FA LA LA LA LA . GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC!

Hearing holiday music brings a smile to my face. Maybe I’m just feeling nostalgic, but there’s something about those seasonal tunes that gets me in the holiday spirit. I think the feeling is infectious! I see the joy music brings to my students, friends, and family and realize that it’s the perfect gift.  Here are some ideas for treating someone you love with the gift of music this holiday season!

GIFT YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECORDING

There are so many fantastic holiday recordings, in every genre you can imagine. If you are looking for something classical how about The Nutcracker! I’ve used this in my music classes and the children love moving and dancing to it.  If you are looking for a classic jazz album check out Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas. This brings back so many memories.

How many of us looked forward to seeing this cartoon when we were kids? For something in the rock genre, check out the Barenaked Ladies album Barenaked for the Holidays. There are over 20 tunes on this album that will definitely make you smile and get you dancing!

LET’S JAM!

Give the gift of instruments. Whether you are searching for a gift for a two-year-old or a forty-two year-old this gift is a hit! For a young child there are a range of options from small drums, to xylophones, to egg shakers and rhythm sticks. For an older child or adult there are even more options – bongos, cajon, djembe, ukulele, guitar and more! Depending on your price range there are many options to get the beginner musician started.

DON’T WE ALL WANT TO ROCK OUT?

We often get parents and grandparents purchasing gift certificates for music lessons at this time of year. Many music studios will offer short term packages for instrument, voice, or preschool music lessons. This is perfect for your child who is the budding rock star or your sister who loves to sing karaoke!

SEND A SONG

With all the technology we have now, why not send friends and family a song this holiday? Record your child singing a favourite tune and share it with your loved ones via email, YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook. If you are tech savvy you could even record the song in a program such as GarageBand and burn it to a CD to have a hard copy to wrap up. I did recordings for my parents and grandparents when I was a teen and they still love listening to them now!

TREAT A FRIEND TO A CONCERT

One of my favorite gifts to give is a live music experience. I always feel so uplifted and inspired when I see a live concert. Why not give your loved ones this experience? Think about their style. Would they love musical theatre, a rock concert, the symphony, an evening of jazz? If you don’t know you could opt for a gift certificate. Ticket outlets like Ticketmaster offer gift cards which is handy if you are unsure of their interests or schedule.

Kera and her husband own and operate Staccato Studios and Music Share in Burnaby, BC.  As music instructors, they love sharing their enjoyment of music with others.  Kera works with a wide range of students from babies and toddlers, to teens and adults.  In addition to teaching, she enjoys the cultural life of Vancouver and you can often find her out at a concert or the symphony.  Although they have travelled far from home their favourite place to visit is the prairies.  They love spending time with family and their new niece! For more information please visit Staccato Studios.