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Our Story About AG Woodwind Repair

ALESSANDRO GARCIA

Owner – Woodwind Repair Technician

My love and passion for music started at the age of 13 within the Venezuelan Orchestral System. At age 19, I began playing clarinet in professional orchestras, which was the start of a 20 plus year career as a professional musician.

Over the course of my career, I played with the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra for 15 years, was fortunate to perform in some of Venezuela’s finest chamber ensembles, and taught clarinet at the local conservatory.

These opportunities allowed me to perform concerts in Europe, South America, and the US.

About 12 years ago, I started this exciting adventure as a woodwind technician, a tremendously enriching experience that has led to investigating and analyzing different techniques to achieve the best performance results.

As a professional musician, I understand the importance of a finely-tuned and repaired instrument; this passion has fueled my desire to learn from some of the most highly skilled technicians around the world.

I have studied oboe repair under Ludwig Frank in Berlin Germany; and oboe, clarinet, and bassoon repair at Mönnig factory in Markneukirchen-Germany.

In Indiana, I received my clarinet and flute Straubinger Certification, guided by David and Joel Straubinger, I recently got the Muramatsu Flutes Certification in Michigan, guided by Shota Yamamoto and Yosuke Shimizu from Muramatsu Japan.

I have also taken several courses with Yamaha Music in Brazil and Colombia, having among others, teachers such as Emilio Martinez and Araken Busto from Yamaha Spain-Brazil, Abraham Saavedra from Latin America Music Workshop-Panamá, and Eduardo Gomez from Nagahara Flutes.

From 2011 to 2015, I owned and operated my own woodwind repair shop in Belo Horizonte-Brazil, where I had the fortune to work on the instruments of some of the finest musicians in Brazil, including musicians from Orquestra Filarmônica de Minas Gerais, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, and Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira.

In 2015, I moved from Brazil to Toronto, Ontario, and started a new exciting chapter in my life.

Currently, I reside in North York, Ontario where I work and operate
AG Woodwind Repair from my peaceful home, with a beautiful view of the Don River Valley.

 

AG woodwind Repair SERVICES Woodwind Repair Service
Flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, and bassoon specialized repair services.
We strive to provide the highest level of service to professional musicians, and students.

Maintenance Repairs & Major Adjustments Woodwind Repair Service

CLEAN, OIL, AND ADJUST – COA

For our woodwind repairs, this is the option we recommend for annual cleanings.
The instrument is completely disassembled and thoroughly cleaned and serviced.
We can spend all the time needed to completely clean up and polish the instrument inside and out and address all issues while the instrument is apart.
We also remove and replace key oil from all mechanisms, replace missing and worn key materials, and clean up pads and tone holes surfaces which help to prevent sticking pads.

 

OVERHAUL

An overhaul involves the complete disassembly and reconditioning of the instrument. All pads, regulation material kicker/foot materials, corks, etc are removed.
 
The instrument is completely cleaned, and lightly hand polished. The mechanism is refit to remove lateral/’side-to-side’ play, and hinge rods/steels are cleaned to remove any scratches or rust.
 
Key cups and tone holes are checked for level.
All new stabilizers, pads, shims, regulation material, kicker material, corks are correctly installed, and then the instrument is “played in” for a number of hours to “settle” the new materials. 
 

WE ALSO OFFER

Ultrasonic cleaning.
Dent Removal.
Soldering.
Lubrication.
Polishing.
Extensive dent removal.
Crack repair.
Customization.
Tenon repair.
 

Also, emergency repairs are available!

About

Schedule your appointment

Our REPAIR SHOP remains cautiously AVAILABLE for SAFE Drop Offs and Pickups. Please call or email for details.

You can book your appointment by calling at (647) 780 2650 or simply contact us below.