 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dan
Date: 2001-08-23 04:33
I have had a life-long passion for the clarinet and am now seriously considering doing repair/overhaul work professionally. How does one become certified to do this type of work? Is a degree required or do the manufacturers provide training? Any info would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance. Dan
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-08-23 06:55
I am working in New Zealand, am self taught, and had no qualifications (for 1str 15 years of repairs) until I studied part time for intellectual recreation and qualified as a mechanical engineer. This provided insight and mathematical analysis but did not change the way I did repairs.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-08-23 11:39
There are lotsa inexpensive horns apon which to practice.
Ferree's tools in the USA will gladly sell to you (no need for a biz license).
While NapBirt and other agencies will insist their affiliate schools produce the best graduates, there is no substitute for experience.
Any background in precision fittings (jewelry, carpentry, MechE, etc) will prepare you to submit to the logic of the musical machine.
There are still some schools providing specific training, which could save you years of fiddling around (especially with brass).
Be aware that there seems to be two ways to make profit from repairs;
- Specialize in the highest level of adjustments, catering to VERY particular
professional players.
- High volume band instrument repair, with the same sort of insulted instruments
patched and banged into shape on a limited school budget.
The clarinet is a good choice to start working over, they're abundant and relatively cheap to buy in repairable condition. The saxophone has loads of linkages to adjust and the flute is unforgiving of pad seating.
Check back and let us know how things are going!
anji
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-08-23 14:10
Apparently I'm like Gordon from New Zealand --- self-taught as a repairman and a trained mechanical engineer by profession. I'm also a lifelong tinkerer and automobile fanatic (I've always done almost all my own auto repairs and modifications), so I guess one prerequisite for instrument repair is a knack for fixing things in general. Another prerequisite for doing really good repairs, one which is occasionally lacking in some repairmen, is skill on the instrument itself. Almost anyone with a leak light can replace pads, for example, but to properly regulate and tune an instrument, a repairman must be at least reasonably proficient at playing the horn.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-08-23 17:04
I prefer the designation, repairPERSON, because three, out of the five, wind repair specialists at our local music mall (their term for a very large music store) are women. They specialize on clarinet, saxophone and large brass and are very good. As far as training, I think they all went to the instrument repair school in Redwing, Minn. At least, Mary--who is a trumpet player and works exclusively on clarinets--said that got her training there. A good peson to ask about the repair business and necessary training--if he is not too busy--would be the head repairperson at International Music Suppliers. Good luck with your repair career!!!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-08-23 21:44
William wrote:
>
> I prefer the designation, repairPERSON, because three,
> out of the five, wind repair specialists at our local music
> mall (their term for a very large music store) are women...
One again someone who puts the accent on the wong syl_LA_ble. If you will research the etymology of words, you will find that originally there were three separate words:
man - originally meaning human being, i.e. a member of our species. In it's original meaning there was no gender connotation.
woman - female man, i.e. female member of the species
werman - male man, i.e. male member of the species.
*Note: exact spelling varied over time so you will see variants of woman and werman.
Rather than mangle words that are actually correct in construction like repairman, why don't you lobby to revive a specific word for the male of the species so that we can use the species designator function of the word "man" without everyone jumping on the "politically correct" bandwagon.
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Author: jr
Date: 2001-08-23 21:55
I took 3 courses in repair @ Orange Coast Comm College > 20 years ago, then took a job @ San Jose State Univ smashing horns. Been doing it off and on ever since. If there are courses offered in your area, it is an inexpensive way to learn how to use the tools and to figure out which tools to buy and when.
jr
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-08-24 01:17
I would find a local "repair tech" (that's my designation to avoid the gender issue) that would be willing to spend some time with you. Some retired techs love doing this. It gives them something to do and they love to share their knowledge. My best friend and former shop mate retired and is now teaching "private lessons" on repair. He lives way out in the "sticks" of E. Texas, but people drive from the Houston area up to him for an hour lesson per week! Makes him happy for having the company and a few extra dollars in his pocket.
John
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Author: Meri
Date: 2001-08-24 01:24
Dan,
I think Humber College in Toronto has a band instrument repair course. (I think it's Humber College, not exactly sure)
Meri
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Author: Wes
Date: 2001-08-24 07:02
Well, I got started fixing my own instruments when I went to Glen Johnston's house in the 50's to have my Buffet clarinets tuned and watched him work into the wee hours of the morning. ML, my teacher recommended him Since then, I can't remember going to a repairman and have enjoyed it all as I also am an engineer. Glen worked on mouthpieces and I made some tools for him for mouthpiece and horn work that he used the rest of his life. He was forever experimenting, however, which made some of his customers worry. He made some of his own pads and made extensions for bass clarinets.
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