For those of us who are gifted with musical talent (instrumental or vocal), one of the greatest gifts that can be shared during the holidays is music. Whether it be recorded or live, there is something special about being able to perform a musical number for those we enjoy being around. And now with the plethora of recording gear options available on the market, it is now feasible to create a simple recording easily and quickly.

In order to produce and distribute a personal album in time for the holidays, the time to start thinking is now. (This is why I decided to write this post now rather than later in the year.) A plan needs to be thought out so that all the songs can be picked (or written), recorded, manufactured, and distributed. For instance, by the end of August, all the songs should be recorded. September and October should be the time to actually do the post-production work. In November, the final master should duplicated either by you or sent out to a company such as Discmakers which offers short-run duplication services. If you’re dealing with people who are very up with the times, you may opt to distribute it digitally in AAC or MP3 format. But overall, by December the whole process should be finished.

If this project becomes a yearly tradition, you will find that producing the album becomes easier as your repertoire of material will become greater allowing you to just pick from a library and rearrange the order of tracks. Of course, you may want to record some new material each year to offer something fresh each year.

So, if you’re looking for that special gift at the end of the year to give to your friends and family, think about making your own holiday album. It actually may become that item that your recipients wait for unlike the dreaded dry fruit cake.