When assembling the instrument...
Don't grip the upper and lower sections too hard to prevent bending the keys.
Gently twist the upper and lower sections together, making sure that the upper section's bridge key is directly over the lower section's bridge key.
Before putting your instrument back in its case after playing, do the following...
Remove the reed, wipe off excess moisture and return it to the reed case.
Remove the mouthpiece and wipe the inside with a clean cloth. Once a week, wash the mouthpiece with warm tap water. Dry thoroughly.
Drop a weighted cloth or cotton swab into the bell and pull it out through the barrel.
Carefully twist off the barrel and dry off any additional moisture. Place it in the case.
Gently twist the upper and lower sections apart, with the bell still attached. Place the upper section in the case.
Remove the bell and place the bell and lower section back into the case.
As you put each piece back in the case, check to be sure they are dry.
Your case is designed to hold only specific objects. If you try to force anything else into the case, it may damage your instrument.
Fix stuck keys by repositioning springs with needle-nose pliers or tweezers.
Tighten loose screws with an eyeglasses screwdriver.
Address sticky pads with cleaning paper.
Align bridge keys to ensure proper sealing.
Reeds should always be stored in a reed case that allows plenty of air flow such as this one.
If the reed grows mold, throw it away and get a better reed case.
Reeds last for 2-3 weeks before they start to break down and not play as well. Keep a rotation of 3-4 reeds that you are playing so that they last longer. Throw away any reeds older than 4 weeks.
Reeds are factory made, some won't play right out of the package for different reasons. If you are having trouble playing, it may be that you have a dud.
Reeds need to be broken in. To determine if you have a dud reed or the reed just needs to be broken in, try playing for 5-10 minutes before you throw it away and try a different one.