Trumpet Lesson- I Broke My Trumpet

Trumpet valves get stuck all the time and water key corks leak. They can be fixed without a trip to the repair shop!

Sep 11, 2006

At every trumpet lesson I have ever given at least one student will have a stuck valve or other mechanical problem. This article seeks to show you how to fix it yourself!

As a long time band director I have seen many strange things happen during my stdent's trumpet lessons. Despite repeated instruction during the trumpet lesson on how to care for and maintain the instrument someone would always have a problem. This article lists the most common problems that have come up during my student's trumpet lessons and how to solve them.

Something is clogging up my trumpet!

Most of the time this problem is really a result of not having the trumpet's valves seated correctly in the casings. If a trumpet student removes all of the valves to clean or lubricate them he or she will often put them back in incorrectly. If you cannot get any air through the horn at all then it is a good bet that at least the first valve is seated wrong. Unscrew the top cap, pull the valve out, and make sure that the number 1 is stamped on the valve. If it says 2 or 3 then the valve is in the wrong casing. If you have the correct valves in the correct casings then check to make sure that the valve guide is locking into the slot inside the casing. If the valve is locked into the slot correctly then the valve will not be able to spin. Try spinning the valve around inside the casing until you feel it lock into place.

My valve is stuck!

Most stuck valves are caused by one of three issues. First, the valve my simply be dirty and the built up gunk may be slowing the valve's action or stopping it completely. Second, one or more of the valve slides attached to the stuck valve may be bent in slightly causing the trumpet's valve to bind up when it gets down to that part of the valve casing. Lastly, any dent in the outer valve casing will make the valve get stuck. Even the slightest dent (such as one caused by hitting a music stand) can make the valve stop working.

One other thing that can cause stuck trumpet valves is if the button's stem is bent to one side. As the button is pressed a bent stem will rub against the side of the hole it is traveling through. There should always be the same space around the valve stem no matter how low the button is pressed. In most cases gentle pressure can bend a bent valve stem back into place.

My spit valve is leaking!

This is an easy repair, but most people do not have the proper size cork or adhesive to fix it at home. For best results take the trumpet in to the repair shop and ask them to replace the spit valve cork. This is usually a very cheap and quick repair.

The copyright of the article Trumpet Lesson- I Broke My Trumpet in Music Education is owned by Chad Criswell. Permission to republish Trumpet Lesson- I Broke My Trumpet in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Sep 17, 2008 12:41 PM

Guest :

very nice my trumpet , vavle broke and i never could get it to go back in thank you.

Sep 23, 2008 6:06 AM

Guest :

My valves won't even go in!

Sep 23, 2008 6:11 AM

Guest :

My valve won't go in!!

Sep 29, 2008 5:01 PM

Guest :

this didn't help me b/c I did everything right and my horn is still not making any noise. any suggestions?

Sep 29, 2008 5:07 PM

Guest :

thanks

Oct 1, 2008 12:56 PM

Guest :

my valve is still stuck down when i press it! i have to pull it up myself!

Oct 3, 2008 1:38 PM

Guest :

thank you sooooooooooooooo much you fixed my trumpet!!!!!!!!!!!

Oct 25, 2008 12:31 PM

Guest :

thank you u fixed it andf helpedf me for future reference thank you

Oct 27, 2008 7:53 PM

Guest :

Thank you very much. We had a valve alignment problem and no sound coming out. You helped us fix it right up! Thank you!

Dec 12, 2008 10:52 PM

Guest :

OMG thank u i couldnt make any sound in my trumpet and i knew it was my first valve!
THANKS

Dec 16, 2008 4:14 PM

Guest :

very nice but didn't help

Dec 20, 2008 4:42 PM

Guest :

Thank you for your info... It helped Alot !! My son who insisted he did nothing had taken out the valves and put them back in the wrong slots... Classic :)

May 13, 2009 11:20 AM

Guest :

Thanks - thats helped fix my son's trumpet - no more excuses for not practicing :-)

Jun 2, 2009 4:17 PM

Guest :

very nice
but...
the problem with my trumpet is that the valve (abouve the felt) is loose.
What do i do??????

Jun 13, 2009 9:43 AM

Guest :

Thank you! My trumpet wasn't making sounds, and I thought it was broke forever, but after you said that if the wrong valve is in the wrong spot, it wouldn't play.

And of course! My 2nd valve was in the first spot.
:)
Thank you so much.

-Mallory

Jul 10, 2009 11:27 AM

Guest :

i had the same problem. if your valve is loose above the felt, then unscrew it from the top. then unscrew the bottom of that valve. push the valve up through to the top. take out the valve and then screw back in the button where you push down the valve to play your trumpet. then screw back in the the valve. now your valve should be working properly and you can play without a wobbly valve. :)

Aug 16, 2009 12:23 PM

Guest :

Life-saver! My son messed up his trumpet and you helped me fix it before he rturned to school and we all got in trouble. Thanks!

Aug 17, 2009 7:36 PM

Guest :

OK so you explained why my valve isn't working, theirs a small dent(which I already knew) but you didn't explain how to fix it, how do you fix a dented valve?

Sep 3, 2009 3:28 AM

Guest :

my trumpet valve is still stuck downward any suggestions on getting it back up

Sep 10, 2009 8:31 PM

Guest :

I just gave my grandson as trumpet and he couldn't get any air through. I looked up THE ANSWER on your site and even I could understand hows to fix it! I have bookmarked your site. THANK YOU!

Oct 6, 2009 5:45 PM

Guest :

My trumpet sounds weird when I blow into it. Im pursing my lips and all that but it sond like im just blowing air through a tube.