Lateral thinking required
Q
What jobs did you do before this one?
I’ve been a qualified electrician, I’ve crewed dive boats, delivered yachts, been a gardener, landscaper, farm hand and a truck driver.
Q
Why did you choose to become an instrument repairer?
It sort of chose me. When I finished high school, the only options were to go to university or get into a trade. I didn’t want to go to university.
My music teacher gave me an opportunity to work with an instrument repairer in Auckland, so I took it.
Q
How did you get into it and when?
I started an apprenticeship at the Auckland instrument repairer in 1989.
Q
What qualifications and training do you need?
Back then, it was a formal apprenticeship. I’m not sure what the process in New Zealand is now.
Q
Do you need any personal skills?
Lateral thinking plays a huge role — the ability to think outside the box.
Being able to listen well, and understand what the musician is saying to you — it helps to develop a good working relationship with each client, as each player has different needs.
You never stop learning either. Other technicians have their own ways of doing things, so developing professional relationships is key.
I spend a lot of time talking to other technicians around the world and here in New Zealand.
The ability to focus on a problem for extended periods of time also really helps.
Q
Are there any physical requirements, like small, strong hands?
Not really. Almost anyone could do it.
Q
What do you do on a daily basis?
One of the best things about my job is the variety. Each day generally brings a new challenge.
Q
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Personally, it’s keeping an eye on time. Sometimes I can get hyperfocused and lose track.
Q
What is the most interesting/strangest repair job you’ve had?
The strangest repair was actually fixing a Victorian era Christmas decoration for a client. It was a miniature bugle and I had to make a new brace for it and silver solder cracks. It actually played as well.
Q Have you fixed any famous musician’s instrument?
Probably the most famous musician I’ve ever worked for is Jim Horn.
In the music world he is one of the most soughtafter session musicians for saxophone and flute in the last 40odd years.
Q
What are the particular health and safety issues in your profession?
I don’t think there are any.
Q
How has the job changed since you started?
The internet has made it much easier to share ideas and ask
questions of fellow technicians.
Q
What’s something people generally don’t know about your job?
That it exists and that instruments actually do need regular servicing — both for the health of the instrument and the player.
Q
What are the highs of the job?
I have two saxophones at the moment that I’m working on. Both are major overhauls. One is around 50 years old, the other is nearing 90.
When I’m finished, both will be able to be played again.
Bringing quality old instruments back to life gives me great joy.
Another is helping young players choose a goodquality instrument and showing them how look after it.
Q
What are the lows of the job?
That depends on where you’re at in your career, I think.
It isn’t easy to get into this trade, and depending on how you do it, it can be expensive.
Q
What is the salary?
Depends on where you are in your career.
Q
Where will you be 10 years from now?
Hopefully, still doing this.