Musical Gifts for the Whole Family
This guide is for those that are ready to either plunk down a bit more $ for some key music making toys, or those that are ready to gift an experience like a great class or a private lesson package to someone really special (or… maybe it’s for you!). We’ve got musical gifts for the kids, for the whole family and just for adults. In case you missed it, check out our small buys for (mostly) under $50.
These are gifts that keep giving long after most others have started collecting dust. And they won’t totally break the bank. Have fun shopping!
If you’ve got an instrument in mind, we get a special discount especially for BMF families at Brooklyn Fine Guitars. (Make sure you tell Brian that you’re part of the BMF community!)
For the Kids
5 Class Drop-in Card ($100)
A punch card good for five drop-in classes of Little Songwriters. What’s Little Songwriters? Brooklyn Music Factory’s newest class–just for kids ages 3 and under (and their caregivers). Classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am.
[themify_button style=”small orange” link=”https://ag138.infusionsoft.app/app/orderForms/Little-Songwriters-5-Class-Punchcard”]Purchase a 5 Class Punch Card[/themify_button]
One 15 week session of Little Songwriters • For Babies & Toddlers!
($450)
In Little Songwriters, kids and their grownups will sing, dance, play lots of drum circle games AND write original songs as a group every week. Brooklyn Music Factory’s newest class–just for kids ages 3 and under (and their caregivers). Classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am.
[themify_button style=”small orange” link=”https://ag138.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/15-week-Session-of-Minikeys”]Purchase a 15 week session of Little Songwriters[/themify_button]
One 15 week session of MiniKeys (Ages 4-5)
($595)
MiniKeys is the first stop on a young musician’s journey at Brooklyn Music Factory. Through its carefully structured 45 minute weekly class with rhythm games in a drum circle, a rotating variety of songs for vocal sing-along, up-on-your-feet BLAM games, and time on the MiniBand Stand (drums, keys, microphone) students consistently grow in their basic instrument technique, ability to play music with others, and overall musical fluency.
[themify_button style=”small orange” link=”https://ag138.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/15-week-Session-of-Little-Songwriters”]Purchase a 15 week session of MiniKeys [/themify_button]
For Adults Only (Kids can’t have all the fun!)
Group Guitar Class ($249)
Learn to play the guitar, and you’ll be the life of your next party!
In this six-week class, you’ll learn a new (old favorite) song every week–chords, strumming patterns AND the lyrics.
Six 60-minute classes beginning in January. Taught by Sergio and Greg!
[themify_button style=”small orange” link=”https://ag138.infusionsoft.app/app/orderForms/Group-Guitar-6-week-class”]Purchase Adult Group Guitar 6 Week Class[/themify_button]
Group Drum Class ($249)
Always wanted to play the drums? Now’s your chance!
In this six-week class, you’ll work on new beats and learn a favorite song each week.
Six 60-minute classes beginning in January. Taught by Davis!
[themify_button style=”small orange” link=”https://ag138.infusionsoft.app/app/orderForms/Group-Drum-6-Week-Class”]Purchase Group Drum 6 Week Class[/themify_button]
Private Lesson Package ($249) – Flexible scheduling options!
Does watching your kid play make you want to play? Try out a new instrument–or revisit an old one–with a package of three 60-minute lessons. Piano, voice, guitar, bass or drums? You pick!
Contact us when you’re ready to start and we’ll find a schedule that works for you.
[themify_button style=”small orange” link=”https://ag138.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Private-Lesson-Package”]Purchase a Private Lesson Package[/themify_button]
For the Whole Family
Family Jam Session ($249)
Two hours of making music together for you and your family. A BMF teacher will help your family (parents AND kids) write, play and record an original song together. No experience required! (This is a great activity for one of those cold winter days. And you’ll finish with a very cool keepsake—your own song!) Contact us when you’re ready to start and we’ll find a schedule that works for you.
[themify_button style=”small orange” link=”https://ag138.infusionsoft.com/app/orderForms/Family-Jam-Session”]Purchase a Family Jam Session[/themify_button]
Musical Instruments
First Acoustic Guitar: My friend who has played professionally all his life, put it simply, “Yamaha makes a great entry level instrument that lasts forever. Always buy Yamaha.” I trust him for almost everything music or car related (he was a chief mechanic before becoming a jazz guitarist) & he has been absolutely right on this tip. We have at least five of these @ BMF.
