Last Updated on December 28, 2023 by Rebecca
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- What do you buy someone who plays the piano?
- What not to buy someone who plays the piano!
- Piano Gift Ideas for Piano Players of All Kinds!
- Piano Gift Ideas for Readers
- Piano Gift Ideas for Him
- Piano Gift Ideas for Her
- Piano Gift Ideas for Kids
- Piano Gift Ideas for Composers and Songwriters
- Piano Gift Ideas for Students
- Sheet Music Piano Gift Ideas for New Piano Players
- Sheet Music Piano Gift Ideas for Experienced Piano Players
- Related Posts:
What do you buy someone who plays the piano?
So you want to buy something thoughtful and meaningful for the piano player in your life, but you're not quite sure what they'll like and appreciate. What are good gifts for a piano player?
As a piano player myself, I have a few ideas of gifts for pianists to inspire you and guide you in the right direction. But you'll still want to put some thought into which ideas will best suit the piano player in your life.
What not to buy someone who plays the piano!
Before you start shopping for piano gifts, there is one big warning you'll want to keep in mind.
Piano players know when music symbols don't look right!
Music notes that are backwards, or squished, or in the wrong place… these are all things that a piano player will notice and potentially be irritated by. Whether or not we'll tolerate the “wrongness” depends on the context.
For example, I have a pair of earrings that looks like music notes. They're cute, but when I put them on, the notes on one ear are always backwards. This drives me nuts, so I don't wear them.
Another example: I ordered a big treble clef stencil for an art project. It was expensive, but I splurged because I was excited about it. When it arrived, I was absolutely devastated to see that although the product image had looked perfect, the actual product was distorted. The clef was shorter and wider than it should have been. A non-musician probably wouldn't even notice, but to a musician, it's incredibly jarring and it looks really bad.
Another thing that irks me as a musician is when someone designs an artfully whimsical image of music on the staff, but they put the treble clef at the end of the line instead of the beginning. No thank you!
But these warnings don't necessarily apply in all situations. If there are a few incorrect symbols mixed in with mostly correct symbols, on a product where it's not so noticeable, it's not so bad.
Rest assured, I've carefully selected all the items suggested in my lists below to have designs that I'm happy with as a musician. Some of them are not 100% accurate in design, but nothing is “off” to a degree that would irritate me.
So shop away! If you're shopping for gifts for a pianist, I'm sure you'll find something great on this list!
Piano Gift Ideas for Piano Players of All Kinds!
These piano gifts will suit any piano player, no matter their age, gender, or ability level. Just consider your piano player's personal likes/dislikes/style, and pick something that feels right to you!
Adjustable Piano Bench
Believe it or not, a piano bench is not one-size-fits-all, and the standard piano bench isn't actually well-suited for all piano players!
A piano bench that is not the correct height can cause all kinds of issues for a piano player, including back pain, wrist pain, and difficulty achieving the correct sound when playing.
So if your piano player is still playing on a standard piano bench (or even worse, a chair! big no-no!), an adjustable piano bench is a great gift idea!
Music Clip
Nothing is more maddening than a book of sheet music that won't stay open when placed on the piano. A beautiful and sturdy metal music clip like this is a great gift! It's classy, pretty, and useful!
Is your piano player a cat lover? If so, try this cat music clip!
Bluetooth Page Turner Pedal for Music
Has the piano player in your life gone digital? Do they keep all their sheet music on a tablet? If so, they might just love a bluetooth page-turner like this one. They just click the pedal with their foot, and the page turns for them. No more panicking to turn the page without interrupting the flow of playing their music! (And trust me, page-turning is definitely something musicians panic about!)
Note: I prefer my own sheet music on paper. I've never tried playing from a tablet, so I've never tried using one of these digital page-turning pedals. So although I know many piano players love them, I don't know the best brand. You'll have to do a bit of your own research there.
Metronome
Oh, the metronome! The musical assistant that beginning piano players love to hate. It's the one tool that beginners almost unanimously despise, and the one tool that experienced piano players know is absolutely essential when it comes to improving your skill and playing music well!
The piano player in your life may use a free metronome app on their phone (there are tons available!), but sometimes it's nice to leave the phone far away when playing the piano so you can immerse yourself in the music without interruptions.
Classic Mechanical Metronome
The classic mechanical metronome looks fantastic on top of an acoustic piano. I had one growing up, and I loved the aesthetic! And best of all, it doesn't rely on batteries! You just turn the crank to wind it up whenever it needs to be re-energized.
Digital Metronome
Digital metronomes are useful for a couple reasons.
For one thing, they are compact, so you can take them with you on the go. And since they're smaller than a mechanical metronome, they fit better on top of digital pianos.
Another benefit is that they often have a light on them, so you can have a visual cue to keep your rhythm steady.
Soundbrenner Core Vibrating Metronome
I've never tried one of these Soundbrenner vibrating metronomes, but I'm definitely curious about them! The idea seems so ingenious! No ticking, not lights… just a rhythmic vibration to keep your rhythm right on track!
