 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Curinfinwe
Date: 2009-12-09 21:03
This is probably discussed every year, and I did see a few threads by using the search function, but it seemed to mostly be teachers saying the sorts of things they get, and not necessarily what they prefer to get.
This is the first Christmas I'll have been taking lessons with my teacher, and she's done so much for me I'd love to get her a great gift that she'll really enjoy and appreciate. I don't want to give cash and I'd rather not give a gift card because they seem so impersonal.
How do you teachers out there feel about receiving food items. My mom makes absolutely amazing granola and I think my teacher might like that, but I'm not sure. What do you think?
What about dinner for two at a nice restaurant? What kind of price range would you expect the certificate to be in?
Sorry for all the questions, but I'd like to get something perfect.
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2009-12-09 21:17
Sorry, for a teacher, cash is perfect. At least one lesson's worth if you can swing it.
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pewd
Date: 2009-12-09 22:03
one student gives me a gift card to a steak house each year ($100).
several brought me loaves of banana bread over thanksgiving.
one makes me a blueberry pie periodically ; i enjoy that as the student makes it herself.
a pound of coffee from starbucks would be nice.
i have some small artwork in the studio - minature statues of music related items.
sometimes i receive a live plant for the studio.
my computer mousepad has a picture of a clarinet on it.
i have a coffee mug with clarinet art on it.
hope that helps.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
Post Edited (2009-12-09 22:07)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Curinfinwe
Date: 2009-12-09 22:10
Yes, that helps, thanks. I hadn't thought of coffee; I may look into a bag of coffee from Just Us, a local fair trade organic coffee roaster.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2009-12-09 22:18
I've been fortunate over the years to have had some very hardworking students who achieved nice success in their high school and college programs. They (and their parents) have shown their appreciation in different ways.
Gifts usually range from homemade baked goods, bottles of wine, coffee mugs, gift cards, movie passes, a paid dinner for two at a nice restaurant, and cash.
Cash gifts are generally in the amount of one lesson.
Although once a family gave me the equivalent of two lessons. The father worked on Wall Street.
He must have had a good year. ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif) ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-12-09 22:53
What ever you feel you can afford. A small gift can be as well meaning and received as an expensive one. It really should be the thought, not the monetary value. ESP
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-12-10 01:51
A Sax student of mine's mother who is a Clarinet teacher (fmr. Opermann student) her students banned together and bought her a "Reed Wizard".
I was a bit envious 
One year I got a Bottle of Wine from a Student's mom who is a Drug/Alcohol Rehab Counselor - I don't drink.....
(((((must have been the beer belly look, d*mn....;))))
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
Post Edited (2009-12-10 01:53)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: grenadilla428
Date: 2009-12-10 02:27
I have a student whose mom took note that I sometimes have a Starbucks to-go cup with me in the morning. She likes to get me a Starbucks card.
A teacher I work with noticed that I like cocoa, so gifted me with an assortment of flavored cocoa mixes. :-)
Another fellow teacher got me a small set of colored pens.
I gave a fellow teacher a pencil sharpener for his office.
A clarinet student gave me a CD of clarinet music - that I had never heard before, better yet.
I understand not wanting to give cash, and I agree with Ed: it's not about the monetary value, but the thought. What do you think she would like or needs for the studio? Happy gift-giving!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clariniano
Date: 2009-12-10 03:33
I take note of both musical and non-musical interests of my teachers (advanced theory (harmony, counterpoint, analysis), clarinet, and piano), and the first Christmas I had started lessons with my first clarinet teacher, I got him a Marc Chagall book, who is one of his favourite artists. He totally loved it. The second year I got him the piano sheet music (he is an advanced pianist (got his Grade 10 RCM in piano even though he majored on clarinet.)of Enrique Granados 12 Spanish Dances for piano; another total hit. My piano teacher LOVES Tim Hortons, so I got him a gift card from there; my theory teacher I got him a gift card from his favourite music store; my clarinet teacher's getting a season's worth of Star Trek. (he loves Star Trek, and has made references to that in several of his performances and masterclasses I have attended.
Gifts that I have appreciated that I have gotten from students include boxes of reeds of my favourite type and strength (Rico Reserve 3.5) or Legere 3 1/2, a new clarinet mouthpiece, a reed case, and music store gift cards. (usually Long and McQuade). I don't particularly like food gifts (not that I'm allergic to anything, but I rarely give food gifts, because of potential food allergies or not being able to eat certain foods because of diet or religious restrictions), unless it's a gift card to eat out or for groceries; and I don't drink alcohol.
Meri
Please check out my website at: http://donmillsmusicstudio.weebly.com and my blog at: http://clariniano.wordpress.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-12-10 16:06
Home baked gifts are always nice. Another possibility is a gift card to a music store/ online retailer, or an iTunes gift card. Many folks like a bottle of wine, if you know what type the teacher is partial to. That can be tough to gauge, though, unless you know someone who knows what the teacher likes.
Jeff
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katrina
Date: 2009-12-10 18:18
I only had time before for my glib comment so I'll go into further detail now.
What you get for your teacher ultimately depends on the teacher. Only you can figure that out. Of course some of us are harder to peg than others and not every student has the same capability of "reading" a teacher, particularly across any "generation gaps!"
I've gotten gift cards from a variety of places, home-made "jar" recipe kits, exactly one bottle of wine (ever in my teaching career), and a few knick-knacks. I'd vote against the knick-knacks unless you take lessons at the person's home and can get a sense of their personal style/home decor. Really. And stay away from "musical themed" items UNLESS you know your teacher likes them.
As "impersonal" as they might seem, I think gift cards are the best option in these cases.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: janlynn
Date: 2009-12-10 19:04
i will tell you something my teacher would like and maybe your teacher would want one too...
you know when a student is learning those high notes and alternate fingers n stuff and the teacher draws the little circles and fills in what holes to cover - like 000/000,,
my teacher would like to get a rubber stamp made like that. then she just stamps it and fills in the holes.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: grenadilla428
Date: 2009-12-11 02:19
Ha ha, Katrina.
I will cast another vote for "no knick-knacks."
I also would have a hard time accepting a bottle of wine from a student. From a parent, maybe, but definitely not from a child/teen.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2009-12-11 02:42
Curinfinwe, you mentioned that your mom makes amazing granola. Last year a student's parent made something similar (I don't recall exactly what it was), and I thought it was a great gift. It wasn't anything fancy, but I enjoyed it more than some of the more expensive gifts I've received over the years.
You might enjoy hearing about one of the more interesting gifts I've received (although not from a student). When I was a public school teacher, my principal one year told me to reach into a box and select a gift (I think he might have purchased a number of gifts for the mostly female staff). I selected a gift, thanked him, and went on my way. Later on, I opened it and discovered it was a package of women's pantyhose! They didn't go to waste because if I remember correctly, my wife was able to use them.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Curinfinwe
Date: 2009-12-14 12:32
Thanks for the advice everyone- I've gone with a small gift and some money. It's peppermint hot chocolate, which I think anyone would love, and then the equivalent of a lesson. I think it's a good combination and I hope she'll like it!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-12-14 16:26
Another possibility:
For the teacher who has everything , including many beginning students.....
(drum roll) Go to a sporting goods store that sells firearms. Get some earplugs or shooters' earmuffs.
Jeff
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
