Fortunately for their friends and family, violinists are easy to buy for. Most violin players, regardless of skill level, are always interested in products related to their musical passion. Consistently buying top quality products gets expensive, though, so many players settle for lower quality than they’d like. Individually, however, many of the best quality products are quite affordable, so they make ideal gifts.
Violin accessories
Most violin players enjoy the chance to try out different strings. If you want to indulge your violinist, give them some gut-core strings. Good choices are Pirastro Oliv (about $100 a set) or gut strings from D’Addario ($50 to $70 per set). Synthetic core strings also come in quality varieties, such as Corelli Alliance or Pirastro Evah Pirazzi, but are usually easier on the wallet. If fine strings are too pricey, pick up some professional grade (not student grade) rosin. Opt for cake rosin, which is typically more pure and higher quality than boxed. You can also find rosin with added gold for a warmer sound or silver for a brighter sound.
General music accessories
Accessories not directly related to the instrument are last in most players’ budgets, so they’re appreciated as gifts. Consider giving a folding music stand like Rat Music Stand’s Jazz Stand, which folds down flat, or the Pro Tec stand, which can be carried in a small cylindrical bag. Then enhance the stand with a light, extensions for holding more sheet music, or gadgets that keep sheet music from blowing around. Violin care kit Put together a top quality maintenance kit that includes polish, a polishing cloth (preferably pro-grade Microfiber), peg compound, small humidifiers (like Dampits made by SuperSensitive), and a hygrometer.
Hand exerciser
Hand and finger exercisers help violists improve even while away from their instruments. Grip Master makes hand exercisers in several resistance strengths for under $15. Given how easy these are to forget somewhere, it’s worth giving a couple.
Auto-chromatic tuner
An electric auto-chromatic tuner makes tuning a violin simple. If the player needs to tune in a noisy area, look for a tuner with an external microphone that can be attached to the instrument. Depending on the features, these tuners range in price from $30 to $100.
Educational videos
Starters can benefit from basic “how to play” videos and ear training material to improve their sense of pitch. To help an intermediate player broaden their knowledge, give a video on a particular style of playing, such as jazz or Irish fiddling. Videos on certain techniques, like Rhythmizing the Bow by Julie Lyonn Lieberman, also make enlightening gifts. For an advanced player, pick up a video of a master class lead by a well-known violist like Jascha Heifetz or Pinchas Zukerman.
Violinists’ life stories
Other musician’s lives and careers can be great sources of inspiration. Some books to consider are The Great Violinists by Margaret Campbell, Fiddler to the World: The Inspiring Life of Itzhak Perlman by Carol H. Behrman, and The Compleat Violinist: Thoughts, Exercises, Reflections of an Itinerant Violinist by Yehudi Menuhin. If your violinist prefers movies, try Music of the Heart, about a violin teacher in a difficult East Harlem school. Meryl Streep learned to play the violin expressly for this movie. Unusual violin music Give your violinist music in a style they normally don’t listen to and you could open up a whole new world for them. Because the violin is used in so many different styles of music, it’s easy to find something even a long-time violist is unfamiliar with. Some styles to consider are Irish, bluegrass, klezmer, or Persian. Round out the package with a book about the style you chose or some sheet music in that style.
Silent electric violin
These don’t feel like their acoustic cousins, but they do have one major advantage: silence. The headphone jack allows for practice that only the player can hear. Electric violins are definitely high-end gifts (starting from $500) and not every violinist likes them, so hint around first to make sure your gift will go over well.
Music motif novelties
Novelty items with music notes, G clefs, or violin designs are affordable and fit any violist’s lifestyle. They may look like just decoration, but they have a hidden benefit: just seeing them is a reminder to practice. Violin-theme coffee mugs, pens, and mousepads are great for violists with day jobs. For a classy gift, consider jewelry with violin-related designs, such as cufflinks for men, necklace or earrings for women, and lapel pins or watches for either gender.
Whether you gift is a set of high-quality strings or a less pricey hand exerciser, the violinist in your life will appreciate your support for their passion.
Reference:
- Southwest Strings is a popular stringed instrument e-tailer that sells instruments, bows, cases and other accessories along with sheet and recorded music, videos, and software. ; violin-world.com is home to an online shopping center with a wide variety of accessories and helpful gadgets. A good selection of violin strings can be found here.
