Skip to main content

Band Instrument Repair - Diploma

View Career Areas      View List of all Degrees      Request Information      Apply Now!
Student smiling in a instrument repair lab

Translate your love of music into a rewarding hands-on career in Band Instrument Repair at Minnesota State College Southeast in Red Wing.

Career Area: Musical Instrument Repair & Building
Program: Band Instrument Repair
Campus(es): Red Wing


Major Details

Courses

Cost

Careers

Outcomes

Highlights

Instructors

Media

Please Note: Our Band Instrument Repair for Fall 2026 has reached enrollment capacity. We encourage students interested in a future semester to apply to the college. After acceptance, you will receive an email with details about the waitlist process and upcoming start terms. Our music programs are fall start only. They do not offer spring semester starts.

 Major Details

From across the United States and around the world, students come to Red Wing, Minnesota, to study band instrument repair, where you can learn the skills necessary for employment and advancement in this rewarding, viable career option. Our training is rigorous, requiring tenacity and a desire for excellence.

In 2 semesters of comprehensive study, the Band Instrument Repair program will teach you the fundamentals of repairing clarinets, trumpets, flutes, trombones, saxophones, French horns, oboes, bassoons, and large brass. You will also learn how to fabricate tools and instrument parts using lathes, drill presses, sanders, and bench motors.

Up to 48 students enroll yearly in Band Instrument Repair, many coming from either performance or music education backgrounds - men and women looking to channel their interests and talents in a challenging educational setting where hands-on practice is central to success.

Upon completing the diploma program, you will join graduates who are successfully employed in repair shops associated with music stores, school districts, and independent repair shops.

Apply now for admission to Minnesota State College Southeast

Stay in touch with BIR on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram

Cluster/Pathway

Career Field: Engineering, Manufacturing & Technology
Cluster: Manufacturing
Pathway: Maintenance, Installation & Repair
Recommended high school classes and basic job/program skills

Download the Program Plan

 Courses

1) 1000 level (minimum) General Education courses required unless specified.

Note: Other Goal 1 courses could be substituted for  COMM1420 with instructor approval.

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Choose one 2 credit (or greater) English or Communications course.
2 cr
Choose one 2 credit (or greater) Math course.
2 cr
 
4 crs
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
BIRT1100
This course introduces the student to safe use and handling of shop equipment, tools and supplies. The student will learn to diagnose and repair basic problems associated with woodwind instruments. Techniques of disassembly, tenon corking, key fitting, padding, key corking, regulation as well as play testing the instrument will be covered. In addition, nomenclature, care of wood, crack sealing, key straightening, and spring replacement will be taught. As a project for the course, the student will perform a complete repad on a clarinet including record keeping and invoicing requirements. It is recommended that the student have playing skills on the instrument prior to enrolling, as a playing proficiency is required for completion of the course. Grading is based on project evaluation and written tests. (Prerequisite: None) (5 Credits: 3 lecture/2 lab)
5 cr
BIRT1104
The student will build on previous skills learned in diagnosing and repairing basic problems associated with woodwind instruments. Techniques of disassembly, tenon fitting, head corking, key fitting, padding, key corking, regulation as well as play testing the instrument will be covered. In addition, nomenclature, care of metal and finishes, body straightening, key alignment, spring replacement, and soft soldering will be taught. As a project for the course, the student will perform a complete repad on a flute including record keeping and invoicing requirements. It is recommended that the student have playing skills on the instrument prior to enrolling, as a playing proficiency is required for completion of the course. Grading is based on project evaluation and written tests. (Prerequisite: BIRT1100 or field experience commensurate with course content as determined by instructor) (4 Credits: 2 lecture/2 lab)
4 cr
BIRT1110
This course covers the basics of brasswind repair, including nomenclature, chemical flushing, porting procedures, common dent removal, the straightening and alignment of parts, soft soldering and spot finishing. The trumpet will be used to learn a majority of these repairs, though larger brasswinds may be included for the advancing student. Aspects of a safe work environment as well as instrument inspection, repair and invoicing are also included. Grading is based on project evaluation and written tests. (Prerequisite: None) (4 Credits: 2 lecture/2 lab)
4 cr
BIRT1125
This course parallels topics and tasks learned in BIRT1110, adding solder projects, complete instrument repair, introduction to trombone handslide repairs and trumpet playing methods. Machine tool operation, aspects of a safe work environment as well as instrument inspection, repair and invoicing are also included. Grading is based on project evaluation and written tests. (Prerequisite: BIRT1110 or field experience commensurate with course content as determined by instructor) (5 Credits: 2 lecture/3 lab)
5 cr
BIRT1130
This elective allows students independent work time over and above required coursework to focus on advancing repair skills through working projects assigned in BIRT courses and other specialty projects as approved by instructors. (Prerequisite: Enrollment in BIRT1110, BIRT1125, BIRT1100, and BIRT1104) (1 credit: 0 lecture/1 lab)
1 cr
BIRT2100
Using the saxophone as the focus, the student will learn techniques of disassembly and assembly, neck corking, tenon fitting, key fitting, hinge rod making, key corking, padding, regulation, lubrication, and play testing the instrument. Body straightening tone hole leveling, post and key alignment, soft and silver soldering will also be included. It is recommended that the student have playing skills on the instrument prior to enrolling, as a playing proficiency is required for completion of this course. As a project for the course, the student will perform a complete repad on the saxophone including record keeping and invoicing requirements. Grading is based on project evaluation and written tests. (Prerequisites: BIRT1100 and BIRT1104 or field experience commensurate with course content as determined by instructor) (5 Credits: 2 lecture/3 lab)
5 cr
BIRT2104
This course will involve the study of common aspects of repair as it relates to the oboe and the bassoon. Using the oboe as the project, nomenclature, installation of cork pads, regulation, play testing, and focus on key mechanism interrelationships will be covered. Topics related to wood care, moisture tube removal, and tone hole replacement will be introduced. Bassoon nomenclature as well as padding and regulation techniques will be covered. Wood treatment, sealing, tenon wrapping, and "U" tube gasket replacement will be studied. It is recommended that the student have playing skills on the instruments prior to enrolling. A playing proficiency on oboe is required for completion of the course. Grading is based on project evaluation and written tests. (Prerequisites: BIRT1100, BIRT1104, & BIRT2100 or field experience commensurate with course content as determined by instructor) (4 Credits: 2 lecture/2 lab)
4 cr
BIRT2110
Using the trombone as focus, the student will learn aspects of handslide repair including tube straightening, dent removal, crook repair and installation, and tube installation. Bell section repairs will include alignment, crook dent removal, and gooseneck and flare repairs. The student will also be introduced to piston brass casing, valve and thread repairs. Machine tool operation, aspects of a safe work environment as well as instrument inspection, repair and invoicing are also included. Grading is based on project evaluation and written tests. (Prerequisites: BIRT1110 & BIRT1125 or field experience commensurate with course content as determined by the instructor) (5 Credits: 2 lecture/3 lab)
5 cr
BIRT2121
The french horn will be used to introduce the student to large brasswind repairs as well as rotary valve stringing, adjustment and bearing work. Dent work will focus on the bell section and mouthpipe. Work on other large brasswinds such as baritone horns and tubas may be included for the advancing student. French horn playing methods, aspects of a safe work environment, as well as instrument inspection, repair and invoicing are also included. Grading is based on project evaluation and written tests. (Prerequisites: BIRT1110, BIRT1125 & BIRT2110 or field experience commensurate with course content as determined by instructor) (4 Credits: 2 lecture/2 lab)
4 cr
BIRT2130
This elective allows students independent work time over and above required coursework to focus on advancing repair skills through working projects assigned in BIRT courses and other specialty projects as approved by instructors. (Prerequisite: Enrollment in BIRT2110, BIRT2122, BIRT2100, and BIRT2104) (1 credit: 0 lecture/1 lab)
1 cr
 
