Kelton graduated from CIOMIT in 2018 in Woodwinds, Brass and Strings. Orchestral instrument repair is considered an artisan trade, meaning that our skilled technicians hand-make many of the necessary tools and parts for repair and refurbishment. Most luthiers specialize in working with one type of instrument. See salaries, compare reviews, easily apply, and get hired. He continued to attend CIOMIT for additional education in string repair. Instrument repairers and fabricators typically have modest earning potential. 7.5 Hours of Individual Application Practice/ 5 days, 1 Power Course = 1 Instrument Specific Study, Over 60 Hours of Individual Application Practice/Month, High Possibility of Acquiring Repair Job Upon Graduation. I probably make at least 100 custom leadpipes a year, he says. We have several courses available for guitar repair as well as a course for orchestral string repair. I thought: What a cool marriage of music making and architecture, of building and working with your hands and fixing things!He started apprenticing for Gass that winter and returned every summer during college. ALL questions will be answered. I get a lot of people asking questions. JS. 2023 OnlineDegree.com, All Rights Reserved. Tim Bolinger. 10. Musical instrument repairers and tuners are specialized in inspecting and repairing musical instruments that have been damaged to repair them back to working condition. She was orchestra librarian under Dan Lewis all through grad school. Views. I pretty much can maintain my home, because its all mechanical. (Photo courtesy of Brad Close). If you have multiple technicians in need of training, this might be the cost-effective option for you. Not if the instrument is hand-made, that is! A woodworking course at Oberlin College, where he earned a double degree in bass performance and visual arts/architectural studies, first got Golden interested in instrument repair. We have great options for custom courses as well as a band director power course for those looking to learn a bit of everything! UK Music helps develop apprenticeship schemes, which aim to support music employers to hire committed and passionate apprentices and help get talented people into paid jobs in the music industry. National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians, "Average Instrument Repair Technician Hourly Pay". To pass this on knowledge I am creating a week long course in repair. Seeking passionate and dedicated Certificate III / Diploma-qualified Educators to . Those starting out are advised to work with large-scale service shops before building their own business as the market is extremely competitive. Cynthia (Grinstead) Kelley (BM 91, MM 94) remembers the first time she saw the inside of a flute. Band Instrument Repair Schools The band instrument repair trade can be difficult to break into without formal training. The son of a Bay Area high school band director, he majored in the brass instrument at Indiana University before coming to USC Thornton for his Masters degree. Based in Allentown, Pa., the music store offers a variety of 2. Music Instrument Technician or Repair The complete career guide to be a Music Instrument Technician or Repair: salary, job growth, employers, best schools, and education you may need to get started. Some jobs allow us to do this a little faster, and some require extra time, but we try to have your instrument back in your hands as quickly as possible while maintaining a high level of repair quality. Its very calming and peaceful.. He now plays violone professionally at baroque festivals and in early music ensembles like Con Gioia and Tesserae, the latter a group he co-founded with other USC Thornton graduates in 2010. Working on other peoples instruments is a delicate job that requires attention to detail and a mechanical bent of mind. Does Rap Artist Lizzo Have You Interested in Playing the Jazz Flute? All Rights Reserved. From there, we leveled the tone holes using several different techniques and went on to key fitting. Once they realize how deep they are, maybe they realize its not a good idea, or they think that was fun, lets see what else I can do!, Always just figure out what you can do. Taking a shortcut, going oh well, its good enough for a kid thats backward. Are the keys binding? There are lots of wonderful things to celebrate in life besides money or fame.. If these procedures do not easily solve the problem take the instrument to a trained technician. My life is a flute. For more information about Musical Instrument Making and Repair . If somebodys a touring musician, they need their instrument. Salary 3.5% Job Growth Rate Growing Demand Job Outlook Get to Travel Career Attribute Its not gonna play any better but it makes them feel good so thats fine. In many cases, Repair Specialists will work for a predetermined hourly rate instead of charging a certain fee. It is usually a dusty environment and will involve long hours of intense work. Previous training in voice or your instrument, with the ability to sing and maintain pitch as well as demonstrate knowledge of music and various musical styles. Is the mechanism regulated and vented properly? In order to find consistent work as an instrument repair technician, it is important to network with musicians, acquire strong references, and build a great reputation. String (violins, violas, cellos, bass . Missing that I. Create a realistic timetable to ensure the completion of a project within that estimate. The training is often less formal than that found at repair schools and is suited to those requiring the less structured approach and slower pace that apprenticeship affords. Repairs of different instrument parts like strings, felts, and key, are done using several techniques manually and with power tools. Salaries below this are outliers. I like going to woodworking shows, gun shows, anyplace with anything mechanical because theres always a tool there where Im like, Oh, look at that! Because I can use that. What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career? 