REXBURG — Dave Sevy knows how to play almost every instrument.
“I enjoy the variety. I studied in college to be a music teacher…I learned to play all the instruments and that was very helpful when I was apprenticing repair because it’s important to play to be able to play the instruments and check them correctly,” Sevy says.
Sevy, who’s headed into his 90th year has been doing a service for the Idaho Falls community and beyond through his instrument repair shop MusiCares. He’s never once stopped to retire since taking over the shop over 40 years ago.
“I worked for my teacher for 22 years and then taught repair at Spokane Falls Community College and came back and leased the shop from my teacher and then expanded over to Idaho Falls on Feb. 15, 1982. We’ve been on the corner here of Broadway and Park since 1982,” Sevy says.
During his earlier years, while attending Marsing Highschool, in Marsing Idaho, he joined the 25th Army Band in 1952, he graduated in 1953, but continued playing with Army Bands while attending college, and working up until 1983. He then joined the ISU Civic Symphony and played for 20 years.
“Being able to play as a musician as well as repair the instruments, I think that’s the only reason I was able to keep the business alive,” Sevy says.
Sevy is very skilled at what he does and has prepared instruments as early as the 1850s. He says by far the hardest instrument to fix is a piccolo.
“You can think of it kind of like a watchmaker working on a lady’s wristwatch,” Sevy says.
For decades Sevy has had regular clients from out of town, and he’s had musicians needing his service from all over the world. From California, Colorado, to Florida, to The Netherlands, France and the Philippines to name a few.
“In my guest book I have Mongolian script, and Chinese Script,” Sevy says.
Sevy’s happy to feel needed in his community and says his rewards for his service are those that last a lifetime.
“The awards have just been I’ve been able to support my family, my wife worked with me right on the second bench after 63 years if marriage we have 5 children and about 35 grandchildren and the greatgrandchildren are approaching 60,” Sevy says.
For the community Sevy imparts wisdom that he’s learned over the decades he’s been in his business.
“Be honest, true to our clients, and love your family, and live a good life, that’s about the only thing,” Sevy says.
Find MusiCares at 391 W Broadway Street in Idaho Falls.