Gifts for Singers: What Vocalists Actually Use
- 20 gift ideas
- From under $25 to $100 and up
- 8 niche picks
Good gifts for singers are the tools they use to rehearse, record and perform: a dynamic vocal mic, in-ear monitors, a home recording setup, a choir folder or a pitch pipe. For practice, try a singing straw or a vocal technique book. These 20 ideas suit singers in bands, choirs and bedrooms.
Quick picks
- Best overall: A dynamic vocal mic A tough dynamic vocal mic that works for rehearsals and gigs. Idea 1
- Best for warm-ups: A singing straw for warm-ups A straw made for singers' daily warm-up routine. Idea 13
- Best splurge: A wireless SM58 system A wireless handheld for lead singers who move around. Idea 5
- Best for home recording: A studio condenser mic A studio mic for recording demos in a spare room. Idea 8
- Best for choir singers: A choir folder A tabbed folder that keeps a concert of scores in order. Idea 18
The best gifts for singers are practical pieces of their craft: a mic that holds up on stage, a way to hear themselves, and the small things that keep a rehearsal running. We leaned toward specialist items a working singer would recognize over novelty mugs.
The ideas are sorted into stage and gigging gear, home recording, practice and learning, and choir. Shopping for a singer who plays an instrument too? See Gifts for Guitar Players.
Ideas 1 to 7
Stage and gigging gifts for singers
Mics, monitors and cables for singers who perform live.
1. A dynamic vocal mic
A dynamic vocal mic is a core piece of gear for a gigging singer, and the SM58 style suits a singer who performs in bars, church bands or open mics. Dynamic mics handle loud rooms and rough handling well. Check that they have an XLR cable and a mixer or interface to plug into, since the mic alone will not make a sound.
Tip: Check they own an XLR cable and a mixer or interface.
2. Sound-isolating in-ear monitors
In-ear monitors let a singer hear the band and their own voice on stage at a lower volume than floor wedges, which suits singers in bands and worship teams. Wired sound-isolating earphones are an easy first pair. They plug into a monitor feed, so ask what the band already uses before you buy.
Tip: Ask how the band's monitor mix works before you buy.
3. A personal in-ear monitor amp
A small belt-pack amp lets a singer plug in-ear monitors into the band's monitor feed and set their own level, which makes it a niche gift for a vocalist moving to in-ears. It clips on a belt or strap and pairs with the earphones in this section. A good add-on for someone who already owns monitors.
Tip: A natural add-on for a singer who already owns in-ears.
4. High-fidelity musician earplugs
Musician's earplugs lower the volume evenly instead of muffling the high end, so a singer in a loud band can still hear the mix clearly at rehearsal. They are small enough to keep in a gig bag or a pocket. A thoughtful pick for singers who rehearse with drums and amps.
Tip: Look for a carry case so they stay in the gig bag.
5. A wireless SM58 system
A wireless handheld frees a lead singer to move around the stage without tripping on a cable. This system pairs an SM58 head with a rack-mount receiver, so it suits a singer who fronts a band and has a rack or a regular venue. It is a big purchase, and the frequency band is a listing option, so check which one they need.
Tip: Frequency band is a listing option, so check the right one.
6. A pro XLR mic cable
A well-built 20-foot XLR cable is a quiet upgrade from the cable that came in the box, and it suits a gigging singer who has had a cable fail mid-set. It is a gift for the person who already has a mic and wants fewer problems. Check they use XLR before you order.
Tip: Confirm they use XLR and that 20 feet is long enough.
7. A vocal harmony pedal
A harmony pedal adds live backing harmonies to a voice with one footswitch, a fun specialist tool for a singer-songwriter who plays solo gigs and wants a fuller sound. It is a stompbox, so it sits on the floor next to the mic stand. It suits someone who already has a mic and mixer.
Tip: Best for solo performers who already have a mic and mixer.
Ideas 8 to 12
Home recording gifts for singers
Everything for demos in a spare room or a closet.
8. A studio condenser mic
A condenser mic captures more detail than a stage mic, which suits a singer recording demos or covers at home. The AT2020 is a long-standing entry studio mic. It needs phantom power, which the audio interface below provides, so the two make a natural pair for someone setting up a first home studio.
Tip: It needs phantom power; an interface like the one below supplies it.
9. A one-mic audio interface
An audio interface connects a studio mic to a computer, and the Scarlett Solo is a simple USB-C box for a singer recording demos at home. It suits a vocalist who is ready to move from phone memos to a real setup. Ask which kind of computer port they have and which software they use.
Tip: Check their computer has a USB-C port or bring a cable.
10. A metal pop filter
A pop filter sits in front of a mic and tames the bursts of air on P and B sounds, which suits a singer who records at home and wants cleaner takes. Metal screens wipe clean and last longer than fabric ones. It clips onto a mic stand or boom arm.
