How to Choose Economical Musical Instruments as Christmas Gifts

Bringing the gift of music during the Christmas season is an great idea...plus, you are contributing to someone's artistic talent

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Basic knowledge of musical instruments
• intuition towards musician's aspirations
• ear plugs

1. 
   The deals are out there...just gotta know where to look.

   Instrument Selection - Guitar, Drums, Trombone? All these and more can be found either online, second-hand stores or at your local music store's clearance section. The key is deciding which one and how much to pay.

2. 
   Learning an instrument can take you to different worlds

   Ok...here's the deal. Your budding new musician will not run to the tree on Christmas morning, strap on that brand new Fender Stratocaster guitar and start wailing away like Jimi Hendrix. Chances are he (or she) won't even know "Smoke on the Water". They will be excited nonetheless when they see an instrument nicely wrapped up. Its not the QUALITY of the first instrument...but the desire to play and learn that matters.

3. 
   Music stores have TONS of used gear in the back rooms...stuff taken in on trades

   Good place for cheap instruments: Goodwill, estate sales,music stores, classifieds...times are tough right now...people need cash, FAST! You are in control here so don't be afraid to negotiate.

4. 
   It looked so easy when the salesman did it!

   Now here's a tip...be sure to include music lessons from the start. If anything else, to learn how to put the confounded thing together...If your musician to be doesn't get guidance, he or she will quickly lose interest and there goes your investment. Most music stores sell blocks of time when it comes to lessons...

5. 

   Finally, encourage other family members who are musical to offer tips and opportunities to "jam" together. This brings the family unit closer together and is cheaper than cable....plus, if you get proficient, people will pay you MONEY to play for them...not a bad gig..doing something you love AND get paid money for it!

Tips & Warnings

• Buy several instruments (used of course)and have them available in the "music room" when guests come by.
• Don't spend over $100 for your kid's first guitar...instead, buy a guitar, case, tuner, music book, strings, lessons....
• Acquaint yourself with a quality musician who can play the instrument in mind. Nothing sells a kid like someone who can make their instrument talk!
• When first starting out, please be encouraging. Don't be one of those parents who belittle the kid's lack of musicianship by telling them they suck.