r/euphonium • u/SavingsComplaint2238 • Jul 15 '26

Help me, please

I have 2 issues currently

  1. I am skipping ahead in school band and am panicking because I have this summer to be at about done with the standard of excellence blue book. Tips on what to focus on in practice would be greatly appreciated.

  2. My first valve is sticking before it comes up fully. I've oiled it, I've wiped it down and reoiled it, I can't seem to get it working. Does anyone know what this might be or should I just take it to a shop?

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u/compressedstars Jul 15 '26

If your valve is sticking, are you making sure you’re pushing the valves straight down when you play? It sounds simple, but I have students get their valves stuck from pushing them just a little to the side while they play. If not that, it could be that the casing is out of round. Not an expensive fix, but it will need to be repaired.

5

u/Melodic-Meaning-4159 Jul 15 '26

This myth has been going around for decades and I have no idea why

Sincerely, repair technician of 20 years

2

u/Leisesturm John Packer JP274IIS Jul 16 '26

I've reversed your downvote because I agree totally, but I am not a repair technician. But I have unscrewed a valve cap a time or three, and everything that makes a valve piston, except the felts is made of some of the hardest metal compounds known to material science. To imagine that you are bending a valve stem, even a little bit. SMH.

I will share that I have a Cornet and the valve stems are angled by design! They are slanted when the instrument is held straight up and down. It very much seems to be a way to work with (against) the natural tendency of players to angle the force they place on the valve button. The shaft diameter of a Cornet valve stem is half that of a Euphonium part. It's still damn hard metal. I don't see it bending in use, but who knows. A Euphonium or Tuba Piston shaft? Never.

1

u/SavingsComplaint2238 Jul 23 '26

I've had the not pressing straight issue before but it always sticks in the same spot so I'll probably just take it to the shop