A key on the French horn stopped working entirely.

Usually a broken rotor string, the braided cord that connects the finger lever to the rotary valve inside. It is a normal wear item on a French horn, and it goes without warning, often mid-rehearsal, which is why it always feels like a catastrophe and almost never is: it is a quick restring at the bench.

Bring the horn in. Restringing is quick work at the bench, but the string tension has to be set just right for the lever to feel correct under the finger, which is why it is worth letting us do it rather than improvising with whatever cord is in the junk drawer.

If a rotor itself has gone sluggish rather than a lever going slack, that is a different maintenance conversation. Rotary valves want oil, like pistons, and a horn that gets a few drops in the right places regularly rarely develops the problem at all. Ask us to show you where the oil goes when you pick it up; it takes two minutes to learn and prevents most return visits.