Gift Ideas for Classroom Music Teachers

With the end of the school year fast approaching, teacher gift ideas have been occupying a large part of my brain.  Classroom teachers are always showered with gifts from their adoring children but it takes many different teachers to give your child a well rounded education.  So this year, while you are planning your end of year gifts for the teachers in your child’s life, don’t forget the music, art, P.E. & other teachers that your child visits at school throughout the week.

As with most teachers, the classroom music teachers have plenty of musical coffee mugs, notepads & pens to go around so when thinking about a gift for the music room I try to think about the things that I once needed when I was in their shoes. (Yes, elementary music teacher is back there in my resume too!)  While crayons & scissors are sometimes needed, what most music teachers need is, well, music!  Obviously if you’re not the teacher choosing a specific musical piece is not appropriate, but why not give them a gift certificate so they can make the choices themselves?  Music for schools is not cheap and in many cases cannot be photocopied – every child needs their own personal original copy in order to stay in compliance with Federal copyright laws. (And so the publishers, writers, & artists who created the resources get paid their royalties for doing so!)  As with your regular classroom teachers, music teachers too spend way more out of their paycheck to support their programs than they should be have to.  I’ve compiled a list of my favorite online retailers below, but you could just as well go to your local music shop and ask for a gift certificate there.

West Music – This music store based in Iowa City, Iowa (and one I spent WAY more time at then I would care to admit to) has become one of the best online retailers for classroom music supplies.  Your teacher can easily find some new instruments to purchase or music to use in the classroom next year as well as audio equipment for school productions. WESTMUSIC.COM

JW Pepper – This giant music retailer has every piece of music under the sun (literally I think – I’ve been to a warehouse).  From piano lesson books to full choral and instrumental scores & parts, they have it all.  Your music teacher would be THRILLED to get a gift certificate from here!  JWPEPPER.COM

Local Music Store / Teacher’s Store / Book Store – Your local music shop is another great place to give a gift certificate from.  Often the school music teachers work with the local stores to acquire any last minute items they need.  The local teacher’s supply store also has music items like instruments, recordings & award stickers & certificates that many music teachers use.  And yes, even the book store can sometimes be a benefit!  Our local shops carry sheet music books for piano & children’s composer biographies which make a great little library for your school music teacher.

AMAZON.COM – Let’s face it, Amazon has it all and their music supplies are equally impressive.

When choosing your gifts, keep in mind that most teachers don’t want anything else for themselves – it’s the classrooms that are in need.   Please help your school teachers save the money from their own pockets & give them a gift they (and your children) can really use.

Piano Camp or Private Lessons? How to Choose

If you’ve been thinking about starting up piano lessons this summer, you may be at a crossroads.  Should my child do private lessons right away or would a piano camp be a better option to start with? Here are some factors to consider when choosing your child’s starting path:

Happy Camper

If your child is young (4-6) or enjoys the social aspect of classes or has expressed interest in piano but you are not quite ready to commit to regular lessons, a piano camp is the place for you.  Children in piano camps cover the same materials as the first few private lessons do but they do so in a fun, cooperative group setting.  Children in the camps play games together, play songs together & have the chance to meet other children who are also starting out on this big musical journey.  It also can ease the transition to private lessons for children who may be a bit timid in a one-on-one setting.

Singular Sensation

If your child has expressed deep interest in piano lessons, works well on their own and you are ready to make a bigger commitment, it’s time for private lessons.  Summer is a great time to make piano part of your regular routine while the craziness of the school year is on a temporary leave.  Kids can take the time to enjoy the beginning stages of learning the instrument & the creative process of making music without having to deal with homework, sports & other activities that occupy their time from September to May.

Double Dip

Still can’t decide?  You can always do both.  Because private lessons are designed around your child’s interests and abilities, the skills acquired through piano camp carry right into private lessons and we just continue where we left off.  They don’t have to repeat material they have already mastered and they can begin lessons with the confidence that this is something they really can do, that is fun and creative & belongs to them.

If you live in the Norman area, and are interested in learning more about our summer piano lesson programs, please visit our summer piano camps & lessons page.