Best Gifts for Young Musicians in 2023

Working with the world’s best music and audio equipment like we do here at Sweetwater means that every day feels like a holiday! It also means that if you’re looking to give a gift to a young musician in your life — whether for celebratory reasons or just because — then you can trust us to provide you with the best possible recommendations for which gear will fit their needs and your budget. With that thought in mind, here are Sweetwater’s picks for 12 great gifts for young musicians in 2023.

Universal Audio Volt 476P USB-C Audio InterfaceAlesis Nitro Max Mesh Electronic Drum SetBOSS ME-90 Guitar Multi-effects PedalKala U-Bass Scout Mahogany Acoustic-electric Bass GuitarToontrack EZdrummer 3 Virtual Drum SoftwareChauvet DJ SlimPAR 56 Low-profile RGB LED PARImage Line FL Studio Fruity Edition RODE VideoMic Me-L iPhone/iPad Microphone for Video Kala Learn to Play Soprano Ukulele Starter KitAudio-Technica ATH-M20x Closed-back Monitoring HeadphonesBOSS TU-30 Metronome and TunerEtymotic Research ER-20XS High-fidelity EarplugsLevy’s MC8U Cotton Guitar StrapLexar High-performance MicroSDXC CardErnie Ball EB4219 Ultra-Plush Microfiber Polish Cloth

Universal Audio Volt 476P USB-C Audio Interface

An excellent hub for their bedroom studio

We’re sure your young musician is creating songs, riffs, beats, and so much more. They need a way to capture all of those ideas, and that’s why the Universal Audio Volt 476P USB-C audio interface is such a great gift. It’s compact enough to fit on any desk, and its sound quality is astounding for its price range. We won’t get too “techy,” but we do have to highlight its 24-bit/192kHz audio quality, four microphone preamplifiers with UA 610-style tube sound quality, and built-in compressor based on the legendary UREI 1176, which was definitely before their time. Mom and Dad will also appreciate the Volt 476P’s two headphone outs, which will let their youngster create music with friends while keeping the volume down. A huge win!

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Alesis Nitro Max Mesh Electronic Drum Set

Practice and record with this quiet drum set

For the fledgling drummer in your life, check out this Alesis Nitro Max mesh electronic drum set. While it’s too big to be a stocking stuffer, it is compact enough to fit in the corner of most bedrooms. Plus, its mesh heads provide quiet practice while retaining the feel of a real acoustic drum set. Speaking of practice: with 60 onboard practice songs, a metronome, and a holder for a smartphone or tablet, this kit was made for practice. Alesis even gives you a free subscription for drum lessons via the Melodics platform. Simply put, give your little drummer an Alesis Nitro Max, and watch them rocket to the first chair of their school band’s percussion section!

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BOSS ME-90 Guitar Multi-effects Pedal

A world of tones to explore

For middle- and high-school-age guitarists with more technical know-how, this BOSS ME-90 guitar multi-effects pedal will surely make you their favorite family member. It unlocks an entire world of tone with 60 top-quality effects across seven categories, 11 integrated AIRD amp models, a professional-grade IR (Impulse Response) loader, an effects loop, and USB-C plus Bluetooth connectivity (via an optional adapter). Guitarists can also configure and edit their BOSS ME-90 even further by loading the BOSS Tone Studio software on a Mac or PC computer, and there’s an active community on BOSS Tone Exchange where they can swap sounds with other guitarists. Finally, they can record their riffs and songs from the ME-90 into their DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).

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Kala U-Bass Scout Mahogany Acoustic-electric Bass Guitar

Professional-grade acoustic bass for smaller hands

The bass guitar is a fantastic way for wee ones to start their musical journeys, and this Kala U-Bass Scout can accompany them along that entire path — from beginner to pro. It facilitates early learning with its compact scale that places the 16 frets closer together and makes the strings easier to press. However, the Kala U-Bass Scout also has features that appear on many professional basses. These include an all-mahogany construction for naturally fantastic tone, separately compensated saddles and die-cast tuners that provide rock-solid pitch stability for each string, and an onboard piezo pickup that has an active EQ (equalizer) so their bass will sound great no matter where they go.

