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Musical Instrument Making & Maintenance

There are opportunities in the guitar making industry in Victoria and with independent makers nationally. NCAT consults with industry and has established relationships with Maton Guitars, Cole Clark Guitars & many independent instrument makers. The college also has a relationship the Australian Music Association (the National Retailer’s Association).

The Certificate III Musical Instrument Making and Maintenance is an introductory course delivered as part of VET in Schools and is only available to secondary schools students. This is delivered one day a week (Wednesdays) over two years, incorporating a range of woodcraft skills necessary for building percussion instruments, ukuleles, slide guitars, as well as an introduction to basic woodwind repair.

Musical Instrument Making & Maintenance enables you to:

Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices.

Work collaboratively with like-minded people.

Use furniture making sector hand and power tools.

Certificate III in Musical Instrument Making and Maintenance student working on a guitar neck.

The program is delivered as a “hands on” model, with an emphasis on experiential learning.

TestimonialsMark Russel (Folio Preparation & Guitar Making Teacher)

“NCAT is known for its equality and giving everybody a fair chance at succeeding at what their love is. If you give people the chance to pursue a passion they're going to naturally succeed in it.”

(1 / 5)

Certificate IV Musical Instrument Making and Repair student making an electric guitar

Course

Level(s)

Qualification(s)

Musical Instrument Making & Maintenance

VET

Qualification(s):

22563VIC Certificate III in Musical Instrument Making & Maintenance

Course Structure

The Certificate III Musical Instrument Making and Maintenance is an introductory course that is delivered as part of VET in Schools and is only available to secondary schools students. This is delivered one day a week (Wednesdays) over two years, incorporating a range of woodcraft skills necessary for building percussion instruments, ukuleles, slide guitars, as well as an introduction to basic woodwind repair. If enrolled as a fulltime secondary students at NCAT the Certificate III can be integrated with the VCE or VCAL syllabus.

Activities & Tasks

After an extensive OH&S program, combining theory and workshop induction, students will build an electric guitar neck, percussion instrument(stomp box, cajonand xylophone), make basic woodwind instruments and an electric slide guitar. In second year the students build a tenor ukulele, a travel mandolin and a solid body electric guitar. Students learn to repair a drum kit and a clarinet. After completing all assigned tasks students are encouraged to bring in personal projects and learn the basics of guitar set up and repair.

Assessment

The course runs over two years. In first year you complete two instruments and an introductory piece. In second year you complete two instruments and various instrument repairs.The applied nature of the course requires 98% attendance to successfully complete. The assessment of your overall competence is undertaken by a qualified assessor and competence judged using all of these completed tasks. Students will be given a fair and adequate assessment process that includes multiple opportunities to demonstrate competency.

Eligibility & Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course however an interest in woodworking skills is an advantage.