38 crs

Total Credits Required for this Major: 42

 Cost

Estimated Costs for this Major
Approximate Tuition/Fees: $10,110
Minimum Tool Cost: $2,100
Books/Supplies: $270
Estimated Total: $12,480

 Career Opportunities

  • Music Stores

  • Repair Shops

  • School Districts

  • Musical Instrument Manufacturers

  • Entrepreneurial Opportunities (with experience)

Use the MN DEED Career and Education Explorer Data Tool to learn about wages, job growth, and much more in this career field.

 Outcomes

Program graduates will be able to:

  1. Evaluate, repair and play-test clarinets, flutes, and saxophones; evaluate and perform basic repair techniques on oboe and bassoon.

  2. Evaluate, repair and play-test trumpets and horns; evaluate and repair trombones; evaluate and perform basic repair techniques on large brass instruments.

  3. Safely perform basic fabrication and repair support techniques using a bench motor, metal lathe and sander, incorporating related accessories and hand tools.

 Highlights

  • All students in the musical instrument repair programs at MSC Southeast pay in-state tuition regardless of state/country of origin. The cost of living in Red Wing is also quite reasonable.

  • Our instructors are active members in the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT), presenting clinics, producing videos, and writing articles for TechniCom, NAPBIRT's printed journal. Go to www.napbirt.org for more information.

  • Frequent guest speakers and clinicians will give you their perspectives on what employment in the craft is like and help you prepare for your career.

 Instructors

Gregory Beckwith

Greg Beckwith is a 1992 graduate of the BIR program at Red Wing and has a BS in Technical Education from Bemidji State University and an MS in Education Technology from Mankato State University. He has been involved with the repair program since 1996 and teaching full time since 2003. Prior to training as a repair tech, Greg held full-time performing positions with the Air Force Bands and the Mexico City Philharmonic. He is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and studied with Verne Reynolds at Eastman, Roland Pandolfi in St. Louis, and Kendall Betts in MN. He continues to perform in Minnesota as a free-lance musician. As a master clinician, Greg has presented clinics for national and regional NAPBIRT conferences.

Brian DeGayner

Brian DeGayner graduated from Minnesota State College Southeast with a diploma in band instrument repair in 2016. He then worked for several Minnesota-based instrument repair companies and in his home shop, primarily on flutes, double reeds, and horns. He served on MSC Southeast's BIR Program Advisory Board and frequently visited the college as a guest speaker and substitute instructor. He returned to MSC Southeast as a full-time instructor in 2022. Brian is an active member of NAPBIRT and has presented clinics on double reed padding, silver soldering, and precision keyfitting.

 

 Media

Majors in the Band Instrument Repair program

Band Instrument Repair - AAS

Band Instrument Repair DIP