Christmas gifts... what do you give your students?

I love the Christmas season, and I think it's so exciting to watch young students come alive at this time of year with concerts, and all the other exciting events that go along with it.

I'm currently finishing my students' gifts... I buy plain Christmas balls to go on the tree, and write their name, the year, and my name on the ornament in good quality glitter glue from the local scrapbooking store. They're cheap to make, and the kids and parents love them!

Do you give your students anything for Christmas? A card? A gift? Both? I'm interested to hear what everyone chooses to do this time of year!

I give my students a certificate congratulating them on working so hard this year and a small bag of chocolates. I hand them out at my recital/Christmas party.

It's very timely here in Switzerland, as the day of my party is December 6, which is the day that Samichlaus comes. He's a bit like Santa Claus but not quite! (Less rotund and jolly, and usually accompanied by his helper, Schmutzli, who is there to punish the naughty kids). Samichlaus leaves out bags of nuts, chocolate and yummy gingerbread for kids.

Hmmm, maybe having Schmutzli around would be a good idea for some of of those students less prone to practice and concentration!

I give them each a book of holiday music at their level, around the end of November so they can enjoy it all month.

+1.

All I want for Christmas is to continue receiving brilliant instruction!

But if anyone offered chocolates I would certainly accept them graciously!

My kids get a goody bag with a few chocolates, a candy cane and a fancy holiday pencil. My teens get a mug with cocoa packets and chocolates, and my adults, a mug with tea bags and chocolates.

I love the Christmas balls idea... If the students stick to many years of piano lessons with you, they'll be able to decorate a whole tree... :-)

i give my students a gift each time they come over..

crystals, polished rocks, small trinkets. I wonder if they will save them and say ' these were from Mrs. ST*********?

My teacher gets a candy cane stand and hangs candy canes on it in December, so every time a student comes to lessons they can take one home with them.

I think it's pretty clever...

This year, I bought each of them a small bag of sweets from a really cute candy store. The sweets are a little unique (differently flavored sprinkles on them). The gift wasn't expensive at all but I'm quite certain the kids will appreciate it. Like come on, who doesn't like candy?!

I keep doing them because I know the kids really like them... this is the third year I've made them, and it is most definitely time-consuming, having to make apx. 80 every year (I teach groups, hence the big number of students!), but the kids are telling me this year that they put up the Christmas tree, and Mrs. Lois's christmas ornaments are on proud display!

I give our practice notepads for the year at the recital. We have a punch & cookies reception after the recital. My Grandmother and I give the students each a baggie to fill with leftover cookies to take home

I haven't done this before, but at my Christmas recital this weekend, I am going to give my students a certificate for one free lesson during the summer. Summer lessons are optional, and last year I had only one student continue. I'm hoping a freebie over the summer might make fall semester less painful.

I'm giving them each a grand piano! (Grand piano ornament, that is.....). I bought myself a real grand piano. :-)

I generally have 30-40 students.
They get wishes for a happy holiday from me!

Jealous! My current count is at 76 (I teach groups)... but it's still worth it in the end

That is pretty impressive that you go to that effort for that many students!

Amy, where did you find Grand Piano ornaments? That sounds really cute! I love the personalized ball idea too. One year I found eighth note ornaments and gave those, but they aren't too personalized.

Stanny,

I found some at a couple of our local music stores. I also ordered some off the pianoworld store site, when the shipping was free.

Hi everyone - my first post on this site! I'm glad to find this thread as I've been agonizing over this. I was tempted to give away a free summer lesson to everyone but I'm not sure that's a good precedent to set. So I found these neat piano pencil sharpeners at FriendshipHouse.com (the keys move up and down when you sharpen your pencil) which I'll put in a goody bag with a holiday pencil, some home-baked cookies and candy canes. I might give my adult students the free summer lesson though...they are in the minority and probably don't need any more junk, or junk food.

Welcome Morgen!

I think you folks are generous! I am only giving my students a 2 week break.

I guess that I need to rethink my gift to my students. I usually give each student a new piece of music. I like the ornament idea a lot.
JEannette