Gift Ideas and Recommendations for Music Therapists
There have been many a year where I end up asking for music therapy supplies for Christmas and holiday gifts. Lately too, I’ve been keeping an eye on deals to shop for supplies for the business. It’s a great time to ask for things that you are wanting to try or save some money on new equipment. So with holiday shopping season quickly approaching - here is a list of things that my team and I love and would recommend for music therapists and music therapy students!
Basic Supplies
Folding Guitar Stand
This year has been full of conversations about grief and coping skills. I’ve started to incorporate some stretching and relaxation to help my clients develop some coping practices that they can turn to throughout their weeks. One product I will be asking for this year is a deck of Yoga cards. These provide visuals for clients to learn a variety of movements, as well as some instructions on how to facilitate. I’ve also considered scanning these to use during telehealth sessions via screen sharing. This pack is specifically marketed towards teens, but there is also a pack for children and one more suited for adults.
Supplies Cart
This cart has been a lifesaver for my team. It’s sturdy and roomy, holding all of our session materials like instruments, visuals, movement props, and more with ease. The rolling feature is so helpful when moving between therapy rooms or community spaces. The thing to consider is that it can get heavy when fully loaded, but the product handles the weight well. Highly recommend it for any music therapist on the go!
Planner
As a music therapist AND business owner, this planner has been my absolute favorite to stay organized and on top of my responsibilities. It’s made by a personal friend of mine and small business here in Fort Wayne, IN. Some of my favorite features include: a dual sided weekly planner for personal or clients on one side and business things for the other side, a beautiful cover that has a soft touch, it’s undated so I can keep using even if I miss any weeks, and has notebook pages in the back.
Music Therapy T Shirt
I love the our new embroidered Music Therapy Comfort Colors Tee! The designs are creative and resonates perfectly with the work we do as music therapists. It’s soft, durable, and the Comfort Colors brand ensures it feels great all day, even during active sessions. The fit is true to size, and I love that they can be dressed down with scrubs or dressed up with a blazer. It’s a great conversation starter, too, especially in community settings. We have 5 designs, with our most popular one linked here. Highly recommended for any music therapist looking to combine comfort and style!
Electronics
Speaker
A portable speaker is a must-have for any music therapist, and the one I use has been a game-changer. It’s compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry between sessions, and the sound quality is excellent—clear and loud enough for group settings without being overwhelming. Bluetooth connectivity allows me to quickly pair it with my devices for playing recorded music or backing tracks. The battery life is impressive, lasting through multiple sessions on a single charge. I also appreciate its durability; it handles the occasional bump during transport like a champ. Perfect for adding versatility to any music therapy session!
Blue Snowball Microphone
Lastly, this is a telehealth NEED - if you don’t already have a microphone, I would HIGHLY recommend investing in one. I asked for this microphone last year for Christmas and had no idea how much this would come in handy this year. I have also really loved using this during sessions to record my clients. Some of my favorite interventions have been recording songs written by my clients to give to loved ones & recording new sound effects for silent films.
I would recommend getting this case for the microphone for safe transportation and storage.
Karaoke Microphone
Several of our therapists picked up Bluetooth microphones this year and clients have sung praises about enjoying using them in sessions. These can come in handy, especially for clients who are working on communication goals or self confidence. There’s a bluetooth setting and allows for adjusting microphone, echo, and music volumes. I am biased to the gold colors, but there’s lots of color options to choose from too!
Instruments
Hapi Drum
I’ve had my HAPI drum for many years and often buy them for my employees when they join the team. It lives up to the hype - my clients have loved the sound and I’ve used it many a times in sessions for relaxation. It doesn’t have to be used for soothing purposes though - I have clients who just love the sound of vibrations or enjoying expressing themselves musically. I personally bought the C Major Pentatonic in the mini size, but there are other varieties and scales on the Hapi Drum Website.
Fruit Shakers
I absolutely love using fruit shakers in my music therapy sessions—they always bring a smile to my clients’ faces! The bright, playful designs help break the ice, especially with kids who might feel nervous or shy. They’re lightweight and easy to hold, so even clients with limited strength can use them confidently. They make for great themed play, using songs like “Apples and Bananas,” “Fruit Salad,” and the Spongebob Squarepants theme song if you get the pineapple shaker!
Resonator Bells
Resonator bells are such a versatile instrument music therapy sessions! Their clear, soothing tones are perfect for relaxation exercises and structured activities like call-and-response. I love that each bell is removable—it’s easy to hand them out to clients, organize with other colored instruments, and scatter around a room. The colors allow for easy color-coded music for clients to follow along to adapted music.
Stocking Stuffers
Apple Pencil Knock Off
Several of my team members have Apple Pencils, but one found a knock off that works just as well as the original! It works seamlessly with iPads for jotting quick notes about a session, annotating sheet music, and using visuals for clients in sessions. It’s a fraction of the cost of the original, so I don’t stress about bringing it into sessions. A budget-friendly gem for busy music therapists and hard working students!
Piano / Keyboard Labels
This is easily one of my favorite tools to use in music therapy sessions. These labels can be laid on a piano or keyboard to help playing be more approachable and accessible for clients. I love that it’s silicone, so it lays flat and holds up well, and the notes are color coded to pair with adapted music.
Clip Speaker
If the bigger speaker isn’t for you, we also love this JBL clip speaker. Its compact size makes it incredibly easy to clip onto my bag or clothing, leaving my hands free to engage with clients. Despite its small size, the sound quality is impressive—clear and loud enough for group activities without being too overwhelming. It’s a great, portable speaker that adds a lot of flexibility to music therapy sessions!
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