Stuck slides on trumpet

So, I finally decided to pull my old horn out of the closet and clean it up, with the intent of practicing and maybe joining my local concert band. Everything seems to be in working order, except all of the slides are stuck.

It's probably been 8 or 9 years since I've played this thing. I'd like to get these slides moving, so I can be (reasonably ) in tune.

Any suggestions?

Also, where should I start in terms of practice? I've been concentrating mostly on rock/country stuff on guitar for the last 10 years, so I'd say 'rusty' is a bit of an understatement.

Any help would be great!

They don't move at all? After one of my trumpets sat idle for about 20 years, the slides were completely unmoveable so I took it to a local shop for cleaning. If you try to manhandle the slides yourself, remember to remove the valves first so you don't make a suction.

My favorite way to get my lip back in shape is to jam along with the radio, or with my favorite recordings. Not only does it strengthen my lip, but it forces me to jam in weird keys, like F# and B.

I started playing again in a community band after about 25 years of inaction. It was a lot of fun.

Nope, not even a little. I took the valves out, and tried to get some oil into the slides that are stuck through those inlets, hoping it would seep into the cracks. I don't know if it'll work, but here's to hoping. If I have to take it in somewhere, it'll have to wait, money's way too tight for that right now.

I also pulled out some of my old instruction books that I still have (apparently I'm a packrat of the highest order ) and I figure I'll start with those, and, of course, some recordings.

I also discovered yesterday that my closest community band is just a sort of come-as-you-are thing that will let almost anyone play with them once you join, so that's kind of cool. They rehearse about a mile from my house, so I'm really looking forward to getting my horn and my lip back in shape. I don't have the time or energy to devote to any sort of rock/bar band at the moment, so this should be a cool way to get back into playing music for people that shouldn't require huge effort on my part, except to learn the parts. Plus, they don't play at bars, so my son can see me play.

I also discovered yesterday that my closest community band is just a sort of come-as-you-are thing that will let almost anyone play with them once you join, so that's kind of cool. They rehearse about a mile from my house, so I'm really looking forward to getting my horn and my lip back in shape. I don't have the time or energy to devote to any sort of rock/bar band at the moment, so this should be a cool way to get back into playing music for people that shouldn't require huge effort on my part, except to learn the parts. Plus, they don't play at bars, so my son can see me play.

My local band is a lot like that. It's a lot of fun, and doesn't require too much of a commitment. People are laid back and easy to like.

The funniest part was when I marched in my first Memorial Day parade. It had been 30 years since I tried to walk and play at the same time. I couldn't do it; my horn was bouncing up and down on my lips and I could barely get a phrase out. Sheesh, it was embarrassing.

Excellent move, pulling your old horn out.

Its possible to wrap a length of leather around a slide and then give it a sharp yank. Sometimes, that will help to move a stuck slide when just pulling doesn't, and the leather is very unlikely to do any damage to your horn.

Try dipping your horn in warm water. Remove the valves and anything else you can (3rd slide screws, bottom caps, etc.) and dunk it in to some warm water. Bathing a horn is a good idea anyway, and a little warm water may help to loosen some of those slides. Dump some dish soap in with the horn, too. Lemon-scented is best.

If you can get any part of a slide exposed, dump valve oil on it and let it run into the horn. Once you do get the slides out (it may take some time, but it WILL happen) wipe off some of the junk that has accumulated in the horn and on the slides. If its really thick, I've had success VERY CAREFULLY using a bit of steel wool to wipe off the really thick stuff.

Thanks for the tips

I got all of them out except the tuning slide. Everything else is working properly now, though, except, of course, my lip.

Dump some valve oil down the leadpipe. It might be able to get in there.

Good you got it to work! I would take it to a shop and get it cleaned - any horn sitting for that long is likely in need of a cleaning (you should have them cleaned professionally even when you use them regularly!) Shouldn't be too expensive either.

For practice, I would start off with those basic things you see in first & second year student books just to get back into it - you'll probably be able to get back into it pretty quickly since its kind of like riding a bicycle. I'm sure the music shop will have some good books you can check out when you drop it off to be cleaned

Have fun with it!