Howarth Junior Instruments
In recent years the issue of children starting to play instruments at an earlier age has very much been on the agenda for music educators. In the early years of this century the UK Government made significant progress in identifying and documenting the benefits of young children experiencing playing an instrument, and put into place several initiatives to enable this to happen.
Adapting or redesigning string instruments for young children has happened for many years, but there seems to have been a barrier to do this for wind instruments, and woodwind in particular.
In response Howarth have designed a specialised range of Junior Instruments to help children make the best start when learning to play. Keeping a child motivated is an important part of the learning process and providing them with an instrument tailored to their requirements, capabilities and size helps to maintain their excitement for music and accelerate their progression.
The instruments in our Junior range have all been developed at the request of, and in conjunction with music services. Key aspects of these Junior instruments are that they are designed to be lighter, less complex, and in some cases, smaller whilst retaining good acoustics and standard technique.
It should be said that the Junior Project is not just about developing top flight players for professional orchestras (though we know of such already). This is about giving children the opportunity to experience high quality music education and gain from the acknowledged wider benefits of participating musical activity.
Howarth Junior Oboe
The oboe has increased in popularity dramatically in recent years and we have found that students are keen to start playing at a younger age than ever before. In response to requests from music schools, teachers and parents for an instrument suitable for these younger players we are pleased to introduce the new Howarth Junior Oboe.
- Pitched in C like standard oboe
- Standard Howarth design, giving the advantages of quality of sound, stability and good tuning
- Sounds and fingerings like a conventional oboe
- Standard Thumb Plate /Conservatoire design enables faster progress to the full oboe as the pupil advances
- Fully chromatic from low C to top E (over 2 octaves)
- Body in African Blackwood, like our professional instruments, mechanism made from high quality Nickel Silver for durability
- Reduced keywork, making it lighter for very young players to hold
- Covered finger holes with extensions to ensure proper covering for small hands
- Supplied complete in case with all accessories
giving greater comfort for
small hands
making it easier for small
children to handle
Watch 10 year old Adelina Orwin, from Christchurch, NZ, performing Besozzi Sonata in C for Oboe (1st and 2nd Movements):
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUFeHWAJ-g4&w=560&h=315]
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Howarth Junior MX Clarinet
The Howarth Junior MX Clarinet is the latest model in our range of instruments designed for children. Following the Mini-Bassoons and Junior Oboe, the Junior MX Clarinet is the ideal first access instrument for young clarinet players – the instrument is lighter, simpler and easier to maintain.
The Junior MX Clarinet was developed with Lambeth Music Service for the Musitrax whole class teaching programme. It has a reduced key mechanism to play the limited set of notes this programme requires, but also has a wider use as a first access instrument where the skills of holding an instrument, posture, breathing, tonguing and fingering can be introduced. The Junior Clarinet is in Bb and uses standard fingerings allowing easy progression to the full clarinet.
Howarth have developed a new ligature for easy and accurate placement of the reed. The reed fits into a slot and is secured with a simple action. The ligature stays attached to the mouthpiece, permitting fast access into playing the instrument. It has a custom cap; all parts are plastic and easy to keep clean.
Howarth have designed the ligature to work with specific brands of reeds to ensure the reed fits correctly. The initial model requires Rico reeds but Howarth will expand the range to fit other makes of reed.
- Standard Bb clarinet design
- Standard key mechanism enables faster progress to the full instrument
- Defined range of notes for easy access: G – A including Bb, Eb, F# and upper G#
- Reduced keywork, much lighter for youngest players to hold
- Robust mechanism and body in synthetic material for durability
- Supplied complete in case with all accessories
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Howarth Junior Plus+ Clarinet
The new Howarth Junior PLUS+ Clarinet is the latest model in our range of instruments designed for children. Designed to take a pupil to take a pupil up to Grade 3, it is a more advanced model than the simpler Junior MX Clarinet.
The Junior Plus+ Clarinet is a step-up from the Junior MX Clarinet but is ideal as a first access instrument. The instrument is lighter, simpler and easier to maintain. It was developed in response to teachers of small groups or individuals where the skills of holding an instrument, posture, breathing, tonguing and fingering can be introduced. It has a reduced key mechanism to give a range of 3 octaves sufficient for playing up to Grade 3. The Junior PLUS+ Clarinet is in Bb and uses standard fingerings allowing easy progression to the full clarinet.
Alongside the Junior PLUS+ clarinet Howarth have developed a new ligature for easy and accurate placement of the reed. The reed fits into a slot and is secured with a simple action. The ligature stays attached to the mouthpiece, permitting fast access into playing the instrument. It has a custom cap; all parts are plastic and easy to keep clean.
