costs over $30 per edition. Somehow, it feels better to own your own music rather than borrow from library. Our kids have always appreciated when we’ve saved their personal budget a bit.</p>
<p>mm - try nexteve.com for ballgowns. The quality is decent (as in inexpensive linings, but well put together - I sew), but the real benefits are twofold: Their pricepoint is amazing and you can order the gowns in almost whatever color you want! If you call them, they’ll give you details of the gowns. If you daughter is hard to fit, they will even custom size for you at a nominal charge.<br>
Again, the Quality is decent - not what you would want for your wedding or a gala at the Hamptons (not that I attend those ) , but a good option if you don’t have a lot of spare cash!</p>
<p>Thanks Beezmom! We will be searching this weekend—formal stores,Nordstroms Rack (for Tadashi) and even movie studio racks (H is a costumer). But if it is to no avail…online will probably be the way to go!</p>
<p>So far, got them each about $100 of sheet music, DS got a Bass Trombone stand, both got renewals of their smartmusic, son got his finale upgrade. Oh yeah did I mention son will be getting a new euphonium over winter break :-))</p>
<p>Wife just came in from target with a bag of winter duds as well. I’d say we were done…</p>
<p>Great idea for a thread. Both of our kids will get ITunes gift cards. DD requested two new oboe study books (why??..but we ordered them for her) and a new reed for her English horn. DS doesn’t really have “room” for much on the road. He did ask for a navy wool pea coat and he’s getting that and a scarf to match. He is having a lean holiday as his big gift is our help paying some of his student loan costs this year. Starving musicians have precious little money for loan repayments:( We bought each kiddo two Christmas ornaments (someday they will move out and will appreciate these).</p>
<p>We always stocked up on rosin and strings for ours, as an undergrad he never had enough. Son would present us a list of “approved” books (music related with an occasional history). Wife would scour ebay in the early days for vintage posters, full size performance playbills (is that the right word?), nostaglia items and vintage musical instrument ornaments. We’d surprise him with a new bow every now and then, from a maker who did custom work at ridiculously low prices.</p>
<p>Ball gowns can also be found on E-Bay- we have a closet of them, along with formals, long and short! For all of those with singing daughters, maybe we can get together and compile a list of web sites for great dresses? I have several more, but they’ll get lost if we keep listing them here…
SpiritManager, don’t say “John Adams” loudly or you’ll find my D sneaking down your chimney! She’d love to lay her hands on a copy of “Dr.Atomic”!
musica, please let us know how the turntable works out. I’ve been eying them,and have some classic vinyl that is irreplaceable, but I’d really be interested to know if they “upgrade” the quality of the sound and can eliminate those annoying hisses and pops.
Nothing “musical” for D this year- she is getting all fun things that she’ll enjoy and be able to share with her friends at school. Youngest S is getting an XBox Elite, courtesy of my excellent bidding abilities on E Bay! Still trying to figure out what to get eldest S, who works for the company who makes younger son’s gift and lives on a houseboat. He’s recently “discovered” opera, so I think I’ll enlist his sister’s help.
I know that the two youngest are gifting me with an I Pod this year- I got the hint from the youngest hauling me into the Apple Store and pointing at the item, and was positive when they were standing in line there at 5:45AM on Black Friday!!
Also added to their ornament collections which will one day go with them for their own trees.</p>
<p>Can anyone vouch for the quality of the vocal part of SmartMusic?
That looks really really awesome, and I could use it to practice violin, but voice is my primary instrument… and it didn’t look like they were too voice-friendly!</p>
<p>riku92mr, I assume you are talking about using the microphone for the “automatic” accompaniment. My kids have found that as they got into college level pieces the feature doesn’t work well and the pieces become to fast and the program doesn’t respond well. They pretty much use it for straight accompaniment without the computerized prompts. </p>
<p>It’s great for practice. You can also record yourself with the computer’s accompaniment, email the file to your teacher for quick tips between lessons. </p>
<p>This year the price was standardized at $30 for the year. At that price it can’t be beat. </p>
<p>This year’s version also allows you to add your own musical accompaniment. We can have our acccompanist record the piano part and we use that for practive between sessions.</p>
) , but a good option if you don’t have a lot of spare cash!</p>