Actually, when I say about us, it’s just me.  I’m Dick Hamer, and am the sole proprietor of South Wales Woodwind, a young company launched in 2010 specializing in woodwind repair and sales of both new and reconditioned instruments. 

WHY DEAL WITH ME?

The service I offer is based on caring and being passionate about playing. I will never sell inferior quality instruments, (of which there are many these days)-life is too short to deal with them, and certainly to play them. A good  used instrument is a much better option than a poor new one if you’re on a tight budget, as long as it’s in good working order. I am a qualified teacher, with 25 years experience of working for LEA Music Services, and trying to get a talented pupil to reach their full potential on an instrument that doesn’t work properly is so disheartening.  I won’t put any teacher or student through that.

I offer a personalized, bespoke service for all visiting customers, checking and demonstrating if required, each instrument with the customer present, also offering expert advice on mouthpiece and reed choice. 

My professional playing career has run parallel with my teaching, and has included working in bands accompanying many top artists, among them, The Supremes, The Drifters, Martha Reeves, Cilla Black, Lenny Henry, Madelaine Bell,, Tommy Cooper and many others. Many TV and radio sessions, numerous theatre shows, and several performances both live and recorded with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (including one of my proudest moments, playing in the sax section next to my daughter Lauren in a proms performance of Duke Ellington’s “Harlem” at London’s Albert Hall for a radio 3 broadcast).  

As a jazz player (my main musical passion) I have always been active, (or trying to be at least!), running a quartet, quintet and Latin Group, and have been fortunate enough to occasionally play alongside some true greats, such as Stan Tracey O.B.E. , Scott Hamilton, Bobby Shew, Alan Barnes, Lew Tabackin, Peter King, Digby Fairweather, Steve Waterman and many others. I have always been involved in Jazz education, I helped set up and established the South Glam Jazz orchestra “Jazz News” in the mid 80’s, and directed them for several years, including concert tours to France, Malta, and the USA. I direct the Big Band at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and teach on a jazz summer camp each year for Gloucester Academy for Performing Arts.

I have always been interested in repairing, and after a few years of attempting to repair school instruments, (often failing), I undertook several courses, as well as individual study with a great repairer, Gary Mills. After much practice, (many late nights and a fair amount of taking my expletive vocabulary to a new level), I felt confident enough to offer my services to other players. I was accepted as a professional member of N.A.M.I.R. (national association of musical instrument repairers) in 2008 and have discovered that a good repair job is a most satisfying way to spend a few hours.