A: Guitarists lists are often a mile long for items and instruments they want to put in their collection, so why not check off a few of those boxes this holiday season. Accessories for guitar care, cleaners and polishes, extra tuners to replace that one that got lost in the couch or got left at the gig, new strings to bring new life to that vintage instrument and maybe even a guitar pedal will all be hits this holiday.

• Guitar care is often neglected and Music Nomad makes some excellent products to keep your axe polished and playing its best. The Music Nomad Premium Guitar Care Kit makes for the perfect stocking stuffer this holiday season at $15.99
• Many guitar players love the sound of fresh strings, so get them a set that is built to last. Elixir Strings are known for their superior tone, feel and especially longevity. They feature a thin coating which promotes longer life and a more brilliant sound that many guitarists prefer. 
•  The Snark X Tuner is by far the best developed Snark Brand tuner you can buy these days. With it’s newly reinforced connection point that protects against breakage (you know what we’re talking about guitar players!), and with it’s super bright screen it’s the best tuner you can buy for under $20.
• For you budding rockers out there, the Boss DS-1 distortion pedal is a true icon of the guitar world. There’s a reason it’s Boss’ number one selling pedal for it’s hard-edged sizzle and it’s smooth response. Get it, you won’t regret it! $54.99

A:  In addition to piano skill development, keyboards can also be used to build entire backing tracks for your kids’ personal band. Headphones, microphones and amps make great additions to a keyboard setup. Ukuleles and percussion instruments are affordable and also make excellent gifts for a budding band leader. 

• The Casiotone CT-S series keyboards are ultra compact instruments to produce and write music on the go. These instruments pack tons of features in a small chassis and they produce an impressive amount of sound for their size. With models starting at $119.99, you can’t go wrong.
• Presonus HD7 headphones, with a natural clear and full range sound, are an excellent value. For those who want the best in audio fidelity and comfort, the Presonus HD9 delivers a superb listening experience. These are a must-have item for the musician who needs to practice from home in virtual silence.
• Having keyboard skills is great, but being able to sing and play is awesome! Shure Microphones are iconic and the SV-200 vocal mic delivers a great sound for vocals, but also can be used on guitars, ukuleles and many other instruments too. The perfect starting microphone for only $34.99.
• Practicing at low volume is certainly a necessity of the modern world, but sometimes, it’s time to turn it up. The Fender Fighter 10 is the perfect power amplifier to plug in your keyboard and a second channel for your microphone too! It can even handle electric drums, acoustic guitar and bass if needed, all for only $349.99.

Other Ideas:

• Digital metronomes are a staple for all musicians, and the Wittner MT-50 is the perfect choice for it’s features and simple operation. That said, there is something special about old school metronomes like the Wittner Mechanical 806K . For decades, piano players have preferred them for their excellent tone that is pleasing on the ear, as well as the tactile feel. Plus, they just look great in the studio! $69.99

A:  Of course! You can get a very nice instrument with ukuleles starting around $60, but if you are willing to go up to $90 to $100, the features you receive are well worth it and make for an even better playing experience.

• Kids of all ages love the colors of the Makala soprano Shark and Dolphin ukuleles. These are super fun instruments with a very sweet sound. They are so easy to play, and they come in all kinds of exciting colors so you're sure to find one that your child will like.
• If you’re ready to step up to the next level, the Kala KAC is a fantastic choice with features that truly make it shine. With traditional styling, a satin finish mahogany body and a cream binding, this ukulele is built to appeal to a wide range of players. This instrument might just be the perfect choice at $99!

Other Ideas:

• Capos are practically a must-have tool for any string player so they can play and sing all their favorite tunes in the correct key! The Shubb Ukulele Capo is a classic design at $18.95.
• Timbertones makes some super cool and unique ukulele picks made from various materials such as felts, woods and leathers. These are super appealing to ukulele players trying to shape their tone. Get a few and throw them in their stockings! Good to go!

A: Absolutely! The great thing about making music is you do not need to spend a lot to start developing your skills and have a great time. There are lots of percussion instruments, little flutes, noise makers and harmonicas that will all meet your needs here.

• People of all ages love Amahi’s Steel Tongue Drums. They are the perfect instrument to play when you don’t know what to play. They produce a mellow sound that is perfect for meditation or entertainment. Fun, beautiful and easy to play, starting at $69.99.
• The sound of a djembe is really quite stunning when you first hear it. It’s resonant and bold and so easy to get a great tone. Of course, like any instrument, it takes time to perfect your technique, but this one just sounds good no matter what. We have models starting around $40, but more specifically, check out the Toca 10” Freestyle Djembe in African Sunset. Have fun playing it or display it for others to enjoy!
• Yamaha Soprano Recorders start at $6.95 and come in a variety of colors. A classic starter instrument, just like the one you played in 4th or 5th grade.
• Celtic Tin Whistles are super fun instruments. They are easy to play with their very accessible diatonic scale setup. It’s probably one of the easiest little flutes to play and sound good in a short amount of time.
• Harmonicas make a great sound and are super easy to get started playing. Check out the Old Stand By made by Hohner. This is a great beginner harp for $13.99.

