Five Great Holiday Music Gifts (that Don’t Require a Trip to Toys R Us)

Meridee Winters Music Method five easy Musical Holiday Gifts

There’s a certain joy that comes along with holiday gift giving. That is, until you have to brave a mall parking lot in late December, or struggle with what to get that hard to read sister in law. Luckily there’s a secret weapon, one that’s also of the joyful variety: music. Here are five (mall-free) ways to give the gift of music this season.

A surprise musical performance. This one’s free, and especially lovely when delivered by young kids. Plan an impromptu performance of an old favorite holiday tune for a visiting relative (they can unwrap a gift with a small handmade ticket saying “admit one”), or create a holiday video to send to a long-distance friend. The Meridee Winters Music Method teaches and encourages students to create their own music, so an original song for the holidays could make this extra special. The performance doesn’t need to be perfect, just from the heart, and is sure to be one of the most memorable gifts of the season.

Music Lessons. This is truly a holiday gift that lasts a lifetime. Music lessons have a long-lasting impact, and students gain not just a valuable skill, but improved test scores, academic performance, creativity and more. Many music schools, including the Meridee Winters School of Music, offer gift certificates for lessons. We recommend the gift of one month to ensure a solid start.

Outside-the-box music books. Know a student already taking music lessons (or do you want to add some icing to the cake of gift #3 above)? By giving the gift of creative music lesson materials, you’re injecting some fun into their lessons AND expressing your support of their musical education. Our fun Homework Books come in all colors and instruments, and our journals, like our Songwriting Journal encourage composition. You can even download and print some Meridee Winters games (a hit with kids) on our Teachers Pay Teachers page.

A Musical Experience. Tickets to a concert. A tour of the Martin Guitar Factory. A musical theater matinee. Studies show that experiences make people happier than material things, and there are options to enjoy music at all price points. Try giving the gift of a musical event or adventure for a loved one this year (bonus: you can come, too!).

A musical instrument. Like lessons, this is another gift that has life-long benefits. It doesn’t necessarily need to be expensive: small (and not too loud) percussion gifts made especially for infants (shakers, small drums and more) are fun and developmentally enriching. Keyboards are available in a variety of sizes and price points. And, for any “grinches” on your Christmas list, you can get their kid a tambourine. A big, loud tambourine. Ha!

As you can see, there are countless ways to give the gift of music this season. Here’s hoping your holidays are full of fun, family and a few fa-la-las. Enjoy this special time of year, and happy gift-giving from Meridee and everyone at the Meridee Winters Music Method!

About Meridee Winters:

Meridee Winters is a professional educator, musician, author and director/owner of a successful Philadelphia area music school.

Meridee began her journey as an educator teaching elementary students in a Florida public school, where she discovered the curriculum and school system left little room for divergence and creativity. She made the bold decision to leave and attend graduate school to study Music Composition, eventually starting her own private music school.

Today, that school has spent two decades introducing thousands of students to not just music, but to Meridee’s trailblazing method that encourages creativity, play and higher-level thinking with each lesson.

As a composer and professional musician, Meridee has instructed at all levels – from professional recording artists working on albums to computer music classes in the recording studio, and from young beginners taking their first steps on their musical path to intermediate students writing their first songs.

Meridee is a dedicated advocate of creative intelligence whose foremost passion is empowering creative and authentic self-expression in each individual. She now spends her time developing new materials and books to nurture these. She does her work as an author, as well as director of the school, from her home in Delaware County, PA.