345 likes. Im surrounded by flutes and flute players, she says. Instrument repair technicians usually work conventional business hours, with evenings and weekends freean excellent schedule for those who also perform music on the side. They have a magazine and suggested rates and that kind of stuff. I enrolled on to the Guitar Making & Repair course (Intermediate & Advanced) and started making a steel-string acoustic guitar. Inspiration occasionally comes in dreams. Musical Instrument Repair & Services, Musical Instrument Dealers, Musical instrument repairs & services, Instrumental music training classes. I also just enjoyed the whole atmosphere of the shop and the conversations I had with Steve. How Much Do Apprentice Instrument Technician Jobs Pay per Year? Find your ideal job at SEEK with 30 musical instrument jobs found in All Australia. Touring, on the other hand, generally means highly irregular hours and long periods of travel. Sometimes it becomes a years-long headache.. Additional duties as assigned. Basic Job Description. Music educators, musicians, and those interested in repair as a career can learn the skills and knowledge for success. And no two musical instruments sound the same, or feel the same in a musician's hands. Youll have to ask. Instrument repair technicians repair and restore musical instruments that are broken, neglected, or have otherwise fallen into disrepair. I get to work with the most prominent flute players of our time, from all over the world, and I get to meet little girls excited to play flute in the school band.. It is a step-by-step guide to brass repair. Give it a try. Say Im a trombone player that doesnt mean I cant be a good repair person for strings, etc. WHEN IN DOUBT ABOUT A REPAIR DON'T! From there, they might start their own business making, repairing, and/or selling instruments, find employment in the repair section of a larger music shop, or go on tour with artists as touring instrument techs. May specialize in one area, such as piano tuning. His instrument is the Guitar. I am a musician or performer. A couple things. Tools that you dont have will be provided but you must have your own screwdrivers, pliers and an alcohol lamp. Some people hate having people around when theyre working but I like catching up and talking to people. There are people out there who have flat rates. You will be in my shop with a flute, clarinet or saxophone of your choice to repair. You will learn about many subjects including electrical safety, basic hand tools, AC and DC, cable size and types, instrument drawings and loop sheets, PLCs. I feel incredibly lucky, Golden says. Instrument repair is precise, solitary work. Having a high school diploma is sufficient in this career path. There are certain commonalities in personality John sees among Instrument Repair Specialists; many enjoy being by themselves, which makes sense, as repair can be solitary work. Walkers father, a woodwind repair technician in Kentucky, had taught his virtuoso son the trade. 2. Average Salary $24,000 per year. We've detected that Javascript is not enabled. Because of the small class sizes, we can work with your schedule and you can choose any of our three program format options to begin! How does Music Instrument Technician or Repair job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? Fortunately, the best way to learn is through hands-on experience. I had very little, but I always had people I could call and ask questions.. To complement your practical skills you will complete a recognised . They should be able to maintain it, take apart all the parts and put it back together without worrying about it. Those who take a freelance approach to the career might combine stints on tour with consistent work maintaining the instruments owned by local recording studios, for example, or occasional gigs as a piano tuner. We cant guarantee that you will get college or university credit for taking our courses since it's ultimately determined by your university or college and depends on a variety of factors specific to each individual, including but not limited to, which major you choose. Are the tone holes damaged in any way? Receive face-to-face teaching from our talented and experienced instructors. The patient securely clamped to the table, Golden dons surgical mask, goggles and gloves, shines a light inside the body cavity and pokes around with pointy tools. Because instrument repair techniques are highly complex and not necessarily transferable, most instrument repair technicians specialize in one type or category of instruments, such as strings, brass and woodwinds, or electric guitars and basses.