Parts and Accessories

High school band students could always use some extra musical gear or accessories. Look for common items that band members need on hand or items that could use an upgrade or replacement. For instance, purchase mouthpieces, reeds, lubricating oils (especially for trumpet players), electronic tuners, mallets (for xylophone and vibraphone players), drum sticks, bows (for string instruments), resin or rosin (for string instrumentalists), and cotton cloths (for cleaning and maintaining instruments).

Music Books

Music books can keep a band student entertained and help him improve his knowledge and understanding of music. Choose a music book based on the musician's abilities and interests. For instance, if the band member is at a beginner level, you might get him either easy sheet music of an artist or composer he likes or a beginner or intermediate music theory book. If the band member is moderately skilled and interested in jazz, you might get him a book on advanced music theory, a book on improvisation, a play-along book, or even books with transcription of famous musicians, such as The Charlie Parker Omnibook (in the key appropriate for his instrument).

Alexander Technique

A high school band member would not expect to learn about the Alexander Technique, but could definitely benefit from the practice. The Alexander Technique is a movement pattern analysis and retraining system that can help a band member improve her posture and improve her playing of her instrument. By giving her a DVD, book or even paid lessons with an Alexander Technique instructor, you will be giving her a gift that is much more valuable than music books and pieces of equipment, as proper playing posture will increase her longevity as a performer.

Gag Gifts

Humorous displays are frequent amongst high school band members who have become comfortable around one another. In keeping with the occasional comedic displays, you may choose to give an entertaining or ironic gag gift. Band-themed gag gifts include a plastic recorder (to remind the student of elementary school music classes), a kazoo (an instrument that requires almost no learning), unreadable sheet music (saxophonist Jamey Aebersold uses this as part of his lectures during his annual jazz summer workshop to crack a good joke), and CDs that contain music that a high school band member would definitely not be interested in (such as children's music teaching the alphabet).