A:  Flute players need good cleaning and maintenance tools to keep their instruments in top shape. A nice Silk Swab and some Yamaha Powder Paper will help keep their pads from sticking and they are the perfect size for a stocking stuffer. 

• Ann Hodge or GEM make wonderful silk swabs 
• If the instrument is due for a tune up, a gift certificate for our Repair Shop is a good choice. A standard tuneup on most band instruments is around $90.00.
• You might also consider a flute stand, sheet music or a flute ornament

A:  Recording at home has never been easier or more affordable. You can get them started with a simple USB mic, an audio interface, or a midi device and they can be making tunes in the comfort of their own bedroom. Check these out!

• The Stagg USB Dynamic Microphone set is a fantastic starting mic for recording your voice or instrument. You could use it for music or for making your own podcast. Just plug it into your Mac or a PC, and you are ready to start recording!
• The Presonus Audiobox USB 96 Interface is a great little unit to start recording. It is simple to use, versatile and ultra portable for on the go recording.  
• Much of music making is about playing with rhythm and creating a groove. We think the Presonus Atom 16 USB Pad Controller is the perfect entry level solution to making beats at the tip of your fingers. You can quickly capture your ideas and get them recorded with its tactile response. It’s not just a piece of technology. It’s an expressive tool to inspire and help you make your own music!
• Looking to take their music production to the next level, then definitely check out the Akai MPK 225 Midi Keyboard. This instrument is fully loaded with 25 full size premium piano style keys which all feature aftertouch for extra expressive playability. It also features 8 high quality touch pads, mod wheel and pitch bend, 8 high quality adjuster knobs and a software suite to get you started. Akai is a quality brand in the world of music production! Highly recommended item! $269

A:  We carry all kinds of sheet music and our recommendation would be based on the instrument they play, the genre they like and their overall playing style. If they like a classical approach, getting them a really beautiful score to read might be right. Some players aren’t traditional though and so they might like a less formal approach where they can make their own arrangement. For the right person, a Real or Fake Book would be perfect. We carry a wide selection with thousands of songs to choose from.

• There are many classical collections with pieces that focus on various levels of play. From Bach to Bartok, we have many collections to show you.
• The Hal Leonard Play Along Series is great fun as well as useful to learn hundreds of classic tunes while playing to a professional backing track.
• The Real Book (sixth edition) could be the best selling jazz book of all time. Filled with hundreds of tunes, this book has a lot to offer!

A:  Yes! Brass players have a wide range of needs that include accessories for cleaning and maintaining their instrument and mutes that make all sorts of different and “must have” sounds for band and orchestra.

• We have a wide selection of mutes that help brass players shape their tone. A Humes & Berg Straight Mute might be the most commonly purchased, but the Harmon “Wow-Wow” mute is often used in jazz bands and makes a great sound. The Protec Liberty Practice Mute is super handy to have when you can’t make much noise in your home or apartment. More than likely, your brass player will need them all at some point, so take your pick, the more the merrier!

Other gift ideas: 

• Brass or Silver Polishing Cloth or Hetman Valve Oil and Slide Gels
• Bach or Schilke Mouthpieces
• P-Trumpet for travel and gigging

A:  A tuned violin is critical to being successful with the instrument and there are a couple of ways to achieve this. One is using a good clip-on tuner which takes the guesswork out of the process as it shows you exactly the correct pitch you need for each string.  The other way is to use a pitch pipe or keyboard as a reference for the notes you need. This is great for training your ears, but is a little bit more challenging. Beyond tuning, installing a KNA violin pickup would allow her to plug it into an electric guitar amp for a spicier violin experience. 

• The Snark X Tuner is by far the best developed Snark Brand tuner you can buy these days. Just clip it to the back of the neck on your violin and the guesswork will be eliminated. With it’s it’s super bright screen, you will always know exactly which note you are tuning to. We think it’s the best tuner you can buy for under $20.
• The Korg TM-60 Chromatic Tuner & Metronome Combo is popular among orchestral players for its accuracy and bonus metronome. For $30, they are an excellent choice.
• Pitch pipes are super affordable and never need batteries. Even if it isn’t your primary choice for tuning, having one handy is always a good idea.
• KNA Violin Pickups are a great option to amplify your violin. They are easy to install and they make the violin a whole lot of fun.
• We’re not saying we have the definitive answer on which rosin is best, but we can say that L'Opera Jade Rosin is highly recommended by players of all types. It’s easy to break in and apply without the need to scratch the surface. It is very friendly on your instrument’s finish and it’s also hypo-allergenic as it doesn’t contain pine resin. Finally, it’s just beautiful to look at with its characteristic deep jade color. Give it as a gift, or keep it yourself. We have a feeling you’ll like it.