Repair shops and practice spaces for musicians?

Submitted by tomtthrowaway2019 t3_10fcybf in providence

I just moved here from Arizona, and I'm looking to get back into playing the bassoon. I've got a 2007 Fox Renard 222 that's been sitting in a closet for 10 years, and before I try to play it, I'd like to have it cleaned up and looked at by a professional. Any recommendations for places to get that done in down, or should I look to Boston?

Also, are there any places with quiet rooms for practicing? The bassoon isn't exactly a drum kit, but my apartment walls are paper-thin, and my dream is to eventually get a woodwind quintet going.

I don't have a car, so any practice locations would need to be within city limits (I live on the east side but am willing to walk a fair distance); repair shops can be further away, but need to be accessible via transit (train or bus).

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JohnProvidence t1_j4wldv9 wrote

RIOT - a nonprofit org - rents practice space in their basement / offices. I know that RIOT primarily caters to rock bands, but if you just need a space to practice they probably would not care if you practice your bassoon there. You could possibly leave it there (assuming you felt comfortable doing so). I’m not sure how much of a pain it is to transport a bassoon

Here is their site - http://riotri.org They don’t mention space rentals on the site. I would reach out via their contact info.

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tomtthrowaway2019 OP t1_j535r0n wrote

I am very much not in their target demographic, but I will reach out about a space once I've got the instrument looked at; as you say, the rental thing might be different. Thanks for the tip.

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beerpizzamusic t1_j4w7vjp wrote

Not sure about practice spaces, but I've always taken my instruments to Roberts Music in Warwick for all upkeep and repair. They are great! I apologize, I'm not familiar with the best transit way to get there.

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tomtthrowaway2019 OP t1_j4w90ck wrote

Looks like it's about 1 hr 40 min each way by bus. I will keep it in mind; there's always the possibility of being able to bum a ride off a roommate or something.

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ratdad t1_j4zlbrp wrote

Robert’s does a lot of work with woodwind instruments.

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brogaant t1_j57zqh9 wrote

Not sure if this is still true, but years ago you could wander into the Nazarian Center (the music building) at RIC and use the upstairs practice rooms.

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