Author: Matt74
Date: 2021-12-07 01:24
You play double reeds so your skills would be very much in demand. Saxophones aren't as complicated as they look. Playing saxophone is a piece of cake compared to clarinet. I think all the brass instruments are pretty much the same.
Here are the regular BIR schools, some offer options to combine it with a regular degree:
https://napbirt.org/page/RepairSchools
Old but helpful: http://www.probirt.com/nm/repair-schools/repair-schools.asp
Other options, mostly saxophone, because that's what's available:
CIOMIT: https://ciomit.com/online-instrument-repair-school/
Music Medic: https://www.musicmedic.com/products/education/sax-proshop-repair-courses.html
Music and Arts: You need to get hired first, but they have a repair facility in MD where you can learn as you work, if you want to move to MD. https://www.musicarts.com/cms/employment/
I attended BIR (band instrument repair) school at Red Wing (Northeast Tech in MN). I got a 4.0 for the first semester. Then I had to have back surgery and the whole thing fell apart. I wasn't able to go back and finish.
I assume you are in HS. If so, you could probably look for opportunities to get some relevant experience while you are in high school or college. Just working in a music store doing anything would be helpful. Any sort of woodworking/mechanics/handyman/repair work would be helpful. For example, if you got hired as a salesperson at Music and Arts you could later get a job with their repair department. If you get a job at your local music store they will know who you are, and maybe you can get a job in their repair department when they have an opening. If I had been younger I would not have minded taking one of the longer BIR programs.
Based on what I hear from BIR techs, you have to do one of two things:
1. You have the resources to go into business for yourself right away (buy lots of tools and supplies, set up a shop, find customers, and make it until it's profitable).
2. You know someone who wants to hire you, who will either train you, or hire you when you are done with your course.
Many students at Red Wing seemed to do one or the other. A number had jobs waiting. Most of the students had bachelor's degrees in Music Education.
I found that the shops are generally very small, often just one or two people, and they aren't hiring. There are bigger shops, but there aren't that many of them. If you are willing to commute long distances or move you might find a job. Some people start working directly for themselves, but I think it's probably much better to work for someone else to begin with. If nothing else you have advice, a shop, supplies, and lots of horns to work on.
Help, these will help you to see what it's about:
Music Medic: https://www.musicmedic.com/articles.html
Sgt. Dale Barton: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7CAB4DD2F8452ADB
Matt Stohrer (very wordy, but good advice): https://www.youtube.com/user/abadcliche
Brass and Woodwind Shop: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBrassandWoodwindShop
Europe has some schools, including subsidized instrument making programs.
There are also lutherie and bow making programs. The ability to fix guitars and strings is a big plus. Even if you just tell a store you can put new strings on would help.
I may sound very negative. I want to encourage you to do it if you can, because I believe it's important. It's just that there's a big difference between a theoretical industry "need" and the actual availability of jobs. For example, how many bassoonists are there in your state/province - in the country? That could work to your advantage because I imagine that you could contact most of the repairmen personally and find out what the prospects are.
- Matthew Simington
Post Edited (2021-12-07 02:31)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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