Occupation Details
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
Repair percussion, stringed, reed, or wind instruments. May specialize in one area, such as piano tuning.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Artistic
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$31,290.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$39,120.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$57,140.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
460
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
470
+1 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
49
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.0%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
College Helps - Some college classes or training
Experience Requirements
Previous 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.
Education Requirements
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training Details
Employees 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.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge 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.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Fine Arts
Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Action regulators
- Adjustable C clamps
- Adjustable fret slotting saws
- Agraffe removers
- Air dusting guns
- Air hoses
- Alcohol lamps
- Alignment jigs
- Allen wrenches
- Alligator forceps
- Arbors
- Arch punches
- Automated sprayers
- Ball-end hex keys
- Band clamps
- Barrel reamers
- Belt sanders
- Bench anvils
- Bench blocks
- Bench brushes
- Bench grinders
- Bench lathes
- Bench motors
- Bench oilers
- Bending irons
- Blow torches
- Blowpipes
- Bore cleaning brushes
- Bore tools
- Bracket hex wrenches
Technology
Technology information is not available for this occupation.
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- test electrical/electronic wiring, equipment, systems or fixtures
- test electronic or electrical circuit connections
- test manufactured products or materials
- apply cleaning solvents
- cut, shape, fit, or join wood or other construction materials
- finish or refinish floor, furniture, or related wood surfaces
- estimate time or cost for installation, repair, or construction projects
- use oral or written communication techniques
- tune musical instruments
- compare musical pitch
- compare pitch of musical instrument with specified pitch of tuning tool
- repair or replace worn or damaged musical instrument parts
- adjust functioning of musical instrument components
- use electronic calibration devices
- use hand or power woodworking tools
- operate lathes
- use precision measuring tools or equipment
- solder electrical or electronic connections or components
- use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
- use hand or power tools
- use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
- use soldering equipment
- inspect musical instruments or instrument parts to determine defects
- fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
- hand carve objects from stone or other materials
- read blueprints
- read specifications
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects.
- Align pads and keys on reed or wind instruments.
- Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices.
- Reassemble instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary.
- Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment.
- Repair or replace musical instrument parts and components, such as strings, bridges, felts, and keys, using hand and power tools.
- Inspect instruments to locate defects, and to determine their value or the level of restoration required.
- Solder posts and parts to hold them in their proper places.
- Compare instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches to tune instruments.
- Remove dents and burrs from metal instruments, using mallets and burnishing tools.
- Test tubes and pickups in electronic amplifier units, and solder parts and connections as necessary.
- String instruments, and adjust trusses and bridges of instruments to obtain specified string tensions and heights.
- Adjust felt hammers on pianos to increase tonal mellowness or brilliance, using sanding paddles, lacquer, or needles.
- Polish instruments, using rags and polishing compounds, buffing wheels, or burnishing tools.
- Remove irregularities from tuning pins, strings, and hammers of pianos, using wood blocks or filing tools.
- Repair cracks in wood or metal instruments, using pinning wire, lathes, fillers, clamps, or soldering irons.
- Mix and measure glue that will be used for instrument repair.
- Shape old parts and replacement parts to improve tone or intonation, using hand tools, lathes, or soldering irons.
- Refinish instruments to protect and decorate them, using hand tools, buffing tools, and varnish.
- Make wood replacement parts, using woodworking machines and hand tools.
- Strike wood, fiberglass, or metal bars of instruments, and use tuned blocks, stroboscopes, or electronic tuners to evaluate tones made by instruments.
- Wash metal instruments in lacquer-stripping and cyanide solutions to remove lacquer and tarnish.
- Assemble and install new pipe organs and pianos in buildings.
- Refinish and polish piano cabinets or cases to prepare them for sale.
- Deliver pianos to purchasers or to locations of their use.
- Remove drumheads by removing tension rods with drum keys and cutting tools.
- Place rim hoops back onto drum shells to allow new drumheads to dry and become taut.
- Solder or weld frames of mallet instruments and metal drum parts.
- Repair breaks in percussion instruments, such as drums and cymbals, using drill presses, power saws, glue, clamps, grinding wheels, or other hand tools.
- Cut new drumheads from animal skins, using scissors, and soak drumheads in water to make them pliable.
- Assemble bars onto percussion instruments.
- Cut out sections around cracks on percussion instruments to prevent cracks from advancing, using shears or grinding wheels.
- Clean, sand, and paint parts of percussion instruments to maintain their condition.
- Stretch drumheads over rim hoops and tuck them around and under the hoops, using hand tucking tools.
- File metal reeds until their pitches correspond with standard tuning bar pitches.
- Replace xylophone bars and wheels.
- Remove material from bars of percussion instruments to obtain specified tones, using bandsaws, sanding machines, machine grinders, or hand files and scrapers.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Precision instrument and equipment repairers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
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