
B.C. Rich NJ Series Warlock - Like I said, the NJ Series Warlock is the very guitar that I started with. It's somewhat cliche at this point, but it's a very "metal" guitar, and the fact that my high school bedroom featured magazine pinups of Max Cavalera of SEPULTURA and Kerry King of SLAYER rockin' the Warlock probably helped to guide in my own purchase.
Peavey Guitar Amplification - While most players (especially those that are learning) could go with a simple, portable, single-speaker all-in-one guitar amp like the one from Peavey that I first owned back in 1992, you could go bigger and do a full Peavey 6505 Head + 4x12 Half-Stack like I'd buy in 2015. They last, too! Here's "old faithful," the Peavey Half-Stack that's rocked stages with yours truly since the mid-1990s...
Daisy Rock Pixie Guitar Starter Pack - Tish Ciravolo's Daisy Rock Girl Guitars pioneered "lighter weight, slimmer neck" guitars built with the female player in mind. They also look really cool, and for young learners like our own girls, a starter pack is a great way to go - an affordable way to get kids rockin' with an acoustic guitar, strap, picks, gig bag, an instructional DVD and more - all for under $300 bucks! Addie needs an upgrade from what she's got (video up top) so Daisy Rock is definitely on our list.

Sound Percussion Labs 5-Piece Complete Drum Kit - We have a five-piece Mapex Drum Set here in the garage at Rock Father HQ, and while Music & Arts does have a great selection of Mapex drums and accessories, parents that want to start smaller to test the waters should look toward an affordable kit from Sound Percussion Labs - a featured choice in the Music & Arts Gift Guide. You can get complete SPL kits with all the drums, cymbals and hardware for a price that hardly breaks the bank - $299-$399.

Shure Super 55 Dynamic Microphone - The Super 55 is a genuine classic in both function and appearance. This vintage style microphone is great for stage or rehearsal - even podcasters use it these days! It's a best-seller at Music & Arts, and I just had to dig up a picture of little Addie rockin' the mic in my sister's practice space four years ago.

While those are just a few "Rock Father Picks," Music & Arts has a full selection of thousands of instruments available for any budget or skill level. Check them out here, and start making some musical memories for your little ones this Holiday Season! Already a player? It's always a great time to Upgrade Your Sound as well!