November 21, 2021

About the Author: Celine Gaurier-Joubert

Founder of The London Piano Institute, Celine Gaurier-Joubert is a concert pianist and one of the world’s leading experts on piano education for adults.

When mid-November arrives, we all have the same thoughts. We are aware that Christmas is approaching, and we begin to think of ideas to delight our loved ones. As is normal, we want to come up with the best present ideas, but we have no idea what will make them happy. When we consider their areas of interest, we immediately conclude that they already have “everything.” We also don’t want to appear too cliche and choose the obvious gift.

The most difficult task is when a friend or family member is interested in a field about which you know nothing. I have been in this situation before, and I don’t want you to feel as lost as I did.

If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you were drawn in by the title and because someone close to you is enthusiastic about piano. Because you may not be a pianist, I am happy to assist you and provide guidance.

You may have several ideas already, but let’s see which one is the best:

royal albert hall

A Ticket to The Royal Albert Hall

Why not! You can’t go wrong because the program is usually excellent, and they have amazing performances all year long. The pianists who have the honour of performing at such a prestigious venue are all exceptional, and the repertoire is always really well chosen. I’m sure your friend would enjoy hearing Martha Argerich or Krystian Zimmerman again!

The disadvantage is that you have no information about your friend’s availability, and he may have prior commitments on that night…

A Piano

If he doesn’t already have one, that’s a fairly nice idea! The problem here is that purchasing a piano is a personal decision. Also, there’s a strong probability it’s out of your price range… And what if your friend has already placed an order for one for the Christmas father? Unless he lives in a very large house, storing two instruments may be a challenge!

Not a great choice after all!

A Piano Book

Definitely a less bulky option, but the range is so broad that you may struggle to make a decision. Do you want to buy Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Schubert, Schumann, Grieg, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Ravel, Debussy, Berg, Stockhausen, or Schoenberg? And what is your friend’s interest in jazz?

In theory, it’s a good idea, but the chances of it going wrong are very high.

a gift on the piano

Piano Accessories

If you don’t want to spend too much money, you could get a cup, a pencil, a ruler, a scarf, a pair of socks, or a notepad that looks like a keyboard, but isn’t that a little ‘cheap’?

Let’s pass on this one.

A Recording

CDs used to be fantastic gifts for piano enthusiasts. You could easily go to HMV and make a good choice. If you wanted to spend a little more, you could go right to their CD box sets and be sure to please your pal!

Unfortunately, all of the most amazing recordings are now available online, and not many people have a CD player!

It might have been a wonderful idea a few years ago, but not in 2021!

Piano Lessons

I saved this concept for last since I believe it is the greatest of all. You can’t go wrong with these options:

  1. It is appropriate for pianists of all levels and abilities. A beginner would be overjoyed to learn how to play his favourite instrument, an intermediate player would be thrilled to enhance his abilities with an expert, and an accomplished pianist would be delighted to receive feedback from a professional.
  2. It’s unique. You are obviously not your friend’s sole friend, and I can guarantee you that his family has considered all of the obvious gifts.
  3. A night at the concert hall lasts only a few hours, and a CD cannot be listened to a thousand times, while piano lessons can be taken weekly for several years. Pianists learn their entire lives, and there is always more to learn. You are not only giving your friend a Christmas present when you offer him piano lessons; you are also providing him the opportunity to improve his pianistic skills and further expand his love for the piano.

grand piano beside the Christmas tree

At The London Piano Institute, we are glad to offer the option of purchasing a single piano lesson or packages of 5, 10, or 20 lessons, depending on your preferences. We feel that providing your loved one the opportunity to experience piano playing or share his enthusiasm with a professional pianist while growing his skills is priceless.

Your friend may not take piano lessons because he is too shy to make this move, but he will be eternally thankful if you push him to begin.
For the past ten years, The London Piano Institute has met several lovely piano enthusiasts who received a piano lesson gift ticket for Christmas, their birthday, or an anniversary and were overjoyed to have had this opportunity.
Many students continued to learn with us after that, and they were always grateful to the person who first suggested they take piano lessons. They have made incredible progress over the years and will never forget their initial visit to our school.

piano beside the Christmas tree

We at The London Piano Institute specialise in teaching adults who play for pleasure, and we are always excited to meet new piano enthusiasts of all ability levels. We warmly welcome all piano lovers who are passionate about piano playing and wish to improve their skills under the guidance of amazing piano teachers who have a genuine interest in passing on their remarkable knowledge, whether they are total beginners or advanced amateur pianists.

I hope you found this article useful and that you now know what the ideal Christmas present for a piano enthusiast is!

Please do not hesitate to visit our piano lesson gift voucher shop or contact us at enrol@londonpianoinstitute.co.uk for further information

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