Christmas season is approaching (or already here, if you’ve got a part time job at the mall), which means parents will begin asking questions about Christmas presents. Some parents will need ideas for musical stocking stuffers, while others might be planning to upgrade a student’s instrument and will need advice. Here are some simple preparations for the upcoming retail season.
Make a List
In my December newsletter, I include a list of musical gift ideas. I start by re-listing all the required materials (method books, metronome, sticks, etc.). In theory, students should already have these things, but I know that’s not always the case. Christmas can be a great time for families to catch up on required materials.
Friction parts are next on the list. I instruct and encourage all my students to keep up with regular maintenance on their instruments, but again, I know that’s not always the case. Having Santa bring new drum heads, sticks, and bass drum beaters (or strings, picks, reeds, valve oil, etc.) can be a very economical way for families to keep up with instrument maintenance.
Finally, I include some miscellaneous items on my list. Accessories, such as stick bags, make great gift ideas. Likewise for instructional DVD’s, play-along CD’s, and audio CD’s. There are dozens if not hundreds of instructional DVD’s and CD’s out there (at least for drummers), so I like to be specific as possible when recommending those. It’s better to recommend Jojo Mayer’s Secret Weapons for the Modern Drummer than “a video on hand technique.” If you recommend a specific DVD, you know the student will be getting quality instruction. If you recommend something general, there’s no telling what the family might purchase.
Even if you don’t distribute a newsletter to your students, you can still create one of these lists and pass it out. I find that many parents are at a loss when it comes to musical gifts, and they really appreciate the suggestions.
Know the Products
You don’t need to know everything about every musical product out there, but it helps to have some basic ideas. The two questions I get asked most often are “How much should I expect to spend on a new drum set?” and “What’s the best brand?” The answer, of course, is that it depends. I like to a have a couple answers ready, including the absolute cheapest thing I’ll endorse, the best entry-level set, a good mid-range kit, and a solid professional level set. The same general categories also apply to cymbals (and I’m guessing guitars, clarinets, and trumpets too).
A great way to learn about products is to act like you’re going to buy them. Go to music stores (possibly in a nearby town where no one knows you) and pretend like you have child interested in purchasing/upgrading an instrument. For more accurate results, do this at several music stores to remove any salesperson bias. If 5 stores recommend Brand X, it’s probably safe to recommend that product to your students. This exercise becomes even more efficient if you actually do have a child looking to purchase/upgrade an instrument.
Another great way to come up with product recommendations is to talk to the people who do instrument repair in your town. Odds are, they see the same brands come through over and over. If the repair person is always replacing parts on Brand Y drum sets, steer your students away from that particular brand.
Know Where to Buy Things
If you teach out of a music store, this one will be fairly easy for you. Escort the student out of the lesson, introduce the student to a salesperson, then continue with your next lesson. If you don’t work in a music store, take some time to visit all the music stores in your area. See if you can come up with answers to the following questions:
- Which store has the most options for beginner instruments?
Which store has the most options for professional instruments?
Which store has the most inventory overall?
Which store has the most experienced sales staff?
Which store is the cheapest?
Which store is the most expensive? Why?
Which stores will match internet pricing?
Which store is the best place to buy sheet music in your city?
Which stores rent instruments?
Which stores offer instrument repair services?
Which stores carry “insert brand here”?
Where do you personally shop? Why?
When you’re visiting music stores to answer these questions, don’t forget to introduce yourself to each store’s staff. An investigative trip like this can be a great networking opportunity and a great way to pick up new students.
Parents often ask me about buying instruments on the internet. In general, I recommend against this for a few reasons. First, it’s much easier to return a defective product or receive warranty service if you bought the instrument at a store. Most internet sites make some allowance for this, but returns and service on the internet generally take longer and include some shipping costs. Secondly, there’s no way to “test-drive” an instrument on the internet. I encourage all my students to play an instrument before they purchase it, so they know they’re happy with the sound and feel of it. If you’ve answered the music store questions from the last section, you should be able to point your students to a brick and mortar store that will meet their needs.
Your Turn
How else do you help parents with holiday purchases? Leave your answer in the comments below.
About the Author
Jon Dittert teaches drum set and percussion at the Drum Center of Lexington in Lexington, KY. He has also served as a percussion assistant to several Fayette County middle schools. Jon has performed with former SNL trumpeter Graham Breedlove, Emmy award winning producer/bassist Eric Suttman, saxophonist Bobby Streng, and Christian recording artist Sarah Bauer. Currently, he performs regularly around Kentucky with Business Time, The Blue Barracudas, and Jonathan Webb.
by Stengel99 — Fri Nov 21, 2008 @ 10:41 pm