Musical instruments live on in the care of Nimble Instrument Repair Shop

Matt Blanchard in his workshop at Nimble Instrument Repair. (Malachi Lefurgey/AQ)

Matt Blanchard, a former employee at Tony’s Music Box,  recently opened his own instrument repair shop: Nimble Instrument Repair Shop.  

“I'll be doing this not until I'm retired but until I'm dead,” he said. 

Located in the heart of downtown Fredericton,  Blanchard has taken up space to preserve the sweet melody of music for hobbyists and musicians. 

“The support has been amazing ... everything has just been so positive. Working for myself for the first time and getting to experience all the highs and lows that come with that,” said Blanchard.  

In contrast to Tony’s Music Box, which was both a retailer and repairer of musical instruments, Blanchard specializes only in repairs, currently working off appointments alone. 

Blanchard got into the music industry when he was 13 years old, when he played the drums at his local church, then progressed to guitar and bass. 

Blanchard's life was set in stone by the simple hit of a drum, the love of the strings and the feeling of a guitar in his hands.   

“I feel like my place is really helping other people make music,” he said “There’s not a lot of people that do this kind of work. It’s needed. It sounds cliché, but it’s my calling.” 

If given the option of whether to have Tony’s Music Box or Nimble Instrument Repair Shop, Blanchard said he would choose Tony’s, without hesitation.  

“Even though this has been going great, in some crazy world, I would still love to be working at Tony’s. It was a very special place,” said Blanchard.  

Now alone, when stepping into the world of music and navigating the throes of opening your own business, Blanchard has come to the top.  

“There were so many doubts,” he said. “Is everyone gonna go to the other guy?” 

“But Fredericton needs more places like this, kind of smaller niche [businesses].” 

Though a classic musical store closed down, Blanchard has kept the dedication and inspiration of giving people the ability of music.  

Blanchard doesn't stop just at repairs but also sells guitar strings, picks and drumsticks. 

“Stuff people need when they’re downtown, all the music is happening downtown.” 

“It feels really good to be where I am at,” said Blanchard. “I wouldn't know what I would do if I wasn't doing this.”  

In five or even ten years, Blanchard hopes to continue his work in giving other people the opportunity to know and learn the art of music in local Fredericton.  

“It feels like it was a bunch of decisions that were not made with any intention to be here, yet here I am in the ideal place I always wanted to be at whether I knew it or not.”