"get my right pinky out of the octave key,"

Hahaha! That's funny, I've never heard that until recently!

From an early age, I was taught, and learned, to keep the right pinky out of the loop. It frees up the third finger to do its job better. The only need for the loop is when you have to hold the horn with the right hand while you use a toilet plunger or a hat.

(I've wondered where the use of a plunger originated.)