The Job

Those who repair and tune instruments combine their love of music with a highly skilled craft to make sure the next note played is as true as the last. Instrument repair technicians, also called repairers, work in four specialties: brass, woodwind, strings, and percussion.

Required Skill Set

Repairers need mechanical aptitude, good hearing, logical thinking skills, and manual dexterity. For those dealing directly with customers, a neat appearance and a pleasant, cooperative manner are important. The ability to play an instrument or learn to play will be a requirement. Knowledge of woodworking and metal work is useful for repairing instruments.

Education

Some instrument repair technicians learn their trade on the job as apprentices or assistants, but such training is difficult to find. A few music stores, large repair shops and self-employed repairers hire inexperienced individuals as trainees and teach them how to repair instruments under the supervision of experienced workers. Trainees may sell instruments, clean up or do other routine work. Usually two to five years of training and practice are needed to become fully qualified.

A small number of technical schools and colleges offer courses in brass, woodwind, string and percussion musical instrument repair. A few offer one or two-year courses.

Private lessons can help to build proficiency in playing ability necessary for test playing instrument upon completion of repairs.

Outlook

Instrument repair jobs are expected to increase more slowly than the average, up to about 9 percent, for all occupations through the year 2008.

Replacement needs will provide the most job opportunities as many repairers near retirement age. The small number of openings will be very low relative to other occupations. Since training is difficult to receive, opportunities should be excellent for those who do manage to get it.

The number of people employed as musicians will increase, mainly due to a slight increase in the number of students of all ages playing musical instruments. Because instruments are quite expensive to purchase, growing numbers of instrument repairers will be needed to work on rental equipment leased to students, schools and other 0ranizations.