How to be better at playing a tenor saxohpone?

I myself am i flute player and i used to play clarinet and my teacher always says stuff about saxophone. He says if your playing and its not sounding right try blowing a little less hard or even if thats not the case your reed might be dry. He says before you do anything you take out your reed and soak it as much as possible. He tells the oboe to keep his reed in a reed case with water in it and lol believe me it works lol. but yeah i hope this helps to recap; soak your reed and blow softer... and mabey try blowing down? i hope i helped :)