Howarth have designed the ligature to work with specific brands of reeds to ensure the reed fits correctly. The initial model requires Rico reeds but Howarth will expand the range to fit other makes of reed.
- Standard Bb clarinet design
- Standard key mechanism enables faster progress to the full instrument
- Fully chromatic from E below the stave to E above the stave
- Reduced keywork, lighter for youngest players to hold
- Robust mechanism and body in synthetic material for durability
- Supplied complete in case with all accessories.
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Howarth SimpleFit Mouthpiece & Ligature for Bb Clarinet
The Howarth SimpleFit Mouthpiece and Ligature Set is an innovative product developed to change the future of clarinet teaching for beginners. It simplifies correctly positioning the reed on the mouthpiece and saves time in lessons.
It is a one-piece unit to position a standard clarinet reed** in the optimum position from the tip of the mouthpiece and against the side rails, which is difficult for a young learner to achieve. The one-piece design also helps to guarantee that no parts can be lost.
The reed is held in position with a large screw, which needs only a slight turn to secure the reed. This is a much easier mechanism for young learners to operate than a traditional ligature. The screw on the SimpleFit Mouthpiece and Ligature is engraved to show the correct direction to turn it for added simplicity.
Made from synthetic material, the Simplefit Mouthpiece and Ligature has been constructed so that it is easy to clean thoroughly, helping to maintain good hygiene. A protective cap is included.
The SimpleFit Mouthpiece and Ligature can increase the effectiveness of lessons and practice. The ease with which a young learner can attach the reed to their mouthpiece allows a more efficient use of lesson time without the teacher needing to check the reed is ‘right’ as is usual with a standard set up, especially in group teaching situations. This helps to motivate the learner and encourages them to practice at home allowing for accelerated progression and increased opportunities.
- Based on standard Bb clarinet mouthpiece
- Will fit any Bb clarinet or chalumeau/saxonett
- All parts of mouthpiece and ligature secured, so can’t be lost. (Cap is separate.)
- Made from synthetic material for easy hygienic cleaning
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Howarth Tenoroon/Mini Bassoon
The Howarth Mini-Bassoon was launched in 1999. Since then it has proved its value in developing confident and competent young bassoonists, beyond what is normally expected of children of this age.
The Mini-Bassoon uses conventional fingerings, and a standard bassoon reed, so that the step up to the full-size instrument is as seamless as possible. Teachers report that children hardly notice the difference because they are so similar in feel – one’s just a bit bigger!
The Tenoroon followed in 2002 as a more ergonomic intermediate step between the Mini-Bassoon and the full-size instrument. The alternative, a short-reach bassoon, weighs as much as the full instrument with keywork adapted for a smaller hand-span. By comparison the tenoroon is a more appropriate weight and size for a 9-year old child.
Mini-Bassoon
- Body in traditional European maple, key mechanism is nickel-silver with a silver-plated finish
- Designed for players from 7 years old
- Same fingerings as a full-size bassoon, reading bass clef
- Lined finger-holes and down bore
- Comfortable to hold – it weighs 30% of a full-size bassoon
- Pitched a 5th above the full bassoon
- Supplied with protective light-weight case and cleaners
Tenoroon
- Includes all the features of the Mini-Bassoon
- Designed for players from about 9 years old
- Comfortable to hold – it weighs 35% of a full-size bassoon
- Pitched a 4th above the full bassoon
- Can be used as a tenor instrument in a wind ensemble
- Supplied with protective light-weight case and cleaners
Howarth have designed a handrest for ease and comfort of playing. It has been designed so that only the top profile of the handrest is used and positioned at angle that is ergonomic for a child’s hand.
Howarth fit a metal cap the end of the tenon as on a full-size bassoon. If you allow water ingress into the end grain of the wood in the tenon, it can separate from the ebonite liner. The metal cap protects against this and helps keep your mini-bassoon or tenoroon in good playing condition for longer.
The mini-bassoon and tenoroon come in a handy backpack case. It is light and makes carrying the instrument much easier compared to the standard bassoon cases. The case has space for the accessories you need and offers plenty of protection for your instrument.
These 4 children began playing the Howarth Tenoroon aged 8, and within 5 years were playing to a very high standard (and still are!) – see second half of the video. Their performance speaks for itself, how good teaching, and the right instruments for young children will enhance the learning process.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5-Yh-RB05M]
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For more information on the Howarth Junior range, contact our Education Manager William Ring