Taking care of your wind instrument is part of improving your playing skills.

For those who are just starting to play the trumpet.
And to all of you who enjoy playing every day:

One day, suddenly,
The piston becomes heavier.
The tuning slide gets stuck and can't be removed.

Those days come without warning.
But it wasn't actually sudden.
Musical instruments have been giving off subtle signals for a long time now.

Are you taking proper care of your trumpet?
When I first started playing an instrument,
"What if I mess with it and break the instrument? I don't know what the right thing to do is."
This makes me anxious.

As you get used to the instrument,
"I'm tired today, so I think it's okay if I skip swabbing it once."
And then I put it back in the case.

Both are common occurrences.
However, these small, cumulative actions gradually change the condition of the instrument.

The trumpet is an instrument that produces sound by blowing air into it.
When you play an instrument, moisture inevitably accumulates inside it.
What will happen if we leave it as is?

① It becomes harder to breathe out.

If moisture remains, it will combine with the dirt and become stuck.
Dirt tends to accumulate more easily in areas where it has become stuck, gradually narrowing the airway.
It's not visible from the outside.
However, changes are definitely underway within the realm of musical instruments.

② The movement of the pistons and tuning slides becomes poor.

Any remaining moisture will also affect the metal. Rust and corrosion will progress, hindering its movement.
When we service instruments that come into our shop, we sometimes come across tuning slides that have become stuck due to years of neglect.
Even an adult man pulling with all his might won't be able to remove it. Maintenance is necessary before it gets to that point.

◯ Lubrication of valve oil

The items to be used are as follows:

The piston can be considered the heart of the instrument.
If this part doesn't move smoothly, even the best embouchure won't be able to perform to its full potential.
Remove the top cap, partially pull out the piston, and apply 2-3 drops of oil to the surface of the piston.

If there is too little oil, metal parts will rub directly against each other, causing wear and scratches.
Conversely, if there is too much oil, the excess oil may flow into each valve slide. This can cause grease or viscous oil to enter the valve casing, making the piston movement stiffer.

After lubricating, close the top cap and move the piston up and down two or three times to allow the oil to spread evenly.
*If you put the piston back in the wrong direction, the air passage will be blocked and no sound will be produced. Check the position of the valve guide and put it back in the correct direction.

◯ Remove moisture from inside the pipe.

The items to be used are as follows:

Removing moisture after playing is the most important part of maintenance.
The moisture remaining inside the tube binds with components in saliva and gradually solidifies. This solidified material creates a rough texture, which attracts even more dirt.

Insert the swab slowly and without pulling it forcefully.

If it gets stuck, do not pull it forcefully; calmly return it to its original position.
*Avoid storing the swab inside the instrument case with your instrument. This can cause moisture to build up and lead to dirt accumulation.

Clean the tuning slides.

The items to be used are as follows:

Wrap gauze around the cleaning rod so that it is not exposed, and then remove any dirt from the inside of the tuning slide.
*Please be careful, as an exposed cleaning rod could scratch the instrument or, in the worst case, create a dent.

After cleaning, apply tuning slide oil to the 1st and 3rd valve slides and slide them two or three times to allow the oil to penetrate.
Use slide grease on the main tuning slide and the second valve slide.

Reasons for using slide grease and neuting slide oil differently.
Tuning slides have parts that move during playing and parts that are basically fixed in place.
We use different tools depending on their respective roles.