Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum Holiday gift/tipping to the teacher?

I always face the dilemma when it comes to holiday tipping/gifting, so I'm hoping that the teachers in this forum would help me! Could you please let me know if you normally expect some form of appreciation from the students in the holiday season? If so, what form/amount is appropriate? Many thanks!

None of my students ever has tipped me money. A few have given gift cards. Probably 50-75% of my students give me a gift of some sort. I appreciate being remembered, but don't expect it.

Most of my students end up giving me gift cards. I do teach several pairs of siblings, so I end up getting one "nice" gift from them.

My suggestion is to get to know the teacher better. For example, I don't drink coffee, so I still have three Starbucks gift cards sitting in my drawer (hint...someone is going to get re-gifted...). It's much nicer to give a gift that is actually useful.

I'd say, since you're probably skipping 1 or 2 lessons, a gift that is worth 50% of the lesson fee would be in the appropriate range.

Here's a couple of blog posts that I wrote on that subject:

http://clariniano.wordpress.com/200...ake-your-music-teacher-feel-appreciated/

http://clariniano.wordpress.com/200...ove-gifts-we-hate-and-how-much-to-spend/

Hope that helps!

Meri

ANZ - couldn't you just use the starbucks cards to get a hot chocolate or a tea or whatever it is you DO drink?

I'd be uncomfortable being tipped money, but I do absolutely love getting gifts. I don't care if they're trashy or tiny or not something I like - I just like to feel appreciated. So pretty much - ANYTHING. However, a nice bottle of wine makes me like the parent's child just that little bit more

I got a bookmark the other day with a poem on it about being a special teacher. I read a lot so I can always use more bookmarks!

AZN: I'll take your Starbucks cards!

I really don't expect anything from my students, but if they bring a gift, it is appreciated no matter what it is. I think most of my Christmas tree ornaments came from my students.

I think that what is appropriate is a day at a spa, including hot rock treatment, massage, sauna, aromatherapy, pedicure.

I get a lot of chocolate, which I eat, regrettably.

Hi AiYaYaYa,
Most of my students do not give me a gift. But it would be nice to have some token of appreciation. A thoughtful card, anything to show you appreciate the teacher...it means a lot to me. I don't expect it, and wouldn't want anyone to add to their holiday stress by having one more gift to pick out...but if you have the time and appreciate the teacher, any sign of appreciation is nice!

Carol, you forgot to mention the fill-in teacher, so that you can have the day at a spa on a normal teaching day

I really appreciate the thought. And chocolate. Filled with peanut butter. In a nice dish.

I think my best gift ever was a card written by a student that said "You are a great teacher".

The day at the spa, with the fill-in teacher, will be even better, though.

I don't expect anything but it is neat to be thought of.

I'm kinda hard to buy for as I don't drink coffee, wine or eat chocolate/candy. :P But it is not something I broadcast to students... doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

I, too, have a stash of Starbucks giftcards, many I've already regifted.

Best gift for me would absolutely be a thoughtful card from the student. That, or a grand piano filled with cash.

I usually receive a Christmas present from my students (chocolate and CDs being the most common) - of course here Christmas coincides with the end of the teaching year and the summer holidays, so it's as much a "thank you for the lessons all year" present as a Christmas present.

As for tipping, we just don't seem to do it here, except at restaurants if we feel like it.
(As an accompanist I have had the odd extra payment by a grateful parent, but it's rare)

As I get ready to decorate yet another Christmas Tree (counting the years )

I love to unwrap and hang all those hand made ornaments that students from the past made for me. Makes me feel warm and cozy and remember each of them.

I suppose I could look down at my thighs and remember those that gave me chocolates, but I like the ornaments better!!!

My kids used to always help me eat the chocs, but now they've both left home...

What's with you guys hoarding all the Starbucks gift cards? Give them to me!

I receive gifts from many students and I was actually considering requesting no gifts this year, but that I'd love a card made by the student. My flat isn't very big, my thighs don't need to be bigger. There's usually a lot of chocolate to get through.

But there was no way to do this politely and of course I really enjoy some of the gifts, so I'll have to be gracious and hope that I get some good leaf tea (no bags) and nothing herbal or floral either. No coffee for me, I'd send it to Morodiene if she was a bit closer. Got a brilliant t-shirt last year now that I think about it, it's a Scrabble Tshirt and very cool. And I have a very nice mobile of origami hearts that a very young student made years ago (with mum's help).

When I took lesson, there was one mother of a student who phoned all the piano teacher's students and had us mail her $5. Then she gave the piano teacher a $200 gift card to her favorite fancy restaurant that this piano teacher liked. Lot of work for one person though.

Another parent sent me some of her homemake Christmas baking! That was nice!

And another time a parent made me a Christmas light filled glass brick! It is supposed to look like ice I guess. Very thoughtful!

Oh, and I always like getting those post-it-notes. Discovered that they come in many different shapes. From apple shapes to hearts.

But really, anything is always a pleasure to receive!

Oh dear, I'm afraid I'm one of those chronic chocolate gifters. I actually don't know my teacher's likes and dislikes very well even after all these years...I guess we don't socialize much during lessons. I think once we got her a collectible hat because of the hat collection on her wall, but it turned out not to be hers but her husband's. So the one time I actually tried to find something unique... What to do about this year... Maybe flowers like the past 2 years?

It's the thought that counts - it's all good. Chocolates, flowers, CDs, books, book vouchers, coffee mugs (ducks as everyone else says "no! no more coffee mugs!" - I actually like them...), tree decorations, photo frames (you can never have too many photo frames), notebooks, sticky notes. Did I mention book vouchers?

edited to add: bottle of wine