15 Unique Gifts for Band Directors That Will be Music to Their Ears (Christmas 2023)

I’m not sure if this happened to you, I tried to look for gifts for band directors in a search engine, and all I found were shirts and mugs. The problem is that after years of being a band director, they most likely already have a collection of t-shirts and mugs. How many mugs does the maestro need anyway?

If you are looking for kitschy mugs that say best band director or goofy t-shirts, you are in the wrong place. But if you are looking for a unique gift for a band director, then keep reading. These gifts are meant to be fun. While some are specifically for band directors, many are meant for music lovers in general, so you are sure to find something they don’t already have.

Something nice

Retro Record Player

1.

Turntables are making a comeback. Most are portable so they can even take them to rehearsals.

See gift

Something practical

Food Warmer

2.

A food warmer is a lunch box that can plug into a wall outlet or car to heat up their food wherever they are.

See gift

Cheap and cheerful

Musical Note Teaspoons

3.

These musical note teaspoons are sure to be a hit when serving coffee to guests.

See gift

1. Music Games

Unusual gift ideas for band directors

These music themed games will be fun to play with colleagues, friends, or family members who share a love of music.

Maybe they want to expand their creative side by making their own game. A music trivia book will be all they need to produce a musical version of Jeopardy.

Or they can create their own songs while in the kitchen with magnetic poetry for music lovers. They can use their downtime when cooking to express their imagination.

2. Personalized Song Plaque

Custom gifts for band directors

Does your band have a special song that holds memories for all of you? Create a lasting piece of nostalgia with a photo of the band along with a link to that song. This is a great holiday gift or end of year gift for a band director.

You can even have this made as a keychain if you don’t want the commemorative plaque.

Or you can have a customized music blanket made with a spotify code of that special song. Include a photo of the group or of a favorite destination your band played at.

3. Musical Note Car Seat Covers

Gifts for band directors to show their personality

Help them express themself when not directing the band. Musical note car seat covers will take their love for music with them everywhere they go, while protecting their vehicle interior. Some come in sets which include seat belt covers or other accessories.

You can also get music note floor mats to protect the carpet.

Still looking for something extra to complete the gift? Add in some car coasters. These help prevent that pool of condensation that accumulates in the cup holders, while at the same time looking decorative.

4. Metal Music Figure Art

Art gifts for band directors

These quirky metal figures are all the rage. They are just the right size to display on their desk.

For the wall, an instrument diagram poster will look classy hanging in their office. If they don’t have room in their office, this will look nice in the home as well.

If you know their favorite band, you can get album cover art. Either have a custom poster made, or get a canvas printed with their favorite cover. These are great gifts, not only for band directors, but for anyone who loves music.

5. Retro Record Player

Cool gifts for band directors

Turntables are making a comeback. But now they have moved into the modern century and have bluetooth. Most are portable so they can even take them to rehearsals to demonstrate techniques they are trying to get across to their band.

Although they might have ditched their albums decades ago, you can revive the music of the big band era with classic vinyls.

So they don’t ruin their desk with rings of condensation from cold beverages, give them some old school record coasters. They are coasters, but they look like mini records.

6. Food Warmer

Practical gifts for band directors

Often school band directors don’t have time to get home for dinner in between classes and performances. A food warmer is a lunch box that can plug into a wall outlet or car to heat up their food wherever they are. This makes it easy to eat healthier and stop wasting money on greasy fast food.

Do they run out of ideas for bringing food from home? A make ahead meals cookbook will help them plan weekly meals that they can prepare on the weekends. This helps to avoid that weekday time crunch.

When there just isn’t time for a meal, a healthy snack basket will give them options for an energy boost until they get a chance to have something more substantial.

7. Flute Pens

Gifts for band teachers

Here are some unique gifts for the office. Whether they play the flute or not, these flute pens will definitely get conversations flowing.

Band directors can always use a music notebook filled with blank staff pages. These are great to use with students or for creating their own compositions.

Music note paper clips will add some whimsy and help organize those stacks of paper on their desk. They can also clip pages together in a song book to act as a bookmark.

Are they always drinking cold coffee remnants they were too busy to finish while it was hot? Give them a coffee warmer. Their coffee will stay warm until they are ready to drink it.

8. Musical Note Teaspoons

Kitchen gifts for band directors

These musical note teaspoons are sure to be a hit when serving coffee to guests.

For additional whimsy, add some musical note measuring spoons and a wooden spoon set. The measuring spoons will look decorative hanging from their staff on the wall. Wooden spoons are useful because they don’t scratch up the non-stick surfaces of cookware.

9. Mistaken Lyrics Coasters

Funny band director gifts

Mistaken lyric coasters are fun gifts for anyone who is a music lover. We all know those songs that make us think, “Did they really say that?” Well now they can have a good laugh about all those crazy misheard phrases.

There are tons of funny band t-shirts out there, but anyone who has seen the American Pie movies will get a kick out of a t-shirt that says, “This one time at band camp”. Who can forget those crazy band camp stories?

Or you can get a treble maker glass for them to sip wine or beer from.

10. Musical Instrument Tie

Good gifts for band directors

Choose their favorite instrument or get one with musical notes. This gift will top the charts.

Don’t forget to add a musical note tie clip with the gift.

You can create a musical ensemble by giving musical instrument socks as well.

11. New Suitcase

Marching band director gifts

Marching bands sometimes need to travel to other cities to participate in parades or events. Suitcases get beat up and worn out after a while. A band director will appreciate a new one with wheels. This makes it easier to get around while dealing with rosters and field trip forms. These can either be conveniently used as carry ons or checked luggage.

Then get them some packing cubes to make everything easy to find in their suitcase.

A music note luggage tag will help them quickly identify their luggage in baggage claim.

Another useful travel gift will be a marching band tote bag. They will need to have ready access to travel info, band rosters, and checklists.

12. Custom Keychain

Personalized marching band gifts

Give them a one of a kind gift with a custom keychain. You can get the band director’s name and school initials printed on it, plus pick one with their favorite instrument.

If they are a drummer, personalized drumsticks will make a unique gift. Think up an inspirational phrase or have their name engraved.

You can also get a personalized band poster made with the director’s name on it. These make great gifts for graduating seniors as well. You can customize the poster with their name and instrument.

While regular mugs are an overdone gift, a musical note travel mug with their name will be useful for taking their coffee on the go. Even if they already have one, these get grimy after a while, so they will welcome a new one.

13. Marching Band Photo Frame

Band director gifts from seniors

If you are looking for a gift for the band director from the graduating class, get an engraved photo frame with a picture of the band as a keepsake gift.

Another gift idea is a marching band senior pillow. Have all the seniors sign the pillow with silver fabric markers.

For a more comical gift, have a cartoon portrait made of the band director. The seniors can sign around the edges for a lasting impression. When my mom was a dance teacher, we had everyone sign a dance poster which we had framed. My mom still has it hanging on the wall. She likes reading the signatures and reminiscing about each student.

14. Marching Band Resource Manual

Gifts for band directors to read

This book is great for new band directors or even for seasoned directors who want to learn new tricks of the trade. These are filled with incredible teaching ideas.

Biographies of band leaders will be enjoyable gifts for all music fans.

Or give them some background reading to enlighten their soul with some music history books.

15. Music Staff White Boards

Gift ideas for band directors classroom

Make their job easier by giving them these great teaching tools.

Or give them a creative musical notes clock to hang on the wall for inspiration.

They will have to look closely at this one. It may look like a chemistry gift with a chart of the elements. However, upon further inspection they will notice it is a periodic table of music genres.