I am wondering whether I should give a Christmas gift to my piano teacher. I have been taking lessons with her for about six months and really feel fortunate that I have found such a wonderful teacher. Your recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Of course, why not?

I've been with my teacher for 6 Christmases and have given something (usually a good bottle of wine) each year, along with a 'merry-Christmas-thank-you-for-your-help-and-patience...etc-card. It seems to be really appreciated.

I have been with my teacher about the same as Sandy, and I've given a variety of items. She's the one gift each year I try to make very personal--a book about a hobby I know she's pursuing, a CD of an artist I know she saw during the year, a calendar of pictures she took on her summer trip, etc. I feel like she gives me so much personal attention that I want to pay that back in a small way. I must admit that the first year was the hardest, though!

Nancy

Not just dealing with teachers, but thing i've learned is that it is very rare that you will ever regret giving someone a gift. so if the thought comes across your mind, do it. i've been giving a lot of little things lately, particularly cakes and bread and it feels great. so you can do it for yourself, selfishly giving people gifts is awesome!!

I've been with my teacher for a year and I give her birthday and Christmas gifts. I do the usual, a nice bottle of wine from Spain was my first gift. She loves wine and for her birthday I gave her a piano telephone (hers had just gotten zapped by thunderstorm).

She knits, crochets, and is doing quilting now so for Christmas I got her a huge tin of Imported German pastries. The tin is huge and decorative so she could put her patches for her quilting once the goodies are gone.

She teaches me free of charge and is a brilliant pianist and an awesome teacher so I try to do extras for her anytime I can.

Sure!

I only had my teacher for about a month and would like to get her a little something b/c I really like her. But not sure if it is too soon.
I think the bottle of wine is a nice idea.

Port or Chocolate (the good kind) is what I'd do.

This is great information everyone! I am leaning toward a bottle of wine or some goodies of some sort. Any suggestions for a good red wine or port?

I'm really thrilled with having found pianoworld and being able to correspond with so many people.

in an old Columbo episode, Columbo asks a wine maker how to choose good wine. The answer:
by the price.

$15 gets you a decent bottle of port, that is sure to be enjoyed ...

There was a thread a while back on the teacher's forum about teacher gifts. A bottle of wine is always nice, unless your teacher doesn't drink wine.

Mine's going to get a Starbucks gift card.

Knotty!
You reminded me of something.
There is a fancy chocolate store near my work and they sell Mozart chocolates. Funny huh?
I think that might be a fun thing to get my teacher-Thanks.

What are Mozart Chocolates?

i collect miniature pianos (antique shops, ebay, estate sales)... everyone praises them when they see them.

spQQky. Been with my lady teacher for about the same time. I plan on getting the Tidus DVD and or just something piano'sh related. Along with a card saying "thanks" for getting me this far etc..

Mozart chocolates are individual filled chocolates wrapped in foil with Mozart's picture. They often come in a tin with his picture on it, too. I don't like the chocolates themselves, but the tin is neat.

As for red wine, I really like the Penfold Bin wines. A waiter recommended one last year at a restaurant, and recently I heard a liquor store employee do the same. They're Australian and come in all types of reds. They're probably in that $15 range knotty mentioned.

Nancy

A puppy.

I have a suggestion on the wine because my teacher loves wine.

We were once talking about wine and she mentioned that she didn't like it dry and not too sweet. Knowing that I went to a wine expert and picked out something to her liking from Spain. She absolutely loved it.

I would suggest talking about wines as a matter of fact and tell her what kind you like if he or she likes wine they'll volunteer information as to what kind of wine they like. It would be dreadful to give them a bottle of wine they don't like. Me thinks.

TeeHee!

Everyone loves chocolate, well at least I think they do. I give my teacher a box each year.

I don't, but then I'm not a piano teacher, so that works out.

Yes--I always give my teachers a gift, sometimes based on their non-musical interests, though often a gift card from a music or book store. I avoid food gifts, and only will give alcohol if I learn that the teacher does drink alcohol, and none of my teachers do, otherwise I might have gotten a bottle of Mozart Liqueur for the ones who do.

My piano teacher I've studied with for almost 4 months now has really changed my playing, he's helped me so much with my confidence at the piano, and has taught be a never of useful practice strategies and playing techniques that have just led to the pieces sounding so much better!

Meri

A gift card to Starbucks or perhaps a place of local interest.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions! I decided to give my teacher a Barnes and Noble gift certificate and she really was pleased with it. Her gift to me was "Elite Syncopations" by Joplin and a music themed pen. Cool. One of my goals when I started playing was to learn to play "The Entertainer" and "Elite Syncopations" is a good piece to get me started with Joplin. Happy Holidays everyone!

Hi Foxyw,
That was a good idea and very thoughtful of your teacher to get that book for you.

I ended up getting my teacher a book. I thought it would be good for her to take on her trip to read on the flight. She was thrilled.
Happy Holidays.

My Christmas gift went over really well.

I called her this morning and she had just opened it and was thrilled with it. She was describing a little ginger bread house that came in the tin with hansel and gretel running away while the witch looked out the window.

It's a beautiful tin filled with german pastries made with ginger. She loves ginger.

It just made my day to hear how thrilled she was. She was like a little kid God Bless her she's 73 and does so much for everybody else.


http://www.germandeli.com/schmidtfestive.html

Kymber and Oxfords Gals - so glad to hear that your teachers were pleased with their gifts. It's wonderful to have this web site to share our piano stories and ideas.

Oxfords Gals - thank you for including the link to GermanDeli.com. I used to work for a company whose main offices are based in Europe and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Germany many times over the years. I always enjoyed my visits during the Christmas season the most and especially enjoyed the Christmas cookies and treats. Many of them are available through this web site.

Sweet foxyw, glad it helped you find your treasures.

forgot to say when I called her I could hear her telling her husband "This one I'm guarding with my life" teee heee She has 3 grown daughters and you can imagine.

It looks like a very nice tin of goodies! I'd be guarding it with my life as well

I'd expect at least a baby llama from you.