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Toontrack EZdrummer 3 Virtual Drum Software

Awesome drum sounds have never been easier

Drummers, producers, songwriters, and many other folks at Sweetwater sing the praises of Toontrack EZdrummer 3 virtual drum software. Middle- and high-school-age drummers will love the sound quality and awesome interface, and pairing EZdrummer 3 with an electronic drum set is amazing. Your wannabe Jay-Z or John Lennon will love the onboard grooves that cover a wide range of genres and allow them to sketch out drum parts and song arrangements in mere seconds. Plus, they don’t have to know how to play or program drums: EZdrummer 3’s Bandmate function converts MIDI parts and audio tracks into grooves for them. In totality, EZdrummer 3 is a piece of software that everyone — beginners and pros alike — should own.

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Chauvet DJ SlimPAR 56 Low-profile RGB LED PAR

A perfect first step into stage lighting

If your young musician already has their studio and stage rigs solidified, then it’s time to consider another time-honored concert essential: lighting! We recommend this Chauvet DJ SlimPAR 56 as a first step for two main reasons: it looks great, and it’s easy to use. Firstly, 108 bright LEDs look stunning, and static colors (red, blue, and green) can be mixed with or without DMX (Digital Multiplex) control. The SlimPAR 56 also has built-in preset lighting programs, a sound-activation mode that automatically syncs these presets to the beat of the music, and a pulse effect with variable speed. Finally, when they’re ready to tackle DMX, multiple SlimPAR 56s can be linked for more complex systems.

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Image Line FL Studio Fruity Edition

A beat-making gift that keeps on giving

Making beats with MIDI is hugely popular among middle and high school students, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better tool for beat making than the Image Line FL Studio Fruity Edition. It has everything they’ll need: a piano roll to create MIDI parts, a mixer to balance all those parts, effects to add some flair to their sounds, and much, much more. And the gift giver should be aware that FL Studio Fruity Edition offers free lifetime updates. This is a rarity in the software world, but with FL Studio Fruity Edition, you buy it once, and you’re done. It’s truly a gift that keeps on giving!

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RODE VideoMic Me-L iPhone/iPad Microphone for Video

Capture fantastic audio for their iPhones and iPads

These days, many musicians enjoy creating video content in addition to actual music. If this describes your young musician, then Sweetwater recommends gifting them a RODE VideoMic Me-L microphone. This plug-and-play device enables them to instantly capture crystal clear audio for their social media posts, blogs, and other online content. It also comes with a mic clip, a furry windshield to reduce wind noise, and a 3.5mm headphone jack that will let them hear their audio in real time as they record. Plug the RODE VideoMic Me-L into their iPhone or iPad, and prepare to be stunned by the amazing difference that one little mic can make!

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Kala Learn to Play Soprano Ukulele Starter Kit

A great gift for musicians, young and old!

While the Kala Learn to Play Soprano Ukulele Starter Kit is ideal for young musicians or young aspiring musicians, it would make a great gift for the older musicians in your life, as well! That’s because, in addition to coming with some fantastic learning materials, this Kala ukulele is crafted from professional-level materials, including a mahogany body, a walnut fingerboard, and Aquila Super Nylgut strings; these features combine to give the Kala LTP ukulele a quality sound that will make your young musician want to play. Plus, Kala’s Quick Start guide and free tuning app give them immediate access to lessons that will accompany them from beginner to pro. 

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Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Closed-back Monitoring Headphones

Comfortable, affordable headphones for recording and listening

When your young musician starts recording (if they haven’t started already), they’ll quickly realize the need for a great pair of closed-back headphones. You can ensure they’re prepared by gifting them these Audio-Technica ATH-M20x closed-back monitoring headphones. These headphones feature excellent sound isolation and have been tuned for enhanced bass-frequency performance. That, coupled with 40mm drivers and a super-wide 15Hz–20kHz frequency response, means that your young one will love simply listening to music on the ATH-M20xs, even if they never leap into recording. The ATH-M20xs also have the added benefit of being very budget-friendly, and their durable construction means they won’t break anytime soon.

