Lately, we’ve heard a rumor that our professional repairs are done by Institute students. This is completely false. We want to set the record straight: students don’t do our professional instrument repairs. Our repair facility, Music Makers, operates separately from the Colorado Institute of Musical Instrument Technology (CIOMIT). While CIOMIT trains future repair technicians, the students are here to learn, not to work on customer repairs.
Students Learn, Professionals Repair
We use a very carefully developed curriculum to train our students. Jumping into a repair on a customer instrument that is off the path of their curriculum would create confusion and a lack of consistency in their skill development. Check out CIOMIT’s blog on a day in the life of a student!
At CIOMIT, students spend their time learning and practicing on instruments that are designated for training purposes only. These instruments are designated for training purposes only. They allow students to practice without affecting a high value instruments. This hands-on training is essential, but it never extends to real customer repairs.
One of the ways we serve school programs is by giving repair credit for instruments that are beyond repair or lack the quality to justify the cost of a repair. We give the school program a credit that they can use towards paying for other repairs and we take the instrument off their hands. Those instruments end up in a 1,000 square foot warehouse space (that is at this time FILLED) as ‘institute inventory’ — those are the instruments we use to train our institute students. This has provided us the opportunity to support school programs with budget assistance and provide curated and consistent education for our institute students.
Our professional repair team currently consists of three highly trained professional technicians. They have years of experience and handle every instrument that comes through our doors. Schools, professional musicians, and all of our other customers trust us to deliver top-quality work, and we take that responsibility seriously.
Why the Name Change?
There are rumors that previous ownership (over 6 years ago) allowed students to work on school program instruments. Our current ownership has no confirmation on that rumor, but what we can confirm is that SINCE new ownership in March 2019, no student has worked on a customer/school program instrument. To be clear, we have customers ask often if they can have a student repair their instrument for a reduced price and we say NO!
One reason for our name change was to clarify the distinction between CIOMIT and Music Makers. These are two separate entities. CIOMIT is a training institute. Music Makers is a professional repair facility and a full service music store. By separating the names, we wanted to remove any confusion and reinforce our commitment to expert repairs.
Some assume that because we run a training program, students must be doing repairs. This is simply not true. The professionals at Music Makers handle all repairs, ensuring quality and consistency for every customer.
One of the reasons we have separated the trade school (CIOMIT) from the rest of our company (Music Makers) is to make this abundantly clear. Music Makers offers instrument repairs, rentals, instrument/accessory retail, and private/group lessons. We are happy to serve you in any of these areas!
What Goes Into a Professional Repair?
When an instrument arrives at Music Makers, it goes through a detailed inspection. Our technicians assess the condition, diagnose any issues, communicate with the customer, and create a repair plan. This process ensures that each instrument gets the care it needs.
- Thorough Inspection – Every instrument is carefully checked to identify potential issues.
- Expert Repairs – Our technicians make precise adjustments and repairs using industry-leading tools and techniques.
- Quality Assurance – Before an instrument is returned, it undergoes final testing to ensure it meets our high standards.
No shortcuts. No untrained hands. Just expert craftsmanship from professionals who care about your instrument.
The Importance of Professional Repairs
Having students repair is a liability for us in caring for our customer instruments. Our institute students often learn best by making mistakes. We cannot afford for students to make mistakes on customer instruments. It would cost us twice the labor to repair a student error (if the error was repairable). If the error was one that would total the customer instrument, we would be responsible to replace the instrument. It doesn’t make sense for us to take on that liability when we have very talented certified technicians on our team that are hired for the purpose of repairing instruments.
Having a skilled technician repair your instrument makes all the difference. Poor repairs can cause more damage and lead to costly fixes later. At Music Makers, we guarantee high-quality service every time. We use top-tier parts, advanced techniques and take our time to ensure your instrument plays its best.
Why Choose Music Makers?
We believe in providing reliable, professional service. When you bring your instrument to us, you can trust that it will be handled with care by experienced technicians. Our team has years of hands-on experience and training in instrument repair. We work efficiently to get your instrument back to you as soon as possible. We stand by our work and prioritize customer service. And if you aren’t satisfied with your repairs, bring it back and we will make it right!
Clearing Up the Misconception
If you’ve heard the rumor that students do our repairs, now you know the truth. Students never do our professional repairs. They learn in a separate environment, using instruments that are owned by the Institute. Our trained technicians handle every professional repair that comes through our doors – – instruments belonging to schools, touring artists, or any other customer!
Music Makers is committed to excellence. Whether you’re a student, a professional musician, or a school band director, you deserve the best service. That’s why we keep our repair work in the hands of experts.
If your instrument needs repair, you can trust us. Visit our store, where our professional technicians will take care of your instrument with skill and precision. Your trust matters to us, and we work hard to maintain it.
For more information, visit ciomit.com/institute or head to our Repairs Frequently Asked Questions. If you have questions, give us a call at 303-663-4084 or email [email protected]. We’re always happy to clear up any confusion and help you find the right repair for your instrument.