Garage Band is a great tool for songwriting, practicing; just about anything involving music. It is used by anyone from beginners to professional songwriters/producers, etc. It is a very, very easy program to use and it was designed so anyone could use it to make music.

As far as general questions, it all depends on where you are at currently in using the software. Do you have any experience working with it at all? What kinds of projects have you done with Garageband already? Are you using an interface or the mic in your computer to record your guitar tracks? Do you have a MIDI keyboard to record any piano or other instruments? These tools will help you but aren't completely necessary.

Again, give me an idea of where you are at in your understanding of Garage Band currently; and than I can hopefully assist you in what questions to ask in your one on one lesson with a Mac Genius.

Sounds like a great present! Happy Holidays!