Circle of Fifths Clock
The circle of fifths is a very useful tool for musicians, especially musicians who love composing/songwriting, and/or music theory. The fact that this circle of fifths clock tells times too? Even better!
Piano Light
Every pianist needs a light on top of their piano. With a piano light, you can turn off the glaring over-head lighting at night, and still see your sheet music! Nothing creates that cozy, magical feeling better than the soft glow of a piano light!
Classic Piano Lamp
I had a piano lamp just like this one when I was growing up (except mine was brass instead of silver). I loved how old-timey and traditional it looked. It made me feel like my piano was a special place to be.
Modern LED Piano Light
An LED piano light like this one creates a more sleek, modern look. And it has a few additional bonuses as well! You can adjust the brightness, and even adjust the colour temperature of your light.
Art for Piano Players
Nothing completes a home quite like hanging some art on the walls! The piano player in your life might love receiving a piece of art that you've thoughtfully selected for them!
An upright piano always looks great with some art hanging over it. Or your piano player may want to hang some piano-inspired art anywhere in their home to add a touch of music wherever they go!
Piano Keyboard Art
An image of piano keys hanging over a piano would probably be overkill, but this art display would look great in a dining room, over a couch, or over a bedroom headboard.
Piano Patent Wall Hangings
This spread of piano patent drawings looks amazing! Perfect for hanging over a piano! Especially if your piano player is also an engineer! (Although I'm definitely not an engineer, and I love the idea too!)
Famous Art Prints
When I was growing up, I had a very large, very old-looking piece of art hanging over my piano. It was inherited from my grand-mother, and had one of those bulky ornate fake-gold frames around it. I loved it! It depicted a river and a large willow tree, and I loved looking at the scene while I played my music.
If you know what painters your piano player loves, get them a large print of a beautiful painting by their favourite painter!
Piano Mug
Is your piano player a tea or coffee drinker? (Or maybe a hot chocolate drinker?) If so, this musical mug is a great idea! (As long as they don't already have a cupboard full of too many mugs.)
And when it comes to music mugs, there are so many designs to choose from! If this one doesn't seem quite the right style, there are so many other options available if you do some looking around.
Piano Gift Ideas for Readers
If the piano player in your life loves to read, a biographical book about one of their favourite musicians is sure to be a hit!
I enjoy classical music, so I love learning about classical musicians and their historical context. Here are a few books I've enjoyed reading:
Mozart Biography Book
This book by John Suchet was a really enjoyable read. I found it was less dry than many historical books often are, and it includes tons of relevant pictures to bring the story to life!
Beethoven Biography Book
This biography of Beethoven by John Suchet is also a great read. (No pictures in this one though.)
Piano Gift Ideas for Him
Music Socks for Men
These music-themed men's socks might be just the thing to keep his feet warm and stylish!
Piano Cuff Links
Does the piano player in your life dress to the nines? If so, these piano-themed cuff links will let him add his own personal touch to the typical suit and tie.
Piano Whiskey Glass
“Sing us a song, you're the piano man!” This piano key whiskey glass makes me think of Billy Joel in the best piano-y way! (And maybe the female pianist in your life would love this gift as well!)
Piano Gift Ideas for Her
Music Socks for Women
Can't go wrong with music socks! I was gifted a pair similar to these by a piano student, and I love them. They're fun, and so easy to match after washing because they stand out from the pile of mismatched socks!
Piano Bracelets
This piano cuff bracelet is cute and understated! Perfect for the piano player in your life!
I love the concept of this bracelet! It's made from piano strings. So you've got a piece of piano on you, but no one else really would know if you didn't tell them. I bet your piano player will love the subtlety of this!
Piano Earrings
Matching piano earrings to go with the piano cuff bracelet mentioned above!
And more jewelery made from piano strings! This time in the form of earrings!
Musical Infinity Scarf
A nice infinity scarf is great to complete an outfit on a beautiful autumn day. Or any day that's slightly chilly! If the piano player in your life is someone who loves wearing scarves, this is a great gift idea for them.
Music Umbrella
I love that the music print is on the inside of this umbrella. So on the outside, you look like every other person carrying a black umbrella in the rain… but on the inside, you're a whimsical, joyful musician. A great gift for the piano player who lives in a rainy climate!
Is your piano player someone who likes showing off their musical side? This umbrella has the music print on the outside so everyone can see it!
Piano Gift Ideas for Kids
Looking for gift ideas to give to kids who play piano? Here are some suggestions for great gifts for young piano players!
Piano Pedal Extender
Every piano beginner loves the sustain pedal. There is nothing quite as exciting as getting to play with the pedal and make the music sound soft and echoey and magical. (I know this because as a piano teacher, I had to go to great lengths to get my young students to stop messing with the pedals when they weren't supposed to use them!)
Unfortunately, by the time young students are ready to play music that uses the pedal, they often still aren't tall enough to reach the pedal!
A piano pedal extender like this one helps solve that problem. It's adjustable to match your young piano player's height, and it also gives them somewhere to plant their feet while they play piano, so their legs aren't left dangling in the air while they try to play.
