Gifts for the Gifted

[shh its kaya]

Okay, I have a friend and SHE (note the gender) is about to have her birthday.  She plays the piano (yei!) and I wanted to give her a piano gift, since she is always commenting on how much a piano fanatic I am.  I thought it would be humorous, yet pleasant.  However, I haven't the slightest idea what to give her.  I don't want to give her a CD.  I may get her sheet music, though.  She likes "fast pieces" and is an advanced pianist (I would say intermediate-advanced).  Any recommendations? I could also give her something other than sheet music, just throwing that idea out there.

In general, as pianists, what would ya'll like to get as a piano-related gift (and okay, nobody mention a concert grand or something, lets be reasonable... though I wouldn't mind that gift).

Merci.

[faulty_damper]

How much do you want to spend?  That would determine what you can afford.  Are these two sentences redundant?  Yes, they probably are redundant.

Here's what I'd like to recieve if any of my family members ever notice I actually play the piano:

1.  Lamp, the one that attaches to the piano sheet thingy so I can play without turning on other lights.

2.  A painting, or a print, of something piano-istic, that can by hung on the wal.

3.  A bust of some dead guy, like Beethoven's.

4.  A metrenome, the ones with a nice wooden "tick" to it, not the cheap $20 plastic one with a tick that hurts my ears everything it "ticks".

I prefer number 4.  I hate my metrenome.  It hurts my ears and I never use it because of this.  I like the wooden ones with a nice subdued "tick" that doesn't disrupt the music.

[shh its kaya]

I was considering all gifts $50 or less.  I'm a bit out of a job right now, and spending money is an issue.  Not to worry, though, because I will soon get another job... if my connections pull  through.  Anyways, thank you faulty.

If price wasn't an issue... i would love to have a sound proof room with my piano in it, so I could play when I have those midnight cravings.

That would be nice...

Along with a concert grand

[Tash]

well minus the grand i'd love a nice musicy painting to hang on my wall....hang on i already do and i did it myself oh well i want another one anyway! otherwise some cool musicy object to stick in my room on my bedside table or on top of my piano.

[shh its kaya]

Maybe it is because I have a baby grand, or maybe it is just my extreme passion for piano, but I don't allow anything to rest ontop of my piano.  It looks just they way it did on the showroom floor.  

[Tash]

oh yeah if i had a baby grand i sure as hell wouldn't put anything on top of it- however my piano acts as another shelf for my mother to place her random objects as well as my metronome. the cover for the keys also once acted as a place to put numerous piles of paper all over it which was incredibly annoying having to move every day so i got mad and told her not to do so and then we moved and it's all different now thank god.

anyway another thought, if you wanted to give sheet music, think of her favourite composer or a piece that she really loves but can't actually play yet, provided it's not out of her range of difficulty. or maybe a book on her fave composer? i dunno if that's just me but i'd love that!

[shh its kaya]

yea, I ended up giving her sheet music.   But get this, she refused to accept another gift from me (since I gave her a picture I took and photoshopped a week ago for her graduation gift).  However, we negotiated that when it is my birthday (all the way in November), then I can give her the gift.  So.... my maybe by then she will be able to play the piece.  Hopefully she doesn't learn it before then!  

I'm so bad with girls.... ugh.  

Anyways, tell me about it.  What is it with mothers and using the piano as another table?  Argh!

[Spatula]

Anyways, tell me about it.  What is it with mothers and using the piano as another table?  Argh!

No kidding!  It's like they think its another piece of furniture or a giant coaster for your drinks.  AIYA!  That upsets me and my piano.  I have an upright, so I don't mind a few things but NEVER will anything touch my future Steinway grand ...not in my lifetime.  

[Motrax]

Well, I have a baby grand, and I sometimes put things (music, metronome... guess that's it) on top of it. I have stacks of music books all over the poor black box. But I use all the books almost every day, so it's not really storage. If I'm done with a book I'll put it in the bench.

I doubt you'd be able to refrain from putting anything on a grand piano ever, unless you have a nice table right next to you for music.

[donjuan]

I was visting my grandmothers house, and she was showing off her ancient "baby grand piano in upright form" (just a fancy euphemism for 'crappy studio piano').  

She puts all kinds of crap on it- pictures, figurines, postcards, HEAVY objects like lamps and assorted clutter.  

She wanted to hear me play- (she had my mom on the phone, exaggerating my skill)

I tried the piano- most of the keys were completely yellow and shrunken.  Many hammers didn't work.  I would press a key, and no sound would come out.  My ignorant grandmother says, "oh, Ill bet it's just the humidity.  You come back when the rain stops, and it'll be good as new!!"

Still, I love my grandmother- she gives me money.  And I dont need to worry about her seeing my words on the forum- she thinks computers are evil.

lol
donjuan