Scientific research has shown that learning to play a musical instrument can make you smarter, increasing the power of the brain by several IQ points. Additionally, playing an instrument can improve concentration, co-ordination and memory amongst other skills. It is therefore not surprising that many parents are keen to encourage their child to start learning a musical instrument at a young age.
In principle this is a great idea, but historically it has been difficult to find instruments of a suitable size and weight (apart from the recorder) for the aspiring young wind player. However, thanks to instrument manufacturers including Nuvo, Trevor James and Jupiter, children as young as 5 now have the opportunity to learn a wind instrument more appropriate for their age and size, lessening the chance of any physical or technical problems arising later on in their musical journey.
In recent years, plastic instruments have improved dramatically. No longer seen simply as toys, some models can deliver sound that is close to that of a regular flute, clarinet or saxophone. Plastic models that are now available for these instruments means that weight is less of an issue for younger players, and in addition to being lightweight they are also highly durable, designed to withstand lots of enthusiastic playing! As a bonus, they are relatively inexpensive which is perfect for trying a new wind instrument without breaking the bank.
For the youngest players, Nuvo manufacture the TooT or DooD. The benefit of these instruments is that they feature either a lip plate like a flute, or a mouthpiece and reed like a clarinet or saxophone to encourage the correct embouchure (mouth position) needed in order to play the full-sized instruments later on. For progressing players, Nuvo also produce the jFlute, Clarinéo, or jSax which are still lightweight and smaller in size, but are much closer in both sound and appearance to a regular flute, clarinet or saxophone.
Nuvo instruments are all in the key of C, meaning that they can easily be played together as an ensemble – a great experience for children, and a huge advantage for classroom music teachers.
As the young player begins to outgrow their plastic instrument, there is the option to upgrade to something like a Trevor James 10XE-P flute which is provided with a curved head joint as well as the usual straight head joint, or a Jupiter ‘Waveline’ flute. Their design shortens the reach of the instrument for those players not quite big enough for a full-size flute. For progressing saxophonists, there is the Trevor James ‘Alphasax’ which is the same as a full-size alto saxophone but weighs a huge 33% less than most conventional models.
It is worth bearing in mind when purchasing a 'Waveline' flute or an 'Alphasax', that they are lighter in weight because the amount of keywork has been reduced. They can be used up to a grade 3 level, after which an upgrade to a full-size instrument would be necessary. Therefore, this makes them the perfect instrument to also consider as a rental, moving on to the purchase of a full-size instrument when the time is right. For clarinettists, it is possible to continue using the Nuvo Clarinéo also through to a grade 3 level, along with transposed piano accompaniment parts, before making the move to a full-sized clarinet.
Further information on all these instruments can be found on the woodwind pages of our website.
The Nuvo TooT is a bridge instrument, ideally suited to young musicians who are looking to take the next musical step towards the flute. Similar in nature to the fife, Nuvo TooT has a slightly wider bore which allows the instrument to be a little shorter and brings the tone holes closer to the body - great for shorter arms!
Teachers and students have long been searching for the best way to enable students to learn at a younger age and get over the hurdle of a full-sized instrument. Nuvo's new 2.0 jFlute now features an inline donut head joint, which brings the keywork closer to the body whilst keeping the lip plate and keywork in a line.
The Nuvo Clarineo is a clarinet in the key of C and is perfect for beginners of all ages. As the instrument is much lighter and smaller than a Bb clarinet, finger stretches are shorter, and the tone holes are smaller. This all bodes well for players with smaller hands, will reduce fatigue and encourage more practice. The fingering is the same as a standard Bb clarinet, so the transition is quick and easy once the student is ready.
The Nuvo jSax brings the world of saxophone playing to a wider audience than ever! Young musicians can now start to play an instrument with traditional feel from an early age.
The jSax has a traditional fingering system and serves to enable newcomers to develop embouchure and tuning skills which will be directly transferable to a full-size saxophone.
The WaveLine™ is a revolution for the flute family. The unique design allows for a significantly shorter flute body whose head joint and keys nevetheless remain in line. While its tuning, sound and response are identical to those of a normal sized flute, the design is perfect for children or adults.
