On Sun, 8 Jan 2012 21:05:56 -0500, Stormin Mormon wrote:

Since the valves are sticking, probably better to take it in, let the
teacher deal with it.

To give an update on Monday morning, after dropping the kid off at school
on my way to work (they haven't invented buses yet in California), I ended
up running an unexpected experiment using your advice.

First, I went to the store to get the glycerin. It was immediately clear on
the first (of three) valves that it was just too thick and gooey. It worked
(the valve is now free) but my kid said it rises too slowly to play
properly.

For the middle valve, I put the all-in-one oil. It penetrated well enough
to free the valve without a big tussle, but, it too was way too thick in
the end for the valve rises slowly.

On the first valve, I simply took your suggestions to heart, and used the
gree dish detergent. It worked to free up the valve (with warm water) but
it wouldn't rise without force.

So, I brought it in to the school with a note to the music teacher
describing what I've done and where we were. I guess I'll find out when the
wife picks up the kids this afternoon (did I say California hasn't invented
the yellow school bus yet?)

Hopefully the teacher's note back won't be too scathingly hot!