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BOSS TU-30 Metronome and Tuner

Absolute essentials for musicians of all ages

The BOSS TU-30 metronome and tuner contains must-haves for young musicians. In addition to guitar/bass tuning modes and a mic input, the TU-30 also features a 1/4-inch instrument input for tuning when on a noisy stage. It also features a reference pitch function so your young musician can learn how to tune by ear. We’d be remiss not to mention the TU-30 metronome’s various rhythmic patterns and excellent visual display. Finally, when your young musician is ready to experiment with alternate tunings, the BOSS TU-30 will get them there!

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Etymotic Research ER-20XS High-fidelity Earplugs

Protect the most important thing of all

What’s the most essential tool for a musician of any age? Their hearing, of course! That’s why we recommend giving your young musician a pair of high-fidelity Etymotic Research ER-20XS earplugs as soon as possible. They’ll enjoy wearing these little beauties because they reduce sound by 20dB, thereby warding off tinnitus. Plus, they enable the wearer to hear everything with clarity. A pull tab makes them easy to remove, and a small profile makes them discreet when onstage. Finally, the ER-20XS earplugs also come with a carrying case and a neck cord. Here at Sweetwater, we take the health of our ears very seriously, so we can’t recommend the ER-20XS earplugs highly enough.

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Levy’s MC8U Cotton Guitar Strap 

Unique and comfortable guitar strap that stands out

Your mini-Yngwie may appear a little underwhelmed when they hear that you got them a guitar strap, but once they see how beautiful the Levy’s MC8U cotton guitar strap is, they’ll quickly change their tune. And even if they don’t, they definitely will once they feel how comfortable it is! Made from soft cotton that feels super comfy on the shoulder, the Levy MC8U also has reinforced leather ends to keep your player’s guitar (or bass) safe and secure. What’s more, this strap extends to a max length of 64 inches. Lastly, its blue-dove print on an off-white background makes for a sophisticated look that helps them stand out onstage.     

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Lexar High-performance MicroSDXC Card 

Saves their content, games, memories, and more

Whether it’s saving their musical projects, pictures, movies, or video games, one thing is clear: young people need a lot of storage. So, giving them a Lexar High-performance MicroSDXC card is a surefire (and very affordable) way to become an instant holiday hero. It captures and plays back 4K, 1,080p, and 3D videos and has a lightning-fast transfer rate of 100MB/s2. The card also comes with an SD adapter to ensure a happy marriage between it and devices such as tablets, smartphones, and even video game consoles like the Nintendo Switch. Trust us when we say that the Lexar High-performance MicroSDXC isn’t just for the holidays: it makes a great gift all year long!

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Ernie Ball EB4219 Ultra-Plush Microfiber Polish Cloth

Super-soft cloth to keep their instruments clean

Giving your young musician an Ernie Ball EB4219 Ultra-Plush Microfiber Polish Cloth might seem like giving them the musical equivalent of socks and underwear, but hear us out! Keeping their guitar and bass fretboard and strings clean is extremely important both for general hygiene as well as for ensuring continuous excellent sound. This Ernie Ball cloth, with an immense 400,000 microfibers per square inch, is simply one of the finest cloths available for maintaining clean strings and keeping instruments looking their best. And at only a 12-inch x 12-inch size, it makes a perfect stocking stuffer! 

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Ready to Spread Some Holiday Cheer?

Hopefully, these gifts have put a little twinkle in your eye and given you some ideas for how you can make this holiday season the best one yet! If you need other gift ideas for your young musician, then call (800) 222-4700 and run them by your knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineer. They’re the most well-trained helpers in the industry, and they’re sure to provide excellent answers for what your young musician needs most to grow and thrive. From all of us here at Sweetwater: Happy Holidays!

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The Musician’s Guide to Hearing Protection — from a Doctor!

How to Clean a Guitar — Everything You Need to Know!

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