The Perfect Gift Guide for Everyone

12 Unique Musical Gifts for Your Loved Ones: Instruments, Gadgets, and More for the Holidays

Picture of Rose Park

Rose Park

published 10/14/24

Looking for a gift for a family member or friend who loves music? Whether they’re just starting out or have been playing instruments for years, we’ve got 12 unique musical gifts that are sure to inspire. From instruments to gadgets and accessories, there’s something here for everyone!

Table of Contents

Did you know you can gift music lessons to your family and friends? Music lessons bring lasting joy, making them a meaningful gift. Whether they’re complete beginners or looking to enhance their musical skills, music lessons are perfect for everyone.

You can choose between a single lesson or a package, specify the instrument, and even select the lesson duration for the recipient. Platforms like Lesson With You offer flexible scheduling without contracts and competitive pricing, making it easy for anyone to gift music lessons.

Gift Idea 2: Instruments

Gifting instruments is also a fantastic holiday idea, especially if you want your child or grandchild to start learning an instrument as a new hobby. The piano is the most popular choice for beginners, followed by guitar, singing and drum.

Here are some recommendations for purchasing pianos, guitars, or drum sets for family and friends. For other instruments like the violin or trumpet, it’s best to consult with an instructor or a nearby music store for recommendations.

Digital Piano or Keyboard

The Yamaha P71 is our top choice and a great pick for those new to music lessons. This is a solid keyboard that offers excellent sound quality and comes with 88 weighted keys, a music rack, and a sustain pedal — everything you need in a digital piano. Plus, it’s compact, with a depth of less than 12 inches, and lightweight at just 25 pounds, making it easy to fit into any space. For its price, it’s hard to find a better option.

Yamaha P71 Digital Keyboard

One thing every piano player needs is a good bench. This one is designed just for pianists and can be adjusted to fit different student heights. Here’s the one we recommend:

Liquid Stands Adjustable Piano Bench – Padded

Additionally, a keyboard stand is a great gift. You can adjust its height to make sure the keyboard is set at the perfect level. Some players place their digital keyboards on a desk or table, but it’s important to play at the correct height for proper posture.

RockJam Adjustable Piano Keyboard Stand

Guitar

Guitar is another popular instrument that’s easy to get started with—all you need is the instrument! The main types are acoustic, electric, bass, and ukulele. For kids under 7 or 8, a ukulele (a smaller version of an acoustic guitar) can be a great gift—and it’s more affordable than regular guitars.

If you’re looking for a good ukulele, check out this one:

Donner Concert Ukulele

Acoustic guitars are perfect for anyone who wants to play or sing along with their favorite songs. Most beginners start with acoustic and later move on to electric or bass guitars. Here are our top picks:

Yamaha Acoustic Guitar Dreadnought

Fender Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

For electric or bass guitars, these are great options for those who already have some experience and want to dive into a wider guitar repertoire, especially in rock music. Keep in mind, electric or bass guitars often need accessories like amplifiers.

Yamaha Pacifica Electric Guitar

Ibanez Bass Guitar

Drumset

If you’re thinking about gifting a drum set, there are two options: mesh pads or an acoustic drum set. While mesh pads offer a similar stick rebound to a real acoustic snare drum, the feel isn’t exactly the same. However, they’re close enough to help develop technique and are much quieter than real drums—perfect for smaller spaces.

Donner DED-70 Mesh Pads Drum Set

Eastar Acoustic Drum Set

We also recommend this acoustic drum set for kids, which is a bit more affordable:

Mendini by Cecilio Kids Drum Set

Gift Idea 3: Accessories

There are tons of musical accessories that can help you become a better musician or improve your learning experience. Here’s a curated list of gifts recommended by our music instructors:

Metronome

A metronome makes a great gift for someone who already plays an instrument. It helps musicians practice keeping time, with the right speed (tempo) and accurate rhythms. Check out the following products:

Classic Mechanical Metronome

Rechargeable Metronome

Microphone

An external microphone can really improve the quality of online lessons. It’s not just for musical learning—you can use it for entertainment, too. Here’s a great option:

Blue Snowball iCE USB Microphone

Music Flash Cards

For kids aged 6 and up, these flashcards are both fun and educational. They help young musicians learn new concepts fast and practice memorizing them.

Blue Snowball iCE USB Microphone

Finger Strengthener

Strong fingers are essential for musicians who play instruments like piano, guitar, violin, and even woodwinds like flute. This can also be a great gift for anyone, whether they play an instrument or not! Here’s a good one:

D’Addario Accessories Hand Exerciser

Music Stands

If you know someone who could use an upgrade for their music stand, where they keep their sheet music or books, this product is a great choice. It’s light and offers clips and other accessories:

CAHAYA 2 in 1 Folding Sheet Music Stand

Cleaning Kits

Keeping instruments in good shape is important for musicians of all ages and skill levels. Most musicians need a cleaning cloth to wipe off residue and dirt from their instruments. Here’s a recommended cleaning kit:

Libretto Microfiber Polish Cloth

Gift Idea 4: Music Books

There are plenty of curated music books and method books for all levels, some featuring popular songs or holiday-themed music. In this gift list, we’re focusing on piano books:

For Young Piano Students

For Christmas music, check out the Faber Piano Series; for popular themed books, including Harry Potter music, and for Disney fans, this book is perfect.

These series offer various levels, allowing students to customize their learning curriculum. They also include Jazz, Rock and Roll, and classical music options.

Faber Piano Adventures – Christmas Book

Faber PlayTime Piano Popular

PlayTime Piano Disney

For Adults

If you’re gifting music to adults, consider this recommendation for a holiday gift and this book for timeless hits and popular music.

Adult Faber Piano Adventures Christmas

Adult Faber PlayTime Timeless Hits and Popular Songs

Final Thoughts

With these 12 musical gift ideas, we hope you find something special for the music lovers around you. Whether it’s a new instrument, a gadget, or an accessory, these presents will make the holidays a little more harmonious. Happy gifting!

Gift Lessons, Get a Free Trial

Give the gift of music lessons to your family or friends. We offer lessons for 20 different instruments with more than 50 professional instructors. Our lessons are flexible, with no commitment required, and we offer competitive pricing compared to other providers. Plus, the first lesson is free!

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Picture of Rose Park

Rose Park

Rose Park is a graduate of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University where she studied Piano Performance and Arts Administration, receiving both Bachelor's and Master's degrees before co-founding Lesson With You. As a pianist, Rose was a prizewinner in many international piano competitions and performed at  various summer programs and festivals across the United States, Italy, and Japan.