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Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners Occupation Detailed Description

Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners

The main tasks and work activities of Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners are to test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning, adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance, adjust tuning or functioning of musical instruments, disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair. In general, for the Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners, repairing, troubleshooting, quality Control Analysis, critical Thinking and other 14 skills are required.
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners jobs. 35.71% of Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 42.86% of Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
7.14%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
35.71%
Post-Secondary Certificate
42.86%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
10.71%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
3.58%

Tasks and Work Activities of Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners

  • Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects.
  • Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices.
  • Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment.
  • Inspect instruments to locate defects, and to determine their value or the level of restoration required.
  • Repair cracks in wood or metal instruments, using pinning wire, lathes, fillers, clamps, or soldering irons.
  • Reassemble instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary.
  • Compare instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches to tune instruments.
  • String instruments, and adjust trusses and bridges of instruments to obtain specified string tensions and heights.
  • Repair or replace musical instrument parts and components, such as strings, bridges, felts, and keys, using hand and power tools.
  • Polish instruments, using rags and polishing compounds, buffing wheels, or burnishing tools.
  • Shape old parts and replacement parts to improve tone or intonation, using hand tools, lathes, or soldering irons.
  • Make wood replacement parts, using woodworking machines and hand tools.
  • Mix and measure glue that will be used for instrument repair.
  • Align pads and keys on reed or wind instruments.
  • Adjust felt hammers on pianos to increase tonal mellowness or brilliance, using sanding paddles, lacquer, or needles.
  • Solder posts and parts to hold them in their proper places.
  • Remove dents and burrs from metal instruments, using mallets and burnishing tools.
  • Wash metal instruments in lacquer-stripping and cyanide solutions to remove lacquer and tarnish.
  • Test tubes and pickups in electronic amplifier units, and solder parts and connections as necessary.
  • Refinish instruments to protect and decorate them, using hand tools, buffing tools, and varnish.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or PeopleAssessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
  • Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
  • Adjust tuning or functioning of musical instruments.
  • Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
  • Inspect mechanical equipment to locate damage, defects, or wear.
  • Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
  • Lubricate equipment to allow proper functioning.
  • Reassemble equipment after repair.
  • Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
  • Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment.
  • Fabricate parts or components.
  • Prepare compounds or solutions to be used for repairs.
  • Align equipment or machinery.
  • Solder parts or connections between parts.
  • Remove dents from equipment, materials, tools or structures.
  • Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order.
  • Test electrical circuits or components for proper functioning.
  • Refinish wood or metal surfaces.
  • Travel to work sites to perform installation, repair or maintenance work.
  • Cut materials according to specifications or needs.

Skills and Abilities for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners

  • RepairingRepairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • TroubleshootingDetermining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Equipment MaintenancePerforming routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Equipment SelectionDetermining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
  • Hearing SensitivityThe ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Auditory AttentionThe ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Specialty wrenchese.g. Action regulators
  • C clampse.g. Adjustable C clamps
  • Sawse.g. Adjustable fret slotting saws
  • Pullerse.g. Agraffe removers
  • Compressed air gune.g. Air dusting guns
  • Air hosese.g. Air hoses
  • Alcohol lampe.g. Alcohol lamps
  • Alignment jige.g. Alignment jigs
  • Allen wrenche.g. Allen wrenches
  • Laboratory forcepse.g. Alligator forceps
  • Arborse.g. Arbors
  • Punches or nail sets or driftse.g. Arch punches
  • Spray gune.g. Automated sprayers
  • Hex keyse.g. Ball-end hex keys
  • Web clampe.g. Band clamps
  • Hand reamere.g. Barrel reamers
  • Belt sandere.g. Belt sanders
  • Anvilse.g. Bench anvils
  • Work benchese.g. Bench blocks
  • Cleaning brushese.g. Bench brushes
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Fine ArtsKnowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.