Perfect Gifts for Young Pianists
Sure you can pick up cute piano socks, make cupcakes with music notes on them, or buy a figurine of a child playing the piano, but what can kids really use to encourage and improve their playing?
Metronome - new, used, or free online (http://www.metronomeonline.com/) - metronomes help students find the right speed and tempo. They are a very useful, helpful, and important tool.
Manicure set – It’s not easy to play the piano with long fingernails. Pick up a cute small bag and fill it with a child-friendly manicure set, nail polishes, and a cute fingernail brush (currently available at our local Dollar Tree).
Manicure – Make a date! Take your student to get his/her nails done with you, or purchase a gift certificate for a young pianist.
Origami - Origmai uses fine motor skills and lots of brain power! Paper can be folded into so many animals and shapes, even pianos! Check out the istructions at http://www.ptg.org/userfiles/file/learningCenter/Fold_A_Vertical_Piano1.pdf.
Metronome - new, used, or free online (http://www.metronomeonline.com/) - metronomes help students find the right speed and tempo. They are a very useful, helpful, and important tool.
Manicure set – It’s not easy to play the piano with long fingernails. Pick up a cute small bag and fill it with a child-friendly manicure set, nail polishes, and a cute fingernail brush (currently available at our local Dollar Tree).
Manicure – Make a date! Take your student to get his/her nails done with you, or purchase a gift certificate for a young pianist.
Origami - Origmai uses fine motor skills and lots of brain power! Paper can be folded into so many animals and shapes, even pianos! Check out the istructions at http://www.ptg.org/userfiles/file/learningCenter/Fold_A_Vertical_Piano1.pdf.
Piano Music – music is available for more topics than you can imagine, like Strawberry Shortcake, sports, video games, holidays, and so much more! Shop in person at Marshall Music, online at stores like www.sheetmusicplus.com (free previews on many), or just print it for free at sites like www.makingmusicfun.net/. Finding music related to their favorite cartoon, sport, or interest may encourage them to practice even more!
Reading Books - don’t stop with reading music, read about it, too!
"Lulu's Piano Lesson" by Arlene Alda and Lisa Desimini
"The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend" by Ann Ingalls, Maryann Macdonald and Giselle Potter
"My Friend the Piano"
"Franklin’s Music Lesson"
"Music Fairies #1: Poppy the Piano Fairy: A Rainbow Magic Book"
"Piano Lessons Can Be Murder" (Goosebumps Series)
"Knights Don't Teach Piano" (Adventures of the Bailey School Kids #29) by
"Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra"
"Beethoven Lives Upstairs, by Earthsong"
Non-Fiction about famous composers, musicians, and/or the history of the piano!
Digital Keyboard – digital keyboards offer a variety of tones, instruments, and tempos to experiment with. Many offer MIDI cords that hook to your PC for a variety of software applications. They also often offer headphone ports, for when parents need some peace or for kids to sneak in a sudden midnight composition idea!
Video Camera (or Time with Yours) – older technology can still be used and found at thrift stores and garage sales at unbeatable prices! Let your children use one to create videos complete in dress and with personal and song introductions. Then (if digital) help them create a CD/DVD on your PC. A great way for them to practice playing for others and a wonderful way to make keepsakes for family/friends and future reminiscing!
Blank Sheet Music – blank sheet music offers a child a chance to write their own songs complete with lyrics and pictures!
Legos – Putting together small Lego brick sets are great for building fine motor skills, following directions, spatial-reasoning… The LEGO Friends Andrea's Stage (3932) gives an added bonus for young pianists of a Lego figure, Andrea, who is a pianist herself, with her piano and stage. Great for children to use with their
imaginations and build confidence and interest in their own piano performances.
More about Legos...
“Not only do Legos stimulate creativity and lateral thinking, they also help build dexterity and developing math and pattern skills. By interlocking matching colors and styles children learn the use of patterns which develops key math skills. With the color choices, and how they interlock, children learn important problem solving skills. On their website, Lego.com, you can find some educational materials that will help parents and educators alike. There are many other useful articles on their site which help develop learning skills with their product. The website contains complete educational videos, articles and even training for working with Legos.” From http://EzineArticles.com/2640132
Lego Parents - http://parents.lego.com/en-us/ChildDevelopment/default.aspx
Lego Educators - http://www.legoeducation.us/
Reading Books - don’t stop with reading music, read about it, too!
"Lulu's Piano Lesson" by Arlene Alda and Lisa Desimini
"The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend" by Ann Ingalls, Maryann Macdonald and Giselle Potter
"My Friend the Piano"
"Franklin’s Music Lesson"
"Music Fairies #1: Poppy the Piano Fairy: A Rainbow Magic Book"
"Piano Lessons Can Be Murder" (Goosebumps Series)
"Knights Don't Teach Piano" (Adventures of the Bailey School Kids #29) by
"Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra"
"Beethoven Lives Upstairs, by Earthsong"
Non-Fiction about famous composers, musicians, and/or the history of the piano!
Digital Keyboard – digital keyboards offer a variety of tones, instruments, and tempos to experiment with. Many offer MIDI cords that hook to your PC for a variety of software applications. They also often offer headphone ports, for when parents need some peace or for kids to sneak in a sudden midnight composition idea!
Video Camera (or Time with Yours) – older technology can still be used and found at thrift stores and garage sales at unbeatable prices! Let your children use one to create videos complete in dress and with personal and song introductions. Then (if digital) help them create a CD/DVD on your PC. A great way for them to practice playing for others and a wonderful way to make keepsakes for family/friends and future reminiscing!
Blank Sheet Music – blank sheet music offers a child a chance to write their own songs complete with lyrics and pictures!
Legos – Putting together small Lego brick sets are great for building fine motor skills, following directions, spatial-reasoning… The LEGO Friends Andrea's Stage (3932) gives an added bonus for young pianists of a Lego figure, Andrea, who is a pianist herself, with her piano and stage. Great for children to use with their
imaginations and build confidence and interest in their own piano performances.
More about Legos...
“Not only do Legos stimulate creativity and lateral thinking, they also help build dexterity and developing math and pattern skills. By interlocking matching colors and styles children learn the use of patterns which develops key math skills. With the color choices, and how they interlock, children learn important problem solving skills. On their website, Lego.com, you can find some educational materials that will help parents and educators alike. There are many other useful articles on their site which help develop learning skills with their product. The website contains complete educational videos, articles and even training for working with Legos.” From http://EzineArticles.com/2640132
Lego Parents - http://parents.lego.com/en-us/ChildDevelopment/default.aspx
Lego Educators - http://www.legoeducation.us/