The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner job function is to repair percussion, stringed, reed, or wind instruments. They may specialize in one particular area such as tuning pianos.
Duties:
The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner inspect instruments to locate defects, and to determine their value or the level of restoration required. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner repairs cracks in wood or metal instruments, using pinning wire, lathes, fillers, clamps, or soldering irons. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner reassembles instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner compares instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches in order to tune instruments. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner strings instruments, and adjust trusses and bridges of instruments obtain specified string tensions and heights. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner repairs or replaces musical instrument parts and components, such as strings, bridges, felts, and keys, using hand and power tools. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner polish instruments, using rags and polishing compounds, buffing wheels, or burnishing tools.
Skills:
The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner must be able to determine the cause for the instrument to be repaired and then determine what must be done to repair the instrument. The Musical instrument Repairer and Tuner must be able to determine the proper tools needed to repair the broken instrument. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner must be able to give full attention to what the owner of the instrument is trying to explain about their instrument, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner must be able to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner must be able to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner must understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem solving and decision making. The Musical Instrument and Tuner conduct tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner must be able to talk to others to convey information effectively.
Abilities:
The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner must have the ability to keep the hand and arm steady while moving the arm or while holding the arm and hand in one position. This is necessary when repairing the different types of musical instruments. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner need the ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner needs the ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with the arm, or the two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner needs the ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner must have the ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner needs the ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. The Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner need the 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. Many times the Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner may repair an instrument but if the owner of the instrument continues abusing the instrument then it will break or crack again. Also if the owner does not take good care of the instrument it is possible that the instrument will become out of tune.