CLARINET & SAX WEEKEND (2024)
Saturday 30th Nov & Sunday 1st Dec
Join us here at Dawkes in Maidenhead for a fun & inspiring weekend of Clarinet & Sax related events at our store!
Kicking off our Clarinet & Sax weekend is this inspiring and soothing session with professional Clarinettist & Yoga practitioner Hannah Shilvock - kindly sponsored by Selmer Paris.
This session has been designed to give you an introduction to basic Yoga practices and how they can be used to improve your Woodwind playing. Understanding your body and using effective breathing methods can have a hugