Gift of music strikes right chord

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/12/2012 (4952 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With the holidays fast-approaching, time is ticking to cross those final names off your Christmas shopping list.

If you’re looking to be a bit more creative this year, why not give the gift of music to your loved one?

Ted Good Music offers music lesson packages for guitar, bass guitar, drums and piano.

“Lessons are always of interest for a lot of people,” said Ian Robinson, owner of Ted Good Music. “They may get a guitar for Christmas from a grandparent or mother … and then someone else in the family will buy them some lessons.”

The next session begins January and runs until May, so Christmas would be perfect timing. Students can also opt for a shorter time frame, such as weekly lessons for a month.

“We have a number of different teachers that are qualified for all types of music or specific types of music,” Robinson said. “The bulk of our lesson program is basically to just introduce music to the beginner or somebody who’s had a couple lessons and are just looking for more input about the instrument that they’re learning.”

The store has five lesson studios, which are running on a daily basis.

Acoustic guitars seem to be a popular gift idea this year.

“Traditional acoustic guitars or folk-style instruments,” Robinson said. “They are still relatively big purchase items but we’ve had a pretty good run on acoustics this year, the type of instruments you can pick up and play anywhere.”

If the music-enthusiast on your list is already well on their way with their instrument, why not find some accessories for them? Guitar strings, straps, tuners and cases are all essentials for a musician.

Ted Good Music also has a wide selection of sheet music and song books.

“We make a point of having lots of different books,” he said. “Yeah, you can pick up things off the Internet … but it’s not always correct … people still do want to play the song exactly the way they hear it.”

Some of the most popular books this season are selections from artists Taylor Swift and Adele.

“Those are just huge right now,” Robinson said. “Whether it’s for guitar and piano, or just piano, those are some pretty big names right now and we’re selling a lot of their music.”

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for unique home decor gifts, Kullberg’s is the place to go. A very popular item right now is the metal wall hanging, which are shaped into flowers, trees or abstract designs that make a great addition to a living room.

“We have tons and tons of metal art which is really big,” said Rhea Webb, who specializes in merchandising and displays at Kullberg’s.

In addition to the furniture, Kullberg’s has a wide range of giftware, including vases, pictures, mirrors, baskets and candle holders.

“I think people will often come here … when they’re looking for something quite original that they’re’ not going to find in a lot of other stores,” Webb said. “We try to bringing different and exciting stuff.”

They carry office furniture, lighting and accessories, as well as other ideas for the business person in your life.

For the hard-to-buy-for lady in your life, The Little Shoppe may be just the place to look. With such a wide range of giftware, you’re bound to have something jump out at you, whether it’s home decor, candles, jewelry, purses or wallets.

“We are definitely selling a lot of the fingered glove,” said Kristine Kerr, manager. “Toques and scarves also sell really well for gifts.”

If you need a nice less-than-$10 gift, there are all kinds on unique Christmas ornaments.

“Another thing we sell a lot of is hot chocolate. We have the single-serving hot chocolate with the mugs which make great teacher gifts,” Kerr said.

For the wine connoisseur , a popular item is the breathable wine glasses. The glasses accelerate the natural decanting process, to elevate the enjoyment of wine.

Relaxing bath products, European soaps and scented lotions are also something to consider.

Happy shopping!

» Brandon Sun