NUVOBand – the next step in woodwind playing

Chamberlain Music are an eCommerce Music Education Resources supplier based in the south of England and have been supplying all things musical to schools and colleges in the UK and worldwide for 35 years. Learn about the new NUVOBand range of beginner woodwind instruments, which are ideal for music lessons and teaching.

Nuvo’s instrumental range, first established in 2008, has proven incredibly popular with beginner woodwind players. Building on the success of classroom staples such as the jSax, Clarineo, jFlute, Dood and Toot, NUVOBand now caters for the next step up in woodwind playing.

The NUVOBand range comprises a flute and a clarinet, each offering outstanding features tailored to support and inspire your students as they progress.

Lightweight for proper posture

NUVOBand instruments are ‘proper’ instruments – that is, they are equipped with full keywork and offer access to a full chromatic range. Despite this, they really are incredibly light, usually around half the weight of a ‘standard’ equivalent. The clarinet comes in at just 405g, and the flute just 241g, both around 50% lighter than their traditional counterparts.

Such drastically reduced weight encourages proper posture during extended practice sessions for even the youngest players, which is fantastic for their technical advancement.

Why is good posture so important?

As the Musicians’ Union’s advice on posture states:

‘Posture is habitual. Whatever your posture, it will feel “normal” because it is familiar, even if it is generating tension in some muscle groups. Often, small and simple changes to posture can significantly change the quality of playing and the comfort of the player. Deviation from optimal posture during playing is inevitable, particularly during performances, but should be kept to a minimum to avoid bad habits developing.’

Céleste Rousseau’s study, conducted in collaboration with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 2021, highlights that ‘compared to other wind instruments, the flute has to be held farther from the body, against gravity, which requires having both upper limbs elevated over a long time’ – this increases the chances of fatigue in the player, and simultaneously the risk of developing bad habits that will affect long-term development. A lighter flute, such as that offered by NUVOBand, helps to mitigate these problems from the early stages of learning.

For clarinettists, natural posture is at least mostly symmetrical, but weight still has a musculoskeletal impact. Rousseau also points out that the ‘heavy weight of the instruments, brass ones in particular, have also led researchers to develop ergonomics support aiming to distribute better the instruments’ weight’. Although clarinets are not generally as heavy as brass instruments, their weight is still significant for young students; lighter options like NUVOBand can help to reduce fatigue, assist with good posture, and encourage more of the student’s energy towards putting air through the instrument for a bigger sound!

It’s much easier to work on posture in one-to-one lessons, so the NUVOBand range allows Whole Class Ensemble Teaching to focus on other technical development whilst naturally supporting students with their posture. It means there’s one less thing the teacher needs to keep emphasising (“sit up straight!”, “bells high!”, “shoulders back!”), and gives more space for improving general musicality, or other technical areas like embouchure, breath control and articulation.

“The NUVOBand flute is excellent. A perfect flute for beginners – lightweight, virtually indestructible, easy to play, and outstanding value!” – Susan Milan – Internationally acclaimed soloist, recording artist, & professor of flute at the Royal College of Music

If you drop it, don’t sweat it!

An instrument is no good in a classroom if it can’t survive a few knocks, and Nuvo haven’t compromised on durability with this range, despite its featherlike construction. NUVOBand instruments are built from a lightweight, durable engineering polymer blended specifically for a high strength-to-weight ratio.

Furthermore, the pads on both instruments have been designed for longevity and should never require adjustment. Made with silicone, they are self-levelling and require no technical set-up or regulation, a massive time and money saver for school music departments. This feature also means that the keywork will return to its original shape if dropped – not an uncommon occurrence in classroom instrumental lessons!

Better still, like all Nuvo instruments they are made to be easily fixed with modular replacement parts:

With their polymer construction and silicone pads, NUVOBand instruments are 100% waterproof, meaning they can be easily cleaned with hot soapy water or quickly sprayed with an appropriate disinfectant between uses. All these low-maintenance characteristics are ideal for schools, making for a more cost-effective addition to the music department. It also provides added peace of mind during hectic whole class lessons.

As a testament to their quality, each NUVOBand instrument is supplied with a 5-year parts warranty, transferrable when you pass it on. However, with proper care these instruments are designed to last much longer than 5 years!

“Amazing keywork – feels solid under the fingers and everything is sealing beautifully. Even alternate fingerings which rarely work on traditional clarinets are there straight out of the box. It has good tone and response through all registers. Really outstanding for any clarinet at this price point but remarkable on a modular repairable one. The rubber bell feels strong and high quality, achieving impressive resonance. A standard-sized barrel accommodates other branded French mouthpieces too, offering good versatility.” – Henry Melbourne – Professional clarinettist and teacher

Pass it On – reducing environmental impact

Nuvo is committed to minimising environmental impact with the NUVOBand series. While energy is consumed in production and shipping, each instrument is built for longevity and designed to be enjoyed by many musicians for years to come. If you are ready to pass on your NUVOBand clarinet, Nuvo has a “Pass it On” program through which we donate instruments to registered charities. Contact Chamberlain Music to find out more.

Nuvo’s sustainability credentials are also outlined in this document.

In conclusion…

NUVOBand represents an impressive evolution in the world of beginner and intermediate woodwind instruments. Combining innovative materials, thoughtful design, and robust yet lightweight construction, these instruments offer reliable ease of use and hassle-free maintenance, making them an ideal choice for both individual learners and (especially!) educational institutions. With features tailored to support good posture, technical improvement, and long-term durability, the NUVOBand flute and clarinet empower young musicians to confidently progress in their development.

Full information and images can be found at Chamberlain Music.