Christmas is right around the corner, and after seeing several blogs on this topic, I thought I’d share my own list! As a minimalist, I’m not a fan of gifts that gather dust, feel overly cheesy, or are simply things I wouldn’t find helpful in either my own practice or running my studio. I even tried to make this list include an even 10 items, but after browsing online and reflecting on what I genuinely use or would use, I stopped at 7. And honestly, these 7 things are truly worth gifting. Happy shopping!*
- A gift card to a flute music retailer.
- I’m pretty sure any flutist would be delighted to receive a gift card to Flute World, Flute Center, Flutistry, Carolyn Nussbaum, Sheet Music Plus, or other specialty retailers. While gift cards can sometimes feel impersonal, I have a running list of music I’d like to purchase and would love to receive a gift card that I could use towards this music. Gift cards are incredibly practical.
- This flute figurine.
- This little figurine is the perfect piece of decor for a flutist. I received one from my aunt a few years ago and keep it in my home office. I’ve had many students and/or their parents comment on how cute it is!
- A quality music stand.
- I recently bought a Manhasset music stand after about six years of using this portable stand. Both are great to have on hand – the Manhasset adjusts quickly between students of different heights, and the portable stand is great to have for when I need something on the go.
- A flute stand.
- I have three flute stands, and they all serve different purposes. My heaviest one stays set up in my office, I take my sturdy Hercules stand along to gigs (which is especially helpful when I’m playing flute and piccolo), and I keep a portable and light stand in my teaching bag that goes with me to and from schools.
- A bag that fits a flute.
- If an Altieri or Fluterscooter backpack isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other bags that are large enough to fit a flute. Check out my blog on the Best Backpacks for Flutists for some ideas.
- A speaker.
- I use my speaker all the time to listen to music and to pull up audio examples, samples, and accompaniment tracks when I’m teaching – the audio quality is much better on the speaker than my phone! I’ve had my Bose speaker for almost 10 years, and it’s still going strong.
- A good mirror.
- A full-length mirror (like this one) provides flutists with immediate visual feedback. I often ask my students to practice in front of a mirror to check their posture, embouchure, and breathing – a mirror is certainly a must-have for any studio.
What are some must-have items you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments!
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