Musical Instrument Technician

Also known as:

Instrument Technician, Musical

Introduction

Musical instrument technicians repair, adjust, and may restore, design and make musical instruments. Technicians usually specialise in particular instruments, eg, strings or fretted instruments, keyboards or woodwind.

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Work Activities

Musical instrument technicians design, make, repair, maintain and restore musical instruments.

The work is highly skilled and technicians usually concentrate on a particular type or group of instruments, such as keyboards, strings or fretted instruments, woodwind, brass, percussion or electronic instruments. Some technicians specialise still further by working only on reproducing and restoring period instruments.

The work varies depending on the instrument being made. To make a new instrument, the technician designs the instrument to suit the customer's requirements. Drawings and plans, along with various tools, are used to help cut, shape and put together materials such as metal, wood and plastic.

Other tasks may include:
• advising clients on the care and handling of an instrument
• finding faults in instruments
• replacing or repairing damaged parts, such as a crack in a violin
• restoring the appearance as well as the sound quality of a vintage instrument
• using finishing techniques such as cleaning and varnishing
• tuning the instrument.

Some work may take only a few days. Other work, for example restoring a vintage organ, may take more than a year.

Musical instrument technicians usually work in a workshop. They use a variety of hand and machine tools, such as lathes, and measuring devices. They may need to sell the instruments that they make.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You need practical skills. A background in woodwork, metalwork and electronics is very useful, and the ability to read technical drawings. You must be patient and pay attention to detail, because some work can be difficult and can take a long time to finish.

You may not need a high level of technical musical ability but you do need a good ear for pitch so that you can carry out tuning. You also need an interest in music.

You might work alone, but remember that you will have to discuss customers' requirements. You may need to adjust instruments in response to their comments. If you become self-employed you will need business skills.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates for musical instrument technicians vary widely depending on the branch of the industry they are involved in, whether they are employed or self-employed, and the reputation of their product.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Broadly, musical instrument technicians earn in the range of £17,000 - £21,000 a year, rising to around £27,000 a year.

Musical instrument technicians usually work a basic 39-hour week, Monday to Friday. Working hours for self-employed technicians may be irregular, depending on how much work they have. Late finishes and weekend work may be required from time to time, especially as deadlines approach. There may be glue fumes and sawdust.

Employers are manufacturers of musical instruments.

Experienced technicians may become self-employed. Self-employed technicians work from home or workshops. In the case of piano tuners they usually travel to the homes of their clients. However, opportunities in this field are limited and entry is very competitive.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

This is often an attractive career for people with craft skills and abilities and an interest in music.

Competence in playing several musical instruments is useful. A practical background, using your hands, for example, in restoration or historical conservation work, is useful.

Colleges will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements. You should check the admissions policy of individual colleges.

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