Upcoming Lunch and Learn Sessions:
The Show Must Go On! Repairs & Maintenance You Can Do!
This clinic will focus on the most common and manageable clarinet repairs you might encounter in the classroom, teaching studio, or five minutes before your big concert. There will be an emphasis on diagnostics, as figuring out what the problem is can often be half of the battle. We will also cover the topic of what basic tools and supplies you may want to have on hand, and where you can get these items. Finally, we will explore preventative maintenance techniques, as the only thing better than a successful repair is preventing the need for a repair in the first place!
Miles DeCastro is the instrument repair technician at The Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam, where he teaches courses in instrument repair technology and is responsible for the repairs, maintenance, and inventory of over 1,200 instruments. Outside of Crane he also runs his own clarinet specialty shop called North Country Winds. Prior to joining Crane in July of 2016, he was the general manager at Bridgepoint Music in Menlo Park, CA from 2012-2016, where he led the company to four consecutive NAMM Top 100 Dealer Awards.
Prof. DeCastro has been an active member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians since 2007. He recently completed his third term as president of NAPBIRT and has presented clinics on the topic of instrument repair technology in 20 states and three continents.
Miles is a Straubinger Certified Technician, Yamaha Certified Sales Professional, graduate of the Yamaha Service Advantage Program, and he has studied instrument repair and design with Morrie Backun. He serves on the Vendors’ Forum Committee of The International Clarinet Association and is also a member of NAfME, NAMM, and NASA (the saxophone one, not the outer space one). Miles holds a degree in Music Education from Mansfield University, a Certificate in Band Instrument Repair Technology from Renton Technical College, and an MBA from Clarkson University.
