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Army Musicians: A Unique Career Path
7th February 2022Fancy an exciting life as an Army Musician? This unique career option is well worth exploring if you want to experience the thrills and spills of a professional musical life. Here’s Saxophonist Paul Lamstaes of the Household Cavalry Band to tell us all about his journey into the Royal Corps of Army Music…
Joining the British Army as a musician doesn’t always seem like the most obvious choice of career when mentioned in conversation. What if I also said that you can play music whilst riding a horse? Most people would probably need to see it to believe it. It is however a legitimate career path individuals can take, should they choose to join British Army Music.
Are Saxophones Part of the Orchestra?
15th November 2018It’s fair to say that the saxophone has long had a mixed relationship with the classical music world – such that you may be much more likely to hear one in a jazz recording than an orchestra. This is despite the saxophone somewhat filling an otherwise vacant gap between woodwind and brass instruments.
So, what are the factors in saxophone history that have contributed to the instrument’s slightly ‘outsider’ status among classical musicians – and what is the saxophone orchestra’s potential in the 21st century?
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Meet The Team – Linda (Customer Service)
10th August 2018
Hello! My name is Linda and I work in the customer service and sales department at Dawkes Music. My life would be incomplete without music! I’ve been singing and dancing for as far back as I can remember.
Meet The Team – Matt (Brass Dept)
2nd August 2018
Hi! My name is Matt and I am a Brass Instrument Specialist here at Dawkes Music.
G is for great – or is it? New G-Reeds for Saxophones…
12th March 2018You may have noticed, if you were in the market for new reeds (or even your trusty usual ones!) that we have some new synthetic options. Now for sale on our site we have the new G-REEDS!
5 Minutes with…Andrew Marriner (Principal Clarinet LSO)
29th November 2016
We managed to catch up briefly with Andrew Marriner – Principal Clarinet with the London Symphony Orchestra and we fired a few questions at him to help all you Clarinet players out there. Andrew Marriner has held the position of principal clarinet in the LSO since 1986, when he succeeded the late Jack Brymer. During his orchestral career Andrew has maintained a presence on the worldwide solo concert platform, in the field of chamber music, and as a teacher. (www.andrewmarrinerclarinet.com)
Tim Ower (Sax) – Life on the road…
9th November 2016
Tim Ower – Saxophonist
Tim is a London based Saxophonist and a graduate of Leeds College of Music, he has gone on to perform and tour across the UK and internationally with a diverse range of award-winning artists and groups spanning a multitude of genres, from working with pop and commercial artists on the stadium circuit and festivals to performing with renowned techno DJ’s, Bollywood film composers and touring with original groups playing in rock venues and jazz clubs.
Allen Vizzutti Video Series – #1 Early Trumpet Influences
28th November 2013
We were delighted to welcome Allen Vizzutti into our store one afternoon in October 2013, as part of a European tour we were able to grab some time and sit down and chat about all things Trumpet and Allen’s extensive playing career and experience.
Breaking News! EBJO will be Live @ Dawkes…Sat Nov 16th @ 1.30pm
8th November 2013
We’re delighted to announce that East Berkshire Jazz Orchestra (EBJO), run by local youth music provider Berkshire Maestros, will be playing Live @ Dawkes as part of our Trumpet-Fest celebrations on Satruday Nov 16th.
Julian Bliss visit to Dawkes Music
30th October 2013For those of you that have been to Dawkes you know we have a big shop area, but now we’ve converted our previously ‘unseen by the public’ front building (maybe we need a better name for this area!) into a spacious teaching and master-class/clinic suite. The front couple of rooms are taken up by our MyMusic adult teaching service and that leaves a larger room for events and ensemble rehearsals etc. Well, in true Dawkes style we thought let’s give this room a little launch so to speak and invite arguably the most well regarded young clarinettist the UK has produced for many a year…Julian Bliss.
Wynton Marsalis & Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
18th June 2010THURSDAY JUNE 17th Review (Fri 18th review below)
I was lucky enough to get tickets for Wynton Marsalis & JLCO last night (17th June 2010) at the Barbican Theatre, London. I’ve seen this outfit now on 3 occassions and am constantly wowed by their skills and panache. Last nights gig was entitled ‘Swinging Beginnings’ and was part of a series of concerts and events with the JLCO in London.