Are you in any way affiliated with a university / college? There are usually Physics and Mechanical Engineering labs that would do soldering, and perhaps others. You could also practice joining wires together and using heatshrink (perhaps tutorial videos on that on Youtube). That would get you used to how solder melts, behaves, and the fine work that goes into soldering. I'd only done wire joints before until my keyboard projects, and for the rest, I watched WhiteFireDragon's video on switch swapping and read the Living Soldering Thread here. If you have not already seen that video, it's long and very good, and you should watch it in its entirety
I live very close to a major ivy university but have minor connections and am not very involved with the school at all. no chance of me going there anyways next year haha
I have seen a few of WFD's youtube videos, and i think it would be smart for myself to watch those that apply tomorrow. CPT directed me to the LIving Soldering Thread, so i should read through that as well.
I go to a boarding school, so there are some maintenance guys i might be able to hit up who can help with this, but seeing as it's summer, i don't think they are around. There are some personal goals and plans i have that i want to be able to hit in and around september or so, so i want to get on this as soon as possible.
sounds like tomorrow is going to be a research day haha. thanks!