When you first started playing the clarinet, you may have been told to "place your fingers as if holding an egg." This remains an essential tip to this day. Rather than stretching your fingers out stiffly, relax them slightly and let them rest naturally. On top of that, the key point is not to lift your fingers too high when releasing a key. The greater the distance between the key and your finger, the longer it takes to press down again, making fast passages more difficult. Move your fingers the shortest distance possible. Furthermore, if you keep your unused fingers relaxed and "on standby" near the keys, your fingering will become remarkably stable. Once your form is in place, not only speed but also the connection between notes improves, and you will feel less fatigued while playing. As a result, your articulation will become more consistent as well.

Move Your Clarinet Fingers the 'Shortest Distance'

If you have a habit of lifting your fingers high, delays become more noticeable in faster passages. Especially in fingerings where releasing and pressing fingers are mixed, the loss in distance directly translates into gaps in the sound. Start by deciding how high you lift, and develop the feeling of moving your fingers close to the keys. There is no need to keep unused fingers raised the entire time. Relax them and let them rest gently near the keys. This puts you in a state of readiness for the next movement, making your clarinet finger work smoother. When your fingers stay close, you avoid slamming the keys, which also prevents the tone from becoming rough. During practice, try moving the keys quietly without producing any sound, and check whether your fingers are bouncing up. Use the standard of maintaining your form even at higher speeds, and gradually increase the tempo.