An important practical matter for band directors - and parents: what are basic instrument repair tricks that band directors can do on their own - and what types of repairs should parents avoid? Joining us today is Mark Kuklok, the owner of MK Music Repair in Owatonna MN.
Mark Kuklok
Upon graduating from high school, I wanted to go into music education so
in 1987 I obtained a Music Education degree from North Dakota State
University. I taught band for two years in Wheaton, Minnesota. After
this I decided teaching band wasn’t for me and as I have always had a
passion for working with my hands, I figured repairing instruments was a
way to use my degree and do more “hands on” work. In the fall of 1990, I
attended Redwing Technical College, now Minnesota State College
Southeast, Redwing Campus graduating the following Spring with a degree
in Band Instrument Repair. My first job repairing instruments was at a
shop Mankato. I did this for eight years where I gained valuable
experience and honed my craft. In the Fall of 2000, I opened MK Music
Repair in Owatonna and I have been here ever since. In my normal
day-to-day operations, I travel two days a week where I call on 36
different schools. The other 3 days I am in the shop.
Show Timings
(00:00) Introduction: Mark Kuklok
(04:09) Pulling mouthpieces
(09:00) Adjusting the neck octave key on saxophones
(11:20) Adjusting the A to Ab key on clarinet
(14:21) Tightening C Key Hinge Screws on Flute
(16:29) Spring pops off on a woodwind instrument
(17:32) Adjusting Head Corks on flutes
(23:07) Stuck Valves on brass instruments
(26:02) Rubber Bands, Duct Tape or Painters Tape
(27:15) Inexpensive Instruments from a repair tech point of view
(29:54) Final thoughts
And that wraps up this episode.
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Other Resources
Show Hosts
Jerry Luckhardt https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/luckh001
Bradley Mariska https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-mariska-63ba2855
MK Instrument Repair
Facebook Website (Band in Minnesota)
