The year 2020 is one for the history books. It started off relatively normally, but the pandemic changed everything. This gift guide for musicians reflects some of the changes musicians have had to make.
From technological gifts to practical ideas, there’s something for everyone. If you’re a musician, you can put one or more of these things on your wish list. And if know a musician, you can use these ideas when holiday shopping.
Keep reading this gift guide for musicians to get some unique holiday gift ideas!
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External Microphone
With no end in sight for the current pandemic, many musicians have taken to giving lessons and performing virtually. While many recent computers and phones have great cameras and microphones, an external mic or camera had to make this gift guide for musicians.
Regular Mic
If you want to use a microphone for lessons or recordings, you can look for an instrument mic. You can get a professional mic, but that can get expensive, especially if you or the recipient won’t use it a ton.
But you can get a mic for a more affordable price, too. I got a Blue Snowball iCE microphone in the spring, and I’ve used it a few times. It seems to work pretty well, and it’s not as expensive as some other mics.
Lapel Mic
If you or a musician you know wants more flexibility with a mic, you can get a lapel/lavalier mic. These are smaller, and you can clip the mic to your shirt. You can find a mic that connects to your phone, which can be great if you don’t want to set up your computer for a recording.
A lapel mic is great if you want to make videos and use your phone. You won’t have to worry about syncing the audio and video if they come from the same device. I’ve had a PoP voice lavalier mic for a couple of years, and it’s come in handy.
iPad
Many musicians still prefer to use printed sheet music, but digital files are gaining popularity. I’ve used an iPad as my main sheet music reader for about a year, and I love it.
Now with the pandemic, I don’t have to worry about buying sheet music and waiting for the delivery. Many composers and publishers sell sheet music online, and you can get a digital download immediately.
If you play from an iPad, you can start working on the music without printing it off. And you can easily organize all of your music and tag it to help you find files later.
Apple Pencil
If you want to use an iPad as your sheet music reader, I highly suggest getting an Apple Pencil. It makes it much easier to annotate digital files than if you used your finger.
You can get another stylus, but I had to include my favorite one in this gift guide for musicians. An Apple Pencil isn’t cheap, but it works well, and it’s easy to use.
Flexible Masks
If you or a musician you know plays a wind instrument, look for a mask that’s flexible for playing. Some companies have released masks that musicians can use to play, but BE CAREFUL.
Stick to masks, and don’t fall for any of the gadgets that don’t have scientific backing from studies. Masks have that support, and they can work while playing.
If you or someone you know is a flute player, you can look for a mask with two slits that the flute can go through. Other wind players can use a mask with a single slit so that the instrument can fit through it.
Gift Cards
If you know a professional musician, especially a performer, they’re probably struggling right now. Some orchestras have canceled their seasons through the middle of 2021.
That means a lot of musicians are out of work. And while some performers also teach, they may not teach enough to make up that income they lost.
So consider getting a musician a gift card. The card could be a generic gift card, or it could be to a specific store. Think about what your musician friend might need or want, and find a gift card that can help pay for that.
Textbooks
If you know a music major, you can get them money to pay for their textbooks for next semester. Some textbooks can costs hundreds of dollars.
While you don’t have to buy the most expensive textbooks, any help counts. Your friend/student can use the money on other things, like food or instrument maintenance.
If you know what classes the musician is taking, you can search for the required books on the school website. Then, you can surprise your friend with a book they need.
So…
This year required a very unique gift guide for musicians. As many of us struggle financially and we all can’t play together, we’ve had to adapt.
Hopefully these ideas will spark even more ideas for gifts you can give to the musicians in your life.