Did you put off getting a gift for that niece, nephew, or other smallish humanoid?

During a time when school art programs are having drastic cutbacks due to the economic climate, why not support the arts by buying the gift of music for a child?

Not convincing enough, huh. Okay. How about this one — torment your family and friends by buying their kids musical instruments!

Really, most kids love music and learning to play music teaches many lessons aside from those concerning notes and rhythms. Kids can learn about the creative process, working together to blend sounds and harmonies, and doing your part in a group endeavor.

Here are a couple of great gifts for the future musicians and miniature music lovers out there. Or, jump to the end for more general last minute gifts.

The Roll Up Drum Kit

Hammacher Schlemmer has a fantastic replacement for a full drum kit. This roll up kit can be stored away much easier than the real thing and connects via USB to a Windows PC. It also boasts a variety of sounds, rhythm patterns, and drum loops that you can customize.

At $59.95, it’s a better deal than a real drum kit, too. This 3-piece Junior Kit is $179.99 new.

I guess there’s no replacing the real thing, though.

Electric Guitar Packages

A Fender is a classic guitar that is great to learn on and will set any kid on their way to rocking it. This Starcaster package in Midnight Blue is $199.00 at Amazon and includes everything you need to get strumming — the guitar, an amp,  strings, picks, a strap, a 10′ cable, a tuner, a gigbag, guitar stand, and an instructional DVD. Or, get the Candy Apple Red for 186.64 (and free shipping).

This is a tough deal to beat for a starter package. Many guitar shops sell this guitar alone for the same price.

The Wood Block

Keep is simple. Nothing is more basic than banging a block of wood with a mallet. Let them develop metronome-like precision before moving to more advanced matters. At $7.77, this Hohner wood block is quite a bargain.

Harmonica

Speaking of Hohner, a harmonica (or pocket harp, as some like to call it) is another low-cost, low-ear damage musical gift. With prices ranging from $5 and up, it’s affordable. It’s potentially tolerable to listen to, since all the notes are set to a specific key. (The key of C would be the standard to place to start a harmonica collection/practice.)

iSpin

For $99.95, you can make those teenage dreams of DJ fame come true. Or, at least, make them possible. The iSpin lets you spin and mix songs on 2 different iPods, without needing a computer. Hook it up to an multimedia speaker, or headphones with a 3.5mm jack.

Last Minute Gifts for Kids: Non-Music

If you’re looking for gifts for those kiddos but aren’t feeling the music thing, here are a few great spots to check out. Hit them up now, because today is the last guaranteed day for Christmas delivery.

Happy deal hunting on those last minute gifts! Just remember, it will all be over soon!