Piano Office Supplies
As a kid I loved office supplies. (If I'm being honest, I still do, so this is a category of piano gifts that might also be perfect for adult piano players!)
Try these treble clef paper clips, music pencils, treble clef pens, and music themed erasers.
Music Stickers
I was never a sticker collector as a kid. But I know a lot of kids who just love collecting stickers of all kinds! These music stickers might just make the young piano player in your lift light up with joy!
Piano Gift Ideas for Composers and Songwriters
Not every musician loves to write their own music. But for those who do, there are some gifts they'll really love!
Music Journal
This little journal is perfect for writing music! It's small enough to carry around so it's always with you when inspiration strikes. It has a hard cover so you can write in it no matter where you are. And it has ruled paper on one side for writing lyrics or ideas, and music staff manuscript paper on the other side for jotting down the melodies in your head.
A perfect gift for the piano playing songwriter or composer.
Chords Superpack
My Chords Superpack is a great digital resource for anyone who wants to explore songwriting, composing, and improvising. It includes 3 ebooks that explain everything you need to know in order to start using chords to create your own music.
With these books you'll learn how to play all piano triads, which piano triads will sound good together in music, and how to combine these triads to create your own chord progressions for your music.
And the best part is, they break down complex music theory concepts in a way that makes them much easier for the everyday musician to understand and apply.
Piano Gift Ideas for Students
Looking for a gift for someone learning piano? Maybe a child taking regular lessons, maybe a young adult working on a music degree, maybe a retiree taking up a new hobby.
Piano Tote Bag
Every piano student needs a bag to carry their piano books to and from lessons. A tote like this is perfect! It's just the right size to easily fit piano books without leaving them sticking out the top.
Piano Lesson Practice Assignment Notebook
A practice and assignment notebook like this is great for keeping track of what your piano teacher wants you to work on each week between lessons. This notebook has you covered for an entire year of lessons. A great gift for a piano student of any age! Just make sure your piano player's teacher doesn't already provide their own customized lesson notes in another format.
Bullet Journal for Piano
Does the piano player in your life love bullet journaling? Bullet journals are fun because you get to design them yourself. They're a great option for those of us who enjoy creating our own personalized piano practice tracker journals.
Sheet Music Piano Gift Ideas for New Piano Players
The first thing you need to realize about sheet music is that songbooks that say they contain “easy” or “beginner” sheet music in them are too difficult for brand new piano students. These “easy” books are meant for students who have already learned and practiced the basics of piano.
New piano students begin by working through a method book series, then they'll be ready to play music from “easy” songbooks.
Read Your Own Music, Book 1
Read Your Own Music, Book 1 introduces the basics of piano through the use of simple composition exercises. It's a great resources to help beginners use their creativity to help them build their confidence reading and playing music. This book is targeted to adults, but could be used with teens and younger learners as well.
Piano Method Book for Adults: Adult Piano Adventures All-in-One Piano Course Book 1
There are many big name piano methods on the market today. Piano Adventures is one of them, and they have methods for kids and for adults.
Piano teachers choose method books with their students, so if the piano player in your life is taking private lessons with a teacher, buying them a piano method book is not a good idea.
But if the piano player in your life wants to explore piano on their own, the Adult Piano Adventures All-in-One Piano Course Book is a good option for the complete beginner who wants to learn piano.
Beginner Piano Sheet Music: Adult Piano Adventures Christmas Book 1
If the piano player in your life is already comfortable reading simple sheet music, the Adult Piano Adventures Christmas Book 1 is a great book of really simple Christmas songs. They're arranged so that they sound better than “kid stuff,” but are still easy enough for the adult beginner to play and feel good about.
(There's also a Book 2, which has other songs that are a bit more difficult, but so fun to play.)
Beginner Piano Sheet Music: Adult Piano Adventures Popular Book 1
Just like the Christmas book, this book is full of songs that sound richer than “kid stuff,” but are easy to enough for adult beginners to play. Only this book features pop music instead of Christmas music. It includes songs like Edelweiss, Yesterday, and Thinking Out Loud, to name a few.
(There's also a Book 2, which has other songs that are a bit more difficult, but so fun to play.)
Sheet Music Piano Gift Ideas for Experienced Piano Players
If the piano player in your life is more experienced, there are a ton of options for sheet music you could give them. You just need to think about what style of music they enjoy playing, and who some of their favourite musicians are.
Classical Sheet Music
When it comes to classical music, the works of Beethoven, Chopin, Bach, and Mozart are always good choices. Those of us who play classical music often turn to IMSLP.com to get our classical sheet music for free, but the print quality is not always very good.
A hardcopy printed edition of music by our favourite classical composer would definitely be a treasured gift!
Just be aware that these composers wrote music that is often quite challenging. So these are more suited to the very experienced piano player.
Modern Sheet Music
One of my absolute favourite modern piano composers in Ludovico Einaudi. His music is simple, but oh-so-beautiful. And it's a dream to play!
His music is not super challenging to play either. So a comfortable intermediate player could easily learn these pieces and enjoy playing them for fun.