Antique Musical Instruments Education and Training

Set your business apart from others with unique knowledge of antique music instruments

By Nikki Wheeler
Vintage musical instruments is a very unique field. Because of the rarity of expertise, there is a lot of potential money to be made in this industry. Aside from a love of music, history, working with your hands and fixing things, finding antique musical instruments education and training is a sure-fire way to pave the path for success.

Developing the unique skills to work with antique musical equipment will provide the opportunity to find business in the following ways:

1. Become successful in antique dealing when you gain knowledge of antique musical instruments.

2. Expand an existing musical instrument business to include instrument repair.

3. Use the knowledge gained with antique musical instruments education and training to branch into restoration services.

 

Use online sources for learning about antique instruments

There are various free online resources for historical musical instruments. Learn the history of specific instruments, the construction of them and the uses of them.
Try: The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance boasts The Stearns Collection, which is the largest American collection of antique instruments. They have a listing of upcoming events, as well as an online exhibit of historical instruments. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has an online historical music collection that includes descriptions and photographs. You can visit the actual collection at the museum, which has over 5,000 instruments and their historical significance to American and European heritages.

Search for specialized education in the performance of antique music instruments

Learning to play antique instruments requires proper training. To play historical musical instruments properly, you need to acquire knowledge of the instrument and the time period in which it was predominately used. Universities and colleges with programs that focus on historical instruments will give the best, well-rounded education.
Try: Indiana University School of Music has an Early Music Institute that offers historical music education in the areas of performance and academics. Oberlin College has a Master of Music in Historical Performance program, which students with an undergraduate degree can apply and audition for.

Join associations for antique instruments

Becoming a member of historical music instrument associations will provide you with information resources, industry news, and access to supplies, parts and tools needed for repair and restoration, contact information of antique instrument sellers, listings of antique musical instruments for sale and guides for determining antique instrument prices.
Try: Some associations for historical instruments include the American Musical Instrument Society and the Fellowship of Makers and Researchers of Historical Instruments, which both study the history and construction of instruments such as antique piano musical instruments. The Guild of American Luthiers specializes in all stringed instruments and will help with understanding antique violin musical instruments.

 

  • Learn every aspect of musical instruments to become the best in antique music instruments restoration or repair, from playing them to technological advances in modern ones.
  • Include music history in antique musical instruments education and training; this will give you a better understanding of the history of instruments and thus become a better antique instrument collector.