 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: RogerD
Date: 2003-01-04 13:40
I am curious.
Automechanics can learn their trade at a votec school.
How do people learn to repair musical instruments?
I know that there are manuals out there.
I have never heard of an apprenticeship system for repairpersons.
If a repairperson does not play a woodwind instrument, can he really do a creditable job of repairing that woodwind instrument? Would the same be true as to brass instruments?
This thread in not intended to be a criticism of anyone. I hope the various people on the board (Gordon---NZ, for example) will respond.
Another question---do pros tend to do their own (minor repairs) more than amateurs?
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Author: Bill_D
Date: 2003-01-04 15:46
Roger,
There are schools for musical instrument repair. Check the following web sites for some ideas.
http://www.napbirt.org/
http://www.southeasttech.mnscu.edu/program/band/
Bill
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-01-04 22:25
As above in the USA there are a number of repair schools. Out in the antipodes we just learn from other repairers and some at considerable expense go to the USA or Europe to learn. One local importer/ supplier has used various government schemes to train apprentices but the volume is considered too low to be an official apprenticeship. Some repairers come out of 'allied trades'. For many years one of our most respected brass repairers was originally a plumber and gasfitter and another a toolmaker, our latest gun brass man comes from a family of watchmakers and jewellers. I specialise in woodwind and have a background in the dental and orthodontic industry with some factory training. Others were trained by their fathers. In days gone by, prior to WWI, tinsmiths and coppersmiths were trained in instrument repair, especially brass, to a limted degree. Experience is one of the biggest factors in success at this game.
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Author: Amanda Rose
Date: 2003-01-05 00:12
My brother has a degree in band instrument repair for Western Iowa Technical Community College. Today, he's making very good money working as a tech and still has time to do jazz guitar gigs on the side.
A.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-01-05 03:40
I 99% taught myself, totally isolated from communication with other technicians. This followed a little home appliance repair, some machine tool operating, 12 years school teaching - general subjects, then 4 years computer programming. The routes to repairing instruments professionally seem many and varied.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-01-05 06:48
Very interesting question, Roger. I wish I knew all the answers. All I can offer is a little experience and a few, sometimes questionable opinions.
Schools are great if you can get to one. I never did. There aren't many and they aren't widespread. I've been fortunate to have worked in a shop long ago and continue to associate with technicians these days to 'keep up with things'. Some have been to school and some are almost totally self taught. The techs in my area are friendly competitors who give and take freely from one another and are always ready with a friendly word of advice or a helping hand to one another and newcomers. I've taken related courses at a local community college (jewelry, metalworking) and attend monthly meetings of home shop machinists.
Very few techs I've met don't play at least one instrument. I've met some who don't though, and still do a very good job. The advantage of playing is being to do a quick play-test to determine what the instrument is or isn't doing that it should or shouldn't.
Some pros do their own repairs. Some can but prefer not to bother. Some don't and don't want to
Manuals? I guess they're okay for reference but the 'accepted' ones I've seen don't cover much more than the bare basics.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-01-05 14:29
I play flute, piccolo, clarinet and sas to a reasonable pit performance standard.
The only reasons I play test flutes is to see if I did some silly think like leaving a spring off - can't remember doing this - and to keep in touch with how different models play. The intricate testing has already been done.
With clarinet, play testing is more important to ascertain if there are notes sounding fuzzzy from insufficient venting. All other precision adjustment has already been done.
Apart form venting issues, the precision MECHANICAL testing and adjustment is far more accurate for playability and reliability than play testing is.
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