Saving Newark College: The Future of Instrument Repair

24th June 2025

By Abi Taylor, Head Technician

For decades, the Newark School of Musical Instrument Crafts has been a cornerstone of excellence in the world of instrument making and repair. It has trained generations of skilled technicians – including many at Dawkes Music – who honed their craft and built their careers through the school’s exceptional programs.

Now, with the institution at risk and the future of instrument repair lying in the balance, Head Technician Abi Taylor reflects on her journey and the lasting influence Newark College has had on her and the wider repair community.

Discovering a Career in Instrument Repair

When I learned about musical instrument repair as a potential career, I requested some work experience at Dawkes. My plan was to decide whether it was something I was happy to direct my future towards, before applying for the Newark course that summer. The workshop manager here at the time had himself studied at Newark College, and when offering me an apprenticeship at the end of the week, promised to use all of his notes from his time at the college to give me the same depth of study. This secured my future plans and even though I missed out on the first hand experience of Newark, I hold it in very high regard and understand its unique and extraordinary value.

Having progressed through my own career, and participated in the hiring of new staff, I have witnessed first hand the strength and value in core skills from repairers who received that same level of detail in the early stages. As with most handcrafted skills, professional, dedicated tuition from the start is ideal for good practise and competence.

Building Bridges with Newark

The Dawkes workshop has cultivated a positive relationship with Newark College over the years, with most new hires in our team coming straight from graduation into their first ‘real world’ professional experience. Repairers who have never met can share stories of their time at the college, and bond quickly over the common ground and community of mutual friends. These fresh, enthusiastic technicians are so passionate and interested in growing their skills, but know enough about the nature of the work to approach things with caution and consideration.

A Unique and Comprehensive Education

We have been so fortunate in the UK to have an internationally recognised full time 3-year course of instrument making and repair at Newark College. This course is far from overrun with applicants as it is so niche, but is a real hub of education in this field as they run violin, piano, guitar and woodwind repair/making courses. Over the 3 years of study, applicants will make an instrument from scratch including the wooden or metal body, pillars, keywork and learn all the fundamental material skills and knowledge required to build on. There are elements of woodwork, metalwork, toolmaking and engineering as well as some acoustics and history of the development of instruments to learn.

Enthusiasm and interest are not challenges we face – but the endangered educational infrastructure leaves the future of the UK repair industry vulnerable as the highly respected older generation begin to retire.

Supporting the Next Generation

At the end of the final year students at Newark will carry out time sensitive, graded challenges. Dawkes has sponsored the winner of these endeavours for the last few years, with a monetary voucher, encouraging the strongest graduates to invest in their own tools and materials. We’ve also taken in stock of physical donations of instruments, sending uneconomical repairs up to the school for their use in future training.

2 of us visited the college last year, spending the day speaking about the challenges of diagnosing, quoting and customer service, to support the students in what comes after college. We also sponsor a prize for the overall best student in each year, the ‘woodwind cup’ is awarded to the most promising and impressive student. For a long time we have recognised that these graduates will be our future colleagues and friends within the industry, and we want to set up budding repairers up for success.

A Threat to the Future of Instrument Repair

The violin and piano branches of the college have their own separate systems of recognition within the country, and easily overshadow the woodwind department in perceived value. The fact that all the musical instrument technical courses are in danger is an absolute tragedy for these industries in the UK. Without access to education in these skills, all future musicians will be impacted by the loss of foundational British repair practices.

It would be a devastating loss and a very sad day, to lose the decades of highly respected knowledge and skill residing within those college walls.

Please help us to save Newark college by sharing this poster, signing the petition, and joining the outpouring of appreciation from musicians and repairers across the country.

Please lend your voice and support to help preserve this irreplaceable institution.

More information – https://www.newarkmusiccampaign.org

Sign the petition today – https://www.change.org/p/save-the-newark-school-of-musical-instrument-crafts