We’ve chosen full scale and ¾ scale guitars so you can build your play space to fit your family’s needs.
- 3/4 Size (Ages 7-10)
- Full Size Guitar (Ages 11 & up)
- Not sure which one to get? Brian at Brooklyn Fine Guitars can help you out!
Acoustic Guitars:
Yamaha FG800 Acoustic Guitar (full size acoustic – ages 9+)
This is a FANTASTIC acoustic guitar bundle. One highlight here is the hard case – that alone is worth an extra $75. This bundle covers you for picks, strings, tuner, capo and stand (though we always recommend wall hangers for instruments). This is a rock solid starter acoustic package. Check it out here.
Yamaha JR1 3/4 Scale Acoustic Guitar (¾ size acoustic – ages 6-9)
Very similar to the above package, you’re covered for a tuner, picks, strings, string winder (it’ll save you quite a bit of time changing strings!) and strap. We can’t speak for that instructional DVD…. but this package is worth it regardless. Check it out here.
Electric Guitars & Amps
Squier by Fender Bullet Stratocaster HT Bundle with Instrument Cable, Tuner, Strap, Picks (full size electric – ages 9+)
This is a solid starter pack that covers you for guitar, picks, tuner, strap and cable. We can’t speak for the instructional DVD – but everything included in this package makes it well worth the price.You’ve got a couple of color options as well. Check it out here.
Squier by Fender Mini Strat Electric Guitar Bundle with Instrument Cable, Tuner, Strap, Picks (¾ size electric – ages 6-9)
This is a great little starter pack, almost identical to the full size “bullet” strat above. You’re covered for guitar, picks, tuner, strap and cable. Again, we can’t speak for the instructional DVD – but everything included in this package makes it well worth the price. Check it out here.
Fender Champion 20 Amplifier
We recommend this particular model as a starting amp because it’s so versatile. It’s lightweight but powerful enough for a beginner, and it has TONS of tones and special effects that really allow you to explore the possibilities that come with playing the electric guitar. This is a really solid choice. Check it out here.
PS: We intentionally skipped the bundles that included amps because we didn’t view them as the best possible value for a starting electric guitarist.
Keyboards
I get asked about digital pianos daily. Bottom line is that they are a great starter for your home and will work for the first 3-5 years.
Yamaha YPT260 61-Key Keyboard Bundle with Stand & Bench
We’ve had a lot of success with Yamaha keyboards here at Brooklyn Music Factory. They have great sounds, are user friendly and rugged. We like this bundle because of the excellent bench and stand it comes with. Check it out here.
P.S. The only thing you’re missing is a sustain pedal, which might be a totally ok for a beginner keyboard player. That being said, you can find one here.
Yamaha P45 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano Bundle
This is definitely more than you need to get started, but if you’ve got someone in the family who’s dedicated to the piano, this is a GREAT bundle. You get a full size keyboard (88 keys) with weighted keys, so they feel like a real piano. In addition, this bundle comes with a solid stand, bench and sustain pedal. It’s a bigger investment, but this thing will last you indefinitely. Check it out here.
Martin Ukulele: This is the real deal. Why do you need to spend real money on a Ukulele? Because this one will NOT go out of tune every two minutes. Plain and simple & totally worth dropping the $250. This was my 2007 Christmas present to myself. (I loved every minute of it until it was stolen at a gig…)
Shop Ukuleles (Don’t see what you’re looking for? Stop by Brooklyn Fine Guitars – they’ve got lots of ukuleles in store!)
Electronic Drum Set: Kids and adults LOVE them. You need to spend a bit of money to get something that will last, but I’m convinced every household in America needs both an electronic and a real drum set. If you’re looking to go way above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to building out your play space, scope out this electronic drum kit from Alesis. Check it out here.
A Real (and apartment friendly) Drum Set: This is a drum kit designed by Quest Love form the Roots (and the late night band). We have one at BMF and I think it’s hands down the sexiest instrument I’ve seen in a decade. PLUS…it comes with bags to drape over each drum to cut the volume down in half when playing! It sounds amazing, takes up a tiny bit of room, and just makes buckets of sense for NYC living. Keep in mind, though that you will need to also buy hardware + cymbals. (Links below). Check it out here!
Please don’t hesitate to add other great ideas (and links) in the comments below. And you can always contact me directly with any instrument questions: nate@brooklynmusicfactory.com.
Have fun!!!
