Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Musicians

It might be late to have gift items shipped in time for Christmas, but here are some ideas for gifts you can buy electronically or find easily in your area.  My instrument-specific recommendations are all for guitarists - I invite instrumentalists to chime in and share their ideas!

1. Gift Certificates (electronic format)

Gift certificates for more lessons at Lessonface are an obviously great choice :)  We have three designs to choose from at https://www.lessonface.com/give.  Gift certificates can be used for private lessons, group classes, and the Lessonface Pass program (https://www.lessonface.com/pass).  You can check out more Lessonface-curated suggestions at https://www.lessonface.com/content/12-gifts-musician-who-has-everything.

Gift certificates to online stores for music gear are also a terrific idea.  For guitarists, I like Strings By Mail (https://www.stringsbymail.com/gift-certificates-751/) for all sorts of guitar supplies. 

Sweetwater (https://www.sweetwater.com/shop/gift-cards/) and Musician’s Friend (https://www.musiciansfriend.com/gift-certificates) sell instruments, equipment, and electronic gear for all sorts of musicians.

2. Sheet Music (electronic format)

If there’s a song your friend or family member loves or an artist they admire, you can purchase arrangements specific to their instrument and level.  Send it to them in PDF and/or print it out and include a home-made cover or fancy binder.  Two great sites for electronic sheet music are Sheet Music Plus (https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/digital-sheet-music) and Sheet Music Direct (https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/en-US/).

3. Subscriptions to a music magazine

Here are a few lists of top music magazines.  Some are available in hard copy, others electronic only.  There should be something for every sort of musician.

General Music

https://twostorymelody.com/top-music-magazines/

https://www.allyoucanread.com/top-10-music-magazines/

https://www.albumism.com/lists/20-music-magazines-that-inspire-us

Classical Music

https://www.world-newspapers.com/magazines/arts/classical-music

Also check out these publications:

BBC Music Magazine

Gramophone

International Record Review

American Record Guide

The Music Scene

Classic FM

The Strad

Limelight

Jazz

https://jazzfuel.com/jazz-magazines/

Also check out:

DownBeat

JazzTimes

The Wire

OffBeat

4. Subscriptions to Music-Streaming Services

Odds are your musician friend or family member already uses at least one streaming service to listen to music.  But they might not have premium access.  Who wouldn’t love an ad-free year of YouTube or Spotify?  Subscriptions to Apple Music and alternative music streaming services are also great ideas (https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-music-streaming-service/)

5. Locally-Purchased Stocking Stuffers

For guitarists, string winders, electronic tuners, capos, footstools (classical guitar), music stands, guitar stands, and guitar strings (if you know the right kind) are great options.

All sorts of musicians may like these ideas:

Music stand, clip on light for music stands, instrument stand, quality notebooks of staff paper or tablature, instrument cleaning kits.

Many instruments use specific, expendable supplies like rosin (strings), cork grease (wind instruments like saxophones and clarinets), or valve oil (brass).  Any of these would be nice inexpensive solo gifts and should be available at any local music store.

Hope this helps you come up with a great gift for a friend or family member!  Let us know what other ideas you have, whether they're general or instrument-specific.  

Happy Holidays!
Leah