Instrument Repair
I started repairing instruments in 2023 so I could get more experience with different types of instruments. The idea was to find an instrument, fix it to understand its mechanics, and be able to play basic songs on it so I could familiarize myself with each instrument's strengths and weaknesses. Eventually, however, this hobby morphed into much more, as I genuinely enjoyed repairing each instrument, not just playing the final product.
Current Projects
Harpsichord
I inherited this 1969 Neupert Telemann harpsichord many years ago, but only had the time and the energy to work on it more recently. It had been sat in direct sunlight for many years, so the exterior wood was in rough shape. In addition, it had been used as a plant stand for many years, so there were many large stains on the lid. When I opened it up, however, the inside was nearly pristine. Most importantly, the soundboard was still intact, meaning that it was repairable. I then decided I would return this instrument to its former glory.
Trumpets
I bought these four trumpets from Wedgles Music in Denver for the purposes of teaching myself brass repair. These instruments were considered "totaled," which I figured would be the perfect kind of instrument for me to learn on. After all, if I messed something up, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. I knew I wouldn't be able to completely fix these instruments - my goal was to make them better than when I got them. I specifically bought these trumpets because they all have at least one thing on them that works well. I figured if I couldn't get the individual trumpets to work, I could take them apart and make a "frankentrumpet" out of all the working parts.
