iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,278 
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Nov 24, 2016 13:53:08 GMT
you don't think they will use enough to make it worth it?
My 16 yr old dd has never had any interest in music beyond listening to it. She didn't enjoy music class in elementary school as it was too noisy, gave her a headache and she hated learning the notes etc. Same for two years of mandatory chorus in middle school. Even as a baby she rarely touched one of the musical toys I was so excited to get her (it was rather expensive too).
Now she wants a freaking ukulele for Christmas and has a certain one in mind. A good friend has one just like this and dd says playing it is relaxing and she wants to learn. It's $75. Well within our budget but I worry she'll get it and play it for a week or so and then lose interest. But she doesn't really have anything else exciting that she wants besides clothes and makeup. She's our only child so we do go all our with her as much as our budget allows. I like to have one really exciting gift under the tree. So we'll probably get it but I will be annoyed if it sits in her room piled with dust!
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sweetpeasmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,585
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Post by sweetpeasmom on Nov 24, 2016 13:59:23 GMT
I'd get it for her. Tastes and interests change. It's not a super noisey instrument so maybe it is really soothing to her.
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Post by Tamhugh on Nov 24, 2016 13:59:42 GMT
Both of our boys asked for guitars as young adults. I thought it was a waste and that they would never play. Because it was the only thing they really wanted, they got them. I figured that older DS would use his more because he was the one who stuck with music lessons for a long time. He played a few different instruments when he was young. Younger DS tried several and none stuck. The reality was that younger DS actually plays his guitar and older DS never touches his.
If you buy it and she doesn't use it, she could probably sell it.
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gsquaredmom
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Nov 24, 2016 14:01:58 GMT
You could easily spend 75 dollars on dinner and a movie, about 3-4 hours of enjoyment.
Maybe your choice of instrument was not her choice. Now she chooses one and it is not your choice.
Me? I'd buy it. At worst she has a lot of fun for a few days. At best, she loves it and continues.
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Post by monklady123 on Nov 24, 2016 14:02:17 GMT
I say buy it. You can always sell it later. You never know, she might really get into it.
Or, alternatively, could you rent one and give her a few lessons and see if she likes it?
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Post by oliquig on Nov 24, 2016 14:02:21 GMT
I'd buy a gift card and say it's for the ukelele, that way it's her ultimate decision as to buy it out spend the money on something else.
That being said, my 15 yo nephew loves his uke, and id's teaching himself how to pay different songs from YouTube. He actually asked for a case for it for Christmas.
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trollie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,580
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Post by trollie on Nov 24, 2016 14:04:37 GMT
I would get it for her. (Be thankful that she isn't asking for a drum set! HA!) There are youtube tutorials that teach songs. Music is a great gift.
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Post by monklady123 on Nov 24, 2016 14:11:36 GMT
I would get it for her. ( Be thankful that she isn't asking for a drum set! HA!) There are youtube tutorials that teach songs. Music is a great gift. Excellent point! |
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,496
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Post by ellen on Nov 24, 2016 14:21:56 GMT
Get it for her!!! Ukeleles are hot right now. I bought one in August on a whim (little bit drunk maybe) and I am planning on getting a higher quality ukulele soon. There are so many good YouTube tutorials and if she has a friend who is also playing she's likely to learn to play it.
I teach 4th grade and a lot of my students have ukuleles on their Christmas list. I know some are getting them. I have told them I will stay in with them at recess at least once a week the rest of the school year to get them going.my starter ukulele is going to become the ukulele that I just keep at school.
Your daughter is going to need a tuner and I'd get a set of felt picks for her too. Don't be a killjoy, Mom. Make this happen.
