This series of FIVE two-hour sessions equips instrumental music teachers with practical repair techniques to restore their instrument inventories as they rebuild their programs. Repair technician Melody Choplin joined us remotely to demonstrate a variety of instrument-specific repair procedures and assessments we can conduct in our own music classrooms. Each session includes live presentation and demonstration by Melody as well as visuals and pre-recorded footage of specific procedures that teachers can access and replay as they execute particular repairs throughout the year.
A past president of NAPBIRT (The National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians), Melody brings 31 years of instrument repair experience and has served as repair instructor and inventory specialist for the School of Music at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro, where she developed a repair curriculum, authored a textbook on repair for band teachers, and taught instrument repair courses. She has served as a bench tech, mentor, and manager and currently operates her own high-volume repair shop.
Session One - October 5, 2021
Repair assessments for all woodwinds; clarinet specifics
A slideshow of ALL the specific instrument repairs demonstrated during the short course... PLUS additional videos created at our request!
Please note that you MUST log in using your NYC DOE account to view these videos.
Session Three - October 13, 2021
Mouthpiece pulling; shank straightening; assessment of piston brass instruments; stuck and frozen slides, caps, pistons; pandemic cleaning (products and procedures)
Session Four - October 18, 2021
Soldering braces; horn/rotary brass assessments; water key spring replacement; trombone handslide assessment
Session Five - October 21, 2021
String instrument assessment; seam repair; sound post setup; bridges; pegs; nut; fingerboard; pandemic cleaning (products and procedures)
There are two vendors which have been awarded contracts for repair of musical instruments. The repair contract however is for the following categories of instruments, NOT INCLUDING PIANO: strings, woodwind, brass and percussion.
Please note that there are different vendors by borough; see below. There is no repair contract for pianos.
The two contracted vendors are as follows:
Advantage Music, Ltd
429 Hawkins Avenue
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
Alfred Volta
(631) 285-6914
advantageny@optonline.net
Bronen’s Music
2462 Webster Avenue
Bronx, NY 10458
Andrew Bronen
(718) 364-3350
abronen@gmail.com
Regarding the above, please note that the contract was awarded by borough:
Advantage Music holds the repair contract for schools in Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island.
Bronen’s Music holds the repair contract for schools in Manhattan.
While the DOE does not currently have a contract regarding piano tuning and repairs, there are vendors that presently have contracts with the DOE for the purchase of grand and upright pianos. These vendors (listed below) may be able to provide piano tuner recommendations.
Steinway Inc. (Boston, Essex and Steinway)
Contact: Karen M. Beluso
(212) 332-0122
Frank & Camille’s Keyboard Center (Baldwin and Kawai)
Contact: Kathleen Krafchuk
(631) 385-0630
Faust – Harrison Pianos (Mason & Hamlin and Yamaha)
Contact: Sam Varon
(631) 351-9000
At the link below, please find Eastman Music Company's “Infection Control for Instruments (ICI),” a free eBook by ShelB Rindahl - with contributions by Laurel Partin and Christina Colston - about what germs are, how they get around, and how to protect yourself and those in your care, not only from one germ today, but from many germs, always. ICI starts at the very beginning and ventures deep into professional concerns, offering real support to individual players and to instrument handlers at all levels. This valuable resource is the first of its kind and free for everyone, for the benefit of the entire music community.
At the link below, you will find a printable copy of the eBook and supportive documents to help you and others improve player wellness.
https://www.eastmanmusiccompany.com/infection-control-for-instruments