Crane School of Music to Host National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians Regional Clinic
SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music Hosts NAPBIRT Regional Clinic Nov. 8 & 9
Potsdam, NY (11/06/2025) — SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music will welcome instrument repair professionals, musicians, educators and students for a National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT) Regional Clinic, on Saturday, Nov. 8, and Sunday, Nov. 9.
This two-day event will offer a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of the instrument repair trade, with hands-on demonstrations, expert-led sessions and networking opportunities. The NAPBIRT Regional Clinic is co-sponsored by The Crane School of Music and Brick & Mortar Music, Potsdam.
Attendees will learn advanced techniques and practical skills to keep instruments performing at their best, with a series of presentations and panel discussions featuring experts in the field, including:
"Mending with Might: Carbon Banding for Catastrophic Cracks"
Samson Flancbaum '13, instrument repair technician at The Crane School of Music, will lead a session on this advanced method for stabilizing serious woodwind body cracks, including a live demonstration and the opportunity for participants to try the technique firsthand.
"Percussion on the Road"
Thomas Norton, owner of Allen Instrument Repair and Supply in Oswego, N.Y., will offer a hands-on clinic on how to create a well-prepared mobile repair kit -- from basic tools to advanced gear -- and review common issues and fixes for a wide range of percussion instruments.
"Cracks, Dings, and Rings: Tuning, Repair, and Restoring Marimbas and Timpanis"
Crane School of Music student Brandon Phelps '26 will walk participants through common problems with marimba and timpani instruments, from cracked bars to out-of-tune fundamentals, and discuss practical solutions for repair and restoration.
"Fleets of Flutes"
Katy Jacobson, owner of Katix Music in Pinson, Ala., will offer a clinic featuring several methods to repair issues commonly found in flutes from school and rental fleets, sending participants back to their bench with new techniques to improve the quality and efficiency of their work.
"Behind the Bench: Journeys, Careers, and the Craft of Instrument Repair"
This panel discussion will bring together a diverse group of seasoned professionals to share their unique paths into the world of musical instrument repair. Panelists will also reflect on how the industry is evolving -- through technology, changes in music education, and increasing demand for skilled technicians -- and what that means for the next generation entering the trade. The session will include a question and answer session with the audience.
In addition to the sessions, there will be opportunities for visitors to tour The Crane School of Music and its instrument repair shop, and to take in the Crane Latin Ensemble performance on Saturday in the Proscenium Theater.
The National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT) is the largest non-profit international educational association dedicated to the advancement of the craft of band instrument repair.
The clinic is free for Crane students, offering an invaluable chance to learn from industry leaders. Other attendees can register online at the NAPBIRT website.
About The Crane School of Music:
Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York's only All-Steinway institution and was one of the first Yamaha Institutions of Excellence. For more information, please visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.
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SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music will host a National Association of Band Instrument Repair Technicians Regional Clinic on Nov. 8 and 9.
SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music
Alexandra Jacobs Wilke, (315) 267-2918, news@potsdam.eduShare this Story
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