Tip: Check it clamps to their mic stand or boom arm.
11. A mic isolation shield
A curved shield behind the mic absorbs room echo, so vocals recorded in a bedroom sound closer and drier. It suits a singer recording in an untreated room who cannot add acoustic panels. It mounts on a mic stand, so confirm they already own a stand.
Tip: It needs a mic stand to mount on.
12. A boom mic stand
A sturdy tripod boom stand holds a mic at the right height for rehearsal or recording, which matters to a singer who practices with a mic every week. The boom arm angles the mic over a music stand or keyboard. It is a plain, useful gift for a growing home setup.
Tip: Pair it with a pop filter for a full recording corner.
Ideas 13 to 17
Practice and learning gifts for singers
Warm-ups, sheet music and tools for daily practice.
13. A singing straw for warm-ups
Straw phonation is a warm-up technique that voice teachers use, and a straw made for singers is a niche gift a choir member or a student would notice. It suits a singer who warms up every day and likes tools made for the job. Ask their teacher or director if they have a routine in mind.
Tip: A good stocking stuffer for a singer with a daily warm-up routine.
14. A sturdy music stand
A solid desk-style music stand holds a thick score without sagging, which suits a classical or choir singer who rehearses from heavy binders. It is a step up from folding wire stands that collapse mid-practice. Look for one that adjusts to standing and sitting heights.
Tip: Check whether they need it for standing or sitting.
15. A Bluetooth page-turner pedal
Singers who read lyrics or scores on a tablet can turn pages with a foot tap and keep their hands on the mic or the music. It suits a vocalist who has moved their binder to a tablet. It needs a tablet and a reading app such as forScore, so check what they use first.
Tip: It needs a tablet and a compatible reading app.
16. The Contemporary Singer
Anne Peckham's book covers breathing, range and style for pop and rock singers, with exercises to practice, so it suits a vocalist who has no teacher nearby or wants a second reference. It reads as a technique guide rather than a repertoire book. A good pairing with a singing straw for someone building a practice routine.
Tip: Check which edition they have; this is the second edition.
17. A musical theatre song anthology
The Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology collects Broadway songs arranged by voice type, a staple of lesson and audition repertoire, so it suits a musical theatre singer preparing for a show or a studio class. Volumes are split by voice type, so check theirs before you order.
Tip: Volumes are split by voice type: check theirs first.
Ideas 18 to 20
Gifts for choir singers
Small, practical pieces for rehearsal and concert nights.
18. A choir folder
A proper choral folder with tabs keeps a concert's worth of scores in order and stands up to a season of rehearsals, which suits a choir singer who is tired of loose pages. Its large size fits standard choral octavos. It is a modest, useful gift for a community or church choir member.
Tip: A nice gift for a choir member before a new season.
19. A chromatic pitch pipe
A chromatic pitch pipe gives a choir, quartet or a cappella group its starting note without a piano, and it fits in a folder pocket. It suits a section leader or a director. This one is in the E scale, so check the range the singer needs.
Tip: This model is in the E scale; check the range first.
20. Grether's blackcurrant pastilles
Grether's pastilles are soft, fruity blackcurrant candies that fit in a rehearsal bag or a choir folder pocket, a small treat to pair with a bigger gift for a choir or stage singer. They are a sweet stocking stuffer rather than a main present, so tuck them in with a folder or a pitch pipe.
Tip: Pair with a choir folder or pitch pipe for a fuller present.
Frequently asked questions
What are good gifts for singers?
Start with what a singer uses: a dynamic vocal mic, in-ear monitors or a wireless mic for live work, and a condenser mic with an audio interface for recording at home. For practice, a singing straw, a sturdy music stand or a technique book such as The Contemporary Singer suit most vocalists.
What are good gifts for choir singers?
A tabbed choir folder keeps a season of scores together, and a chromatic pitch pipe gives a section its starting note. A sturdy music stand helps at home. Blackcurrant pastilles are a small treat to pair with either, though they are candy, so treat them as a stocking stuffer.
What are good unique gifts for singers?
Look for specialist tools a singer would not buy for themselves: a vocal harmony pedal, a personal in-ear monitor amp, a Bluetooth page-turner pedal for a tablet or a singing straw made for warm-ups. A musical theatre anthology arranged by voice type is a thoughtful pick for a stage singer.
What can you give a singer who records at home?
A studio condenser mic, a one-mic audio interface, a metal pop filter and an isolation shield make a simple vocal recording corner. A boom stand holds the mic at the right height. Check what they already own so you do not duplicate it.
What are good Christmas gifts for singers?
A choir folder, a pitch pipe or a pop filter fit a stocking, while a wireless mic system or a Scarlett Solo interface are bigger presents. Allow shipping time for gear, and check voice type before you order sheet music.