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Post by monklady123 on Nov 24, 2016 14:31:48 GMT
Get it for her!!! Ukeleles are hot right now. I bought one in August on a whim (little bit drunk maybe) and I am planning on getting a higher quality ukulele soon. There are so many good YouTube tutorials and if she has a friend who is also playing she's likely to learn to play it. I teach 4th grade and a lot of my students have ukuleles on their Christmas list. I know some are getting them. I have told them I will stay in with them at recess at least once a week the rest of the school year to get them going.my starter ukulele is going to become the ukulele that I just keep at school. Your daughter is going to need a tuner and I'd get a set of felt picks for her too. Don't be a killjoy, Mom. Make this happen. And now I want one! lol. Off to search for ukeleles! |
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Post by gracieplusthree on Nov 24, 2016 14:34:16 GMT
ahh i say get it.. I got my youngest a unicycle, yep...he never learned to ride it, actually gave up on it, suprised the heck out of me as I figured he'd hop on it and have no problems LOL(he started riding a 2wheel bike at age 3) BUT.. he was SOOOO happy to get it,and that.. made it worth it ya know?..if you can afford it, and have nothing else in mind that she would love receiving as much, I say get it.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 29, 2024 13:40:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2016 14:39:10 GMT
m'eh, get it. I've gotten gifts that I thought would go over well and get plenty of use but never did. I've gotten things off their list that were never touched (like the Minecraft Lego set). And I've gotten things they asked for at the last minute and got lots of use out of them. The best thing we can do as parents is encourage any passing interest. You never know what will stick.
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,278
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Nov 24, 2016 14:40:34 GMT
We'll most likely get it. It's just an odd request for someone who has always hated learning music. She's never played any instrument (other than the short time they had to play the recorder in 2nd or 3rd grade). No interest at all in any type of lessons etc and the forced music in school she hated. But hopefully she will enjoy this.
Ha, she would definitely sell it if it sits unused. She's constantly selling her old clothes etc online.
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,496
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Post by ellen on Nov 24, 2016 14:51:42 GMT
I've spent a lot more than $75 on gifts that were used for a while and then ditched. Even if she plays it just a couple times a week she'll learn to play it. It was a high school kid that prompted me to get one. She came to visit at our lake house. She played Riptide and sang along as she played. My two sisters were there and we asked a bunch of questions. This girl had never had any music lessons and was self taught using YouTube. My sisters became ukulele owners too and my sisters kids are also playing. Ukulele groups have become popular in a lot of cities. I live in a very rural area and I go to a uke group every Monday night with a few other people. There are no high schoolers there, so it's popular with adults too. Prior to August, I had no idea.
Guess who can play Riptide now?
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Post by kitkath on Nov 24, 2016 14:58:32 GMT
Electric guitar. Daughter wanted one so we got it. She did take a class for about 4 weeks but it hasn't been picked up since. I would guess that was about 8 years ago. Now she has moved across the country and her guitar sits gathering dust in her childhood room.
I should plan a garage sale when both girls are home this summer.
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Post by Basket1lady on Nov 24, 2016 15:09:10 GMT
For whatever reason, they are big right now with our HS crowd. Granted,I work with a bunch of HS theatre kids, but I ran into a conversation a few weeks ago while they were earnestly explaining the merits of the ukulele. What's old is new again!
I would get it for her if that is her top wish. Soon enough she will be getting cookie sheets and hand mixers. Make it fun to be a kid!
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peagia13
Full Member
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Sept 2, 2016 19:52:32 GMT
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Post by peagia13 on Nov 24, 2016 15:12:51 GMT
There is certainly a reason that instrument rental programs are so popular for young musician-wanna-bes. However, a ukulele is pretty simple to learn, doesn't take up much space and isn't very expensive.
Go for it. If she bails on it in 3 weeks, you can always donate it.
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Post by myshelly on Nov 24, 2016 15:14:40 GMT
I'd buy it.
No question.
I mean, if she wanted an antique professional violin for hundreds of dollars, I would be hesitant. But this I wouldn't even bat an eyelash at.
In fact, I'd be happy/amused that a teenager wants something other than gift cards or electronics.
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Post by Merge on Nov 24, 2016 15:18:29 GMT
Go for it. My oldest (15 yo) doesn't do or enjoy any other kind of music, but has picked up her sister's ukulele and started teaching herself via YouTube. She enjoys it.
Everybody has their thing. I am a musician by training and vocation, but I chose choir and piano. If somebody had forced me into band instead, I probably wouldn't have stuck with it - never had any interest in playing a wind instrument.
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imsirius
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Call it as I see it.
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Location: Floating in the black veil.
Jul 12, 2014 19:59:28 GMT
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Post by imsirius on Nov 24, 2016 15:23:10 GMT
My son started playing trombone in 8th grade. He is a natural. In ninth grade he joined the band. We thought it wouldn't last because with his ASD, he tends to focus on one thing for a bit obsessively and then abruptly drop it.
Last May, he asked for a trombone for his 15th birthday. He is now in grade ten and is in two orchestras and a jazz ensemble and wants to study music. We bought him a good trombone (and it was expensive!) and he has played it everyday since. His music teacher says he is one of the best she has seen in her 25 years teaching. She calls him a prodigy.
We hesitated, but are now thrilled we got him his own. It's really opened a ton of doors for him.
I'd say get it for her...she might just surprise you.
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iluvpink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,278
Location: Michigan
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Post by iluvpink on Nov 24, 2016 16:04:57 GMT
Ok, I ordered it.
I had no idea that ukuleles were the hot thing right now. I wonder how that started?
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Post by jumperhop on Nov 24, 2016 16:11:37 GMT
Buy the ukulele!!! Sign her up for lessons. Trust me on this when your daughter is playing the ukulele your heart will melt and life will be complete.
Jen
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Post by myshelly on Nov 24, 2016 16:13:03 GMT
Ok, I ordered it. I had no idea that ukuleles were the hot thing right now. I wonder how that started? It was kind of a hipster thing for awhile. Now it's moved down to the teens. |
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Post by jtmom on Nov 24, 2016 16:19:32 GMT
Glad you got it for her, she might surprise you and play it alot.
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Post by NanaKate on Nov 24, 2016 16:30:13 GMT
I didn't know they were a hot thing right now either.
When I asked DGD13 what she wanted for Christmas the other day she said "One thing I really wanted last year and my parents didn't get me is a ukulele. They didn't think I'd really use it. I still really want one."
So Nana took care of it.
Glad you got one for your daughter!
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Nov 24, 2016 16:30:57 GMT
We'll most likely get it. It's just an odd request for someone who has always hated learning music. She's never played any instrument (other than the short time they had to play the recorder in 2nd or 3rd grade). No interest at all in any type of lessons etc and the forced music in school she hated. But hopefully she will enjoy this. Ha, she would definitely sell it if it sits unused. She's constantly selling her old clothes etc online. I don't think it is necessarily odd. There's a huge difference between music lessons that are forced on you, with teachers you might not like and disruptive classmates detracting from actual learning, and those lessons you seek out for yourself because they interest you and you understand them and you are inspired by them. |
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Post by mom on Nov 24, 2016 18:12:31 GMT
I didn't know they were a hot thing right now either. When I asked DGD13 what she wanted for Christmas the other day she said "One thing I really wanted last year and my parents didn't get me is a ukulele. They didn't think I'd really use it. I still really want one." So Nana took care of it. Glad you got one for your daughter! way to go, Nana!  |
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purplebee
Drama Llama
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Post by purplebee on Nov 24, 2016 18:17:24 GMT
Another who says get the uke! Glad you decided to go for it.
DS 21 has three....and he is self taught. Lots of great stuff on youtube, look up Jake Shimabukaro. DS and I we saw him live a couple of years ago and he was awesome.
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Post by hop2 on Nov 24, 2016 18:26:44 GMT
You mean like the georgeous guitar we bought my DD that she doesn't know how to play and refused lessons every time I offered to pay for them?
Yea, it's in the basement.
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Belle
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Posts: 4,309
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Post by Belle on Nov 24, 2016 18:39:01 GMT
My 11 year old DD got a Ukulele about 2 months ago and I LOVE listening to her play. It is so relaxing!
Check out Honoka and Azita on YouTube - 2 amazing Ukulele players and they are teen girls.
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