Weekly Studio Update - Christmas Gift Guide - 18/11/19

With Christmas on the horizon, my both sides of my family have begun to organise our annual "Secret Santa" so that we can each receive one quality gift rather than lots of small things that we don't really need. Not only do you end up with a great present, but it makes shopping so much easier as well!
I'm notoriously difficult to buy presents for because I usually just buy the things that I want for myself (after researching and researching and researching...) so it can be a challenge trying to work out what I would like as a gift. If you also have this problem, I thought I'd help you out with some gift ideas that help the music lover and piano player that you can subtly or not-so-subtly drop hints to your loved ones about.

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1. Good quality headphones. If you own a digital piano, you have the option of listening either through the built-in speakers or through a set of headphones. If the headphones you use a little underwhelming in their sound quality it can really affect the enjoyment level of your practise. As a music lover, I have MANY sets of headphones - wired over-ear headphones for the studio, wireless over-ear noise cancelling for travel or listening around the house, wireless in-ear headphones for use when walking/running, and a pair of the in-ear headphones that came with my phone which are my last-resort pair if the wireless ones aren't charged!
2. Melodica. A melodica is an instrument that is breath powered (you blow in to a tube) but played like a small piano. It sounds like a cross between an accordion and a harmonica. Often I'll take my melodica with me to social events where I know there'll be other musicians - it's the keyboard equivalent of bringing along a guitar to a party. If you've never seen or heard one, ask me to show you in your next lesson.
3. Songbooks. If you have a favourite artist, chances are they have a book of their songs available. A "piano/vocal/guitar" (or PVG) book will have the vocal line, guitar chords and a piano part all together, usually with the piano also playing the vocal melody. "Piano Solo" books don't have the chord symbols or lyrics and may come in varying levels of difficulty. Harder to find are the "Original Keyboard Transcription" (or similar) books where the original piano playing has been transcribed note-for-note.
4. Vouchers. When in doubt, there's no shame in asking for a voucher. Maybe that will let you choose a concert you can attend that you otherwise wouldn't, maybe that lets you choose a CD or Vinyl that you'd like to have a physical copy of. You can also get vouchers for lessons here at Counterpoint Music!

Can you think of anything I've missed? Let me know and I'll include it next week!

Next month will be Counterpoint Music's 5th Birthday! Stay tuned for a special offer to celebrate the milestone.

The video testimonials from Adrienne, Lawson, Hayden, Brooklyn and Hugo are now up at www.counterpointmusic.com.au - do the favourite things about their lessons match up with yours?
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Things I've been watching/listening to this week:

1. Waltz #2 (XO) [Elliott Smith] - Chris Thile | Live from Here - the late Elliott Smith was a beautiful songwriter and this is a beautiful cover of one of his most famous songs.
2. TOP 20 KEYBOARD INTROS OF ALL TIME - heavily skewed towards older songs but interesting!
3. Foo Fighters - Walk But It's September By Earth, Wind & Fire - I do love a good mash-up.