New 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 services, teachers and parents for an instrument suitable for these younger players we are pleased to introduce the new Howarth Junior Oboe.
The Howarth Junior Oboe is based on the long established and popular Howarth S10 recommended by leading teachers and used by music services throughout the UK. It is full size, but younger players need a lighter instrument - the Junior is 80 grams (nearly 3oz) lighter than the S10, and all the finger holes are covered, with extensions to four of them to reduce the stretch for small hands. The key system has been kept as simple as possible and keywork which is most liable to easy damage has been removed.
The Junior Oboe has a chromatic range of over two and a half octaves from low C, using standard fingerings to ease the transition to more advanced models. It is available as a thumbplate version with single octaves, or as a conservatoire version with semi-automatic octaves. As is the case for all our oboes, the Howarth Junior Oboe is made in wood and produces a good sound and stable intonation.
The Howarth Junior Oboe is suitable for the early oboe grades for Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) exams.
Technical specifications:
- Closed hole model with all covered holes
- Special simplified and lightweight key mechanism
- Extensions on 4 finger plates for greater comfort
- Thumb-plate system with single action octaves; conservatoire version with semi-automatic octaves
- Uses standard fingerings, allowing easy progression to more advanced models
- Fully chromatic range of 2½ octaves from bottom C
- Uses standard oboe reeds
- Body made from African Blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon)
- Keywork made from nickel silver which is silver plated for durability
Please click on one of the links below for flyers about these oboes in other languages. Files are in PDF format.
See (and hear) them in action!
Click here for an article about how successful they can be with younger students.
Click here for a short BBC TV News video about how they are made, and how successful they can be with younger students.
Current prices for each model can be found under the "New Instruments" link. For further information please contact our education liaison William Ring on +44 (0)1903 239219 or send an e-mail.