Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you know that today is Black Friday, officially marking the beginning of the holiday shopping season. If you didn’t make it out to all the midnight madness last night, don’t worry – you still have some time. But instead of procrastinating until the very last minute this year (we know some of you out there are guilty!), why not get a head start? We know there’s bound to be someone on your list who’s notoriously difficult to shop for, and we’re here to help. Read on to see some unique ideas for the music-lover in your life, courtesy of the Houston Press’s list,15 Odd Christmas Gift Ideas for Musicians:
Nothing is more useless than a guitarist without a guitar pick. Save yourself a few practice-room shouting matches with this handy punch that turns old credit cards, Xbox game cases, military IDs and lapsed health insurance cards into functional guitar picks. Toss this baby into the gig bag, and you’ll never have to bum a pick off your bassist again.
The ukulele gets a bad rap. Sure, it was the favored instrument of Tiny Tim, but it’s also been twanged by the likes of George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Even the most jaded musician will gain a new appreciation for the uke after building and decorating his or her own courtesy of this nifty DIY kit. With the New York Times writing stories about them and Hawaii 5-0 back on the air, it’s only a matter of time before these amazing instruments become megapopular again.
3. Playable Synthesizer T-Shirt
By widely accepted generalization, indie musicians have two major turn-ons: Vintage musical instruments and graphic tees. Whomever you give this playable synth t-shirt to may well go into hipster overload as he or she bangs out “Axel F” in eight-voice polyphonic sound. On their T-SHIRT.
Sheet music is so 19th century. In the dawning digital era, all sight-reading will be performed using high-definition, rare-earths-rich LED touchscreens. Prepare the musician in your life for the promised day when performers will be able to afford tablet computers with this handy iPad music holder! Finally, they’ll be able to say goodbye to shuffling pages, illegal photocopies and agonizing papercuts. At least until music stands become retro-chic, anyway.
5. Numark iDJ Live Software Controller
Back before entire music libraries fit on a single iPod, DJs used to create mixes using vinyl records. Now that iPods are also almost obsolete, this digital iPad controller will let your friends use modern musical technology to create their own mash-ups using turntables, just like the disc jockeys of old did. Just plug in an iPad and scratch, chop and screw tracks straight from iTunes.
We hope these ideas make your holiday shopping a bit less stressful. Still stumped? Don’t forget the gift of music lessons, whether it’s to sharpen a skill, extra help for an audition, or simply to try something new!
Like these posts? Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe.
Suzy S.