DIY Eco-Gifts For The Musician On Your Holiday List

"Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." ~ Charlie Parker

I have a sweet spot for musicians. Not just because my son is one, but also because I love listening to music. It has the ability to reach right into your soul and lift your emotions.

I recently found a treasure trove of old sheet music in the piano bench. I plan to make this paper box garland to decorate the living spaces of all the passionate music lovers in my life.

DIY Music Paper Box Garland

Susan Wasinger, author of eco craft adds a festive touch to holiday decorations. She created an origami music box garland that is illuminated with LED string lights.

How to: Fold sheet music into a boxes and string the LED lights into the holes of the individual boxes.

To make a music folder, recycled record bowl and clock, concert ticket holder, woven guitar pick basket, personalized CD inserts, music cookie cutters, and a musical Christmas stocking CLICK HERE.

Photo Credit: Ben Scott

Music Feeds The Soul (with video)

"If music be the food of life, play on." ~ Shakespeare

Music’s relationship to brainpower and wellness is truly music to my ears. The NAMM Foundation website outlines the positive effects of music-making on stress hormones, the development of new skills, confidence level, memory loss, self-esteem and overall mood.

To find some benefits of making music that you may have never heard about, read my full post HERE.

Possibly, even more remarkable than all the glowing accolades from the NAMM reports, is how music feeds the soul. Music, the book by photographer and filmmaker, Andrew Zuckerman is sure to be holiday gift hit. In this highly entertaining trailer for the book (via SwissMiss), musicians from different musical genres describe their relationship with their "food of life" ~ music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o1hP_Mlc_A

Photo from Ben Fink

More econesting music: Living With Green Music Oil and Water Don't Mix (with video) Dar Williams Talks Sustainable Living, Music And The Book That Kicked Her Ass (Interview) “One World, One Love” – Charity and Peace In The House of Marley

Living With Green Music

Green-leaning musicians have been on the forefront of the environmental movement since its inception. From staging benefit concerts, rx to converting tour buses to biodiesel fuel, buy cialis to creating solar recording studios, creative eco-conscious musicians have been reducing their impact on the planet.

My son is a musician, and I’ve been trying to infuse eco-friendly elements into the space where he plays music. I find when I design a living space, it’s best to go back to green basics – reduce, reuse and recycle. Check out how to recycle guitar strings, make a headboard from album covers or find eco-friendly soundproofing: CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Main photo credit: via 2Modern