The mouthpiece end that inserts into your instrument should be round and clean. There should be no rust or other debris on it. Look for dents and an oval or squashed shape by holding the mouthpiece at eye level or comparing it to an undamaged mouthpiece. If your mouthpiece is misshapen at all, use a trueing tool to return it to its correct shape. This tool looks like a skinny T and has a somewhat pointed end. To use, insert the tool into the end of your mouthpiece. Tap it very gently with a rubber mallet (not a hammer!). The tool will force the mouthpiece end to become rounded. Give a gentle clockwise twist when inserting the mouthpiece. When removing the mouthpiece, give a counter-clockwise twist. It should not turn more than about a half of a rotation, if that. Never bang in the mouthpiece. Over time, the twisting will have a threading effect and make the mouthpiece less likely to be stuck. Always remove the mouthpiece before putting the instrument in its case. Place the instrument in the case properly. Do not put extra items like music or other items in the case where they don't fit. Keeping your mouthpiece clean will help ensure that it fits properly and smoothly into your instrument. Wash it carefully with warm water and mild soap, drying it afterwards with a soft cloth. Periodically, apply a little dab of valve or key oil to the insertion end. Dropping a mouthpiece on a hard surface such as tile or concrete is sure to dent or otherwise damage your mouthpiece. Even dropping a mouthpiece on carpet can risk damaging it. If you drop the mouthpiece, inspect it right away to ensure that it is still round. If it's dented, use a trueing tool to reshape the insertion end.

Summary: Regularly inspect the mouthpiece for damage. Use a mouthpiece trueing tool. Carefully insert the mouthpiece into your instrument. Properly store your instrument in its case. Regularly clean your mouthpiece. Don't drop your mouthpiece on the ground.

Get your body and mind used to going to sleep early by doing the same things each night before you go to sleep. Do whatever relaxes you: read a book, take a bath or shower, listen to relaxing music, etc. Many people find that warm drinks or tea can help them become comfortable and sleepy (just stay away from caffeinated beverages). Chamomile tea is a good choice because it has a calming effect. Meditation and/or breathing exercises are also recognized as calming techniques. A simple breathing exercise is to inhale for a count of 3 or 4, then exhale for a count of six or eight. A few repetitions of this can be very helpful when trying to calm down and go to bed early. This means having a comfortable mattress, bedding, etc. Some people find it helpful to use aids to lessen outside distractions, like earplugs or the white noise of a small fan or other device. If you feel tired, it means you should go to bed. Don't force yourself to stay awake. On the other hand, if you're not tired, don't try to force yourself to sleep. If you are tired, but can't seem to fall asleep within 20 minutes, then get up and do something calming or boring (avoid electronic devices, exercise, working, eating, etc.) until you feel tired again. Eventually, you should be able to reach your early bedtime more consistently.

Summary: Establish a sleep routine. Make sure that your bedroom is relaxing. Go to bed when you feel tired.

Hand reamers work best in soft materials such as wood or plastic. Begin by choosing the size reamer to which you need your hole bored out. A hand reamer will have a square shank and depending on the size of the reamer, you'll fit the shank into either a tap wrench or crescent wrench to turn it. A hand reamer allows for great accuracy after considerable practice. Since a reamer is a precision tool, you don't want your material moving around as you ream the hole. Because a reamer is an enlarging tool and not a cutting tool, you must drill out the hole with a standard drill bit before reaming it. You want to use a drill bit approximately 0.016" smaller than your reamer to ensure that you don't oversize the hole. For instance, if you know that you need to ream your hole to 1/2", then you'd want to drill the hole first with a 31/64" drill bit. Drilling a hole too small and leaving too much material left for the reamer to clear can lead to the reamer deflecting off the material, which is called chatter. Chatter leads to poor finishes and can also damage your reamer. Based on the material into which you're boring, you may need to apply cutting fluid to lubricate the reamer. Though less common with hand reaming, it's not unheard of. Now that the hole is prepped, you can use your tap wrench or crescent wrench to ream the hole. You will likely have either a straight flute reamer or a left-hand spiral flute reamer, which refers to the direction of the blades that actually enlarge the hole. In the case of a spiral reamer, you will need to turn counterclockwise.
Summary: Choose your reamer. Place the material you need to bore in a vise or steady it with clamps. Drill the hole. Apply lubricant to the material. Ream the hole.