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You love your child’s music teacher. They’re irreplaceable, actively imparting knowledge that you most likely can’t on your own, giving your child a lifelong skill and honing their talents. Whether for the holidays or any time of year, show your child’s music teacher your appreciation with one of these 15 gifts.
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Budget-Friendly Music Teacher Gifts
When it comes to buying teachers gifts, you likely have a long list of people to buy for. Go easy on your gifting budget with one of these budget-friendly music teacher gifts.
1. Custom Music Teacher Keychain
If you’re going for a budget gift, you can’t go wrong with these beautiful keychains that feature a dangling music note and your teacher’s name engraved in the aluminum. Available on Etsy, the keychain can be made in a selection of styles with differing fonts, and you can have the keychain shipped in a gift box for an additional fee.
2. MyGift Decorative Gunmetal Gray Metal Pencil Holder Cup with Rocker and Guitar Design
Another budget-conscious option, this desk accessory makes a great gift for the cool guitar teacher in your life. Conveniently available on Amazon, the pen holder cup features a gray metal guitarist rocking out in a sleek gray tone.
3. Music Paper Clips
While you’re outfitting your music teacher’s desk with all the music-themed supplies they might need, throw in a 100-count box of these music paper clips. The multi-colored clips offer the same functionality as a normal paper clip, but they come shaped like treble clefs.
4. PopLife Grand Piano 3D Pop Up Card
Piano teachers will love this unique card that’s so much more than just a standard greeting card. The card opens up to show a 3D grand piano perfectly constructed to even include the piano bench, sheet music and keys. The laser cut details are remarkable, making this card one your teacher will want to hold onto as a keepsake for years to come.
5. Grether’s Pastilles
Your music teacher is likely talking a lot and maybe even singing a lot. Keep their throat healthy and in tip-top shape with these highly-ranked, sugar-free pastilles made in Switzerland. They come in a beautiful vintage-style tin, and you can purchase them in multi-packs in case you want to give them a try, too.
6. Pastabilities Music Pasta
This is definitely a fun gift that you can pair with other items (maybe to create a music-themed gift basket?). You get two packs of pasta with each purchase, and each vegan, non-GMO piece of pasta looks like a music note.
Related: 21 Gifts Under $20 [That Won’t Be Re-Gifted]
7. Ceramic Musician Coffee Mug with Lid
This music note and sheet music-inspired teacher mug features a handy lid to keep your teacher’s tea or coffee hot longer, even when they take a break from sipping to show off their musical talents for their students.
8. Beechmore Books Manuscript Music Notebook
For music teachers who frequently compose their own pieces, this handy notebook is a must-have unique gift. Oh-so-stylish, with its thick, crisp pages and vegan leather cover, the notebook will become your music teacher’s constant companion.
Music Teacher Gifts from a Group
If you’re coordinating a group gift for your music teacher, such as from an entire class or club, then you might want to go with one of these easily givable gifts from the group.
9. Personalized Music Teacher Art Print
This art print comes in a variety of sizes, but whichever you go with, you’ll find that the print is perfectly personalized for your music teacher. The prints feature a tree made up of music notes, surrounded by other music notes, each note representing a different student in your group. Below the music tree, the print features your teacher’s name, their school and the year, as well as a quote from Hans Christian Anderson: “Where words fail, music speaks.”
10. A new musical instrument
While you probably can’t afford a new instrument for your teacher all on your own, if you’re buying a gift as part of a group, consider gifting the teacher an upgraded instrument. Of course, you’ll need to know what kind of instrument the teacher needs and wants, but if you can find out, this is one gift that will definitely be appreciated.
More Extravagant Music Teacher Gifts
If you’re willing to drop a bit more money on your music teacher (because they definitely deserve it), consider one of these gifts that are a little pricier but well worth it.
11. LEGO Ideas Jazz Quartet Build and Display Model
While you might not think a LEGO set is an extravagant gift, keep in mind that this is not your average LEGO set. This is an adults-intended display piece with more than a thousand pieces (and it has the price tag to match). When constructed, the kit depicts a jazz quartet with a drummer, pianist, bassist and trumpeter.
12. Wireless Headphones
It just makes sense that your favorite music teacher would also be an audiophile. Buy them some of the latest and greatest headphones, like these Beats Solo3 wireless headphones that feature a built-in microphone and offer 40 hours of listening time.
Other Music Teacher Gifts
Didn’t find a perfect gift for your music teacher among the above recommendations? Try one of these other favorites.
13. Vinyl Record Music Wall Clock
This wall clock is made from real, repurposed records. Available on Amazon, the clocks come in a range of designs, so you can pick the one that’s best for your particular music teacher. For example, one just features a guitar, while another features multiple instruments. Some even feature color-changing lights.
14. Custom Sound Wave Art
This custom sound wave art available on Etsy is created using the song or sound of your choice. The maker prints the song’s sound waves in the high-quality hue of your choice for a minimalist piece of artwork that’s definitely eye-catching. The maker can also include a QR code in the design to allow viewers to scan the code and then hear the song depicted in the artwork.
15. Personalized Name in Music Wall Art
Turn your teacher’s name into a musical piece of art. The artist uses the recipient’s name to handcraft and compose a unique piece of work, which you can then frame for your teacher.
Other Things Your Music Teacher Might Appreciate
Even if you’re not finding just the perfect gift for your music teacher, don’t leave them out of the gift-giving. There are plenty of items that, while not necessarily music-specific, would still be appreciated by anyone in an educational role.
Consider giving them …
- A bonus (everyone loves cash!)
- A gift card for Amazon or another popular general retailer
- A gift card for a coffee shop or similar chain
- A bouquet of flowers
- A letter of appreciation from your child
If you do buy a physical gift for your music teacher, make sure to wrap it in this fun sheet music-inspired wrapping paper!
Related: The 11 Best Subscription Boxes For Music Lovers Of All Ages
What to Consider When Buying Your Music Teacher a Gift
You’ll want to consider a few things when you pick the best gift for your music teacher.
Your relationship with the teacher
If your child just started music lessons in December, then you might not feel the need to buy the music teacher a Christmas gift at all. However, if your child has been going to the same music teacher for years, every single week, and you know the teacher well, you might want to give a more extravagant, expensive or thoughtful gift as a holiday gift, thank you gift or any kind of gift.
The teacher’s needs
In some cases, gift-giving is the perfect opportunity for you to fill a very important need for your child’s music teacher. If you know that they could use more supplies for their students, instrument accessories or anything that would make their job easier, consider filling that need when it comes time to pick a gift.
The teacher’s interests
Don’t just make the assumption that all musicians, all music lovers and all music teachers are the same. Your child’s band director’s wants and needs will differ heavily from those of their guitar teacher.
Pick your gifts based on not just your child’s music teacher’s preferred instrument and area of expertise but also on their personality and interests — just as you would when shopping for a gift for anyone.
What to Know About Buying a Gift for a Teacher
If you’re buying a gift for a private music teacher, you’ll be in the clear to give whatever you feel is appropriate. However, if your music teacher works for a school or similar institution, you need to know a few things.
There could be legal limits.
At some public schools, there are legal limits to how much a teacher’s gift from a student can be worth. Make sure that you’re sticking to the guidelines. If you’re unsure about your child’s school’s policies, just call and ask.
Some teachers may find gifts unnecessary and awkward.
While everyone wants to be appreciated, there are some instances where giving a teacher a gift might make them uncomfortable. Talk to the other parents in your child’s grade to find out what they typically give the music teacher, if anything. If all the families give small gifts, going in with an extravagant purchase could be perceived as trying to win favor, and that would put your child’s teacher in a bad spot.
Your money could possibly go toward something better.
Additionally, there are instances where your child’s music teacher might actually appreciate a gift for the school or class more than they would a personal gift. If you know your child’s school’s music program has struggled with funding, this might be something that you and several other families could assist with.
Teacher Gifts FAQs
Have more questions about gifting at school or about the etiquette surrounding buying a gift for a teacher? Here’s what you need to know.
Is it appropriate to buy a gift for a music teacher?
If you’re buying a gift for a private music teacher, then yes, it’s entirely appropriate to do so. Just make sure that your gift itself is appropriate. If you’re shopping for a music teacher at a public or private school, though, there may be rules regarding giving gifts to teachers. Check in with the school and other families to find out what’s expected and considered appropriate.
How much should I spend on teacher appreciation gifts?
Let your relationship with the teacher, as well as the occasion, dictate how much you spend on a gift. You might spend more around the holidays, for example. You can also gauge how much you should spend based on what other families are giving the teacher.
When should you give a music teacher a gift?
There are a few times when it’s most appropriate to give your music teacher a gift. Obviously, around the holidays is the primary time. However, you can also give a gift after an important recital, during Teacher Appreciation Week, if the teacher is recognized or reaches a new career milestone, on the last day of school if the teacher works at a school, when the teacher retires or if the teacher is celebrating a life milestone, such as the birth of a child.
Is it okay to give my child’s music teacher a cash gift?
Yes. Often, music teachers, especially those that work in public schools, are underpaid, so a cash gift would go a long way to showing that you appreciate all their efforts.
Show Your Appreciation for the Teachers Making the World More Musical
In a time when music is increasingly undervalued in children’s education, music teachers are working hard to ensure that children stay engaged in the arts. Show your appreciation for their hard work with a gift or recognition like one of the options above.
You might also be interested in: Why Music Box Gifts Make Great Presents
The Best Music Teacher Gifts:
- Custom Music Teacher Keychain
- MyGift Decorative Gunmetal Gray Metal Pencil Holder Cup with Rocker and Guitar Design
- Music Paper Clips
- PopLife Grand Piano 3D Pop Up Card
- Grether’s Pastilles
- Pastabilities Music Pasta
- Ceramic Musician Coffee Mug with Lid
- Beechmore Books Manuscript Music Notebook
- Personalized Music Teacher Art Print
- A new musical instrument
- LEGO Ideas Jazz Quartet Build and Display Model
- Wireless Headphones
- Vinyl Record Music Wall Clock
- Custom Sound Wave Art
- Personalized Name in Music Wall Art
- A Bonus (everyone loves cash!)
- A Gift Card for Amazon or Another Popular General Retailer
- A Gift Card for a Coffee Shop or Similar Chain
- A Bouquet of Flowers
- A Letter of Appreciation From your Child