John Lyle doesn't play a musical instrument, but he says you can't work around them for as long as he has and not learn something.

"I pick up a little bit more every day," said Lyle, 25, who has been repairing instruments at Shivelbine's Music Store for seven years. "The rest of these guys play in jazz bands, so go figure."

Lyle learned how to repair instruments -- he's in charge of woodwinds -- on the job. He fixes dented flutes, re-corks clarinets and checks and adjusts tuning on whatever is brought in.

In an office with three other instrument repairmen who are constantly blowing their horns -- they can look at as many as 30 horns a day -- Lyle said it can get pretty loud.

"But you get used to it," he said.

Lyle said he loves his work, however.

"You run into something different every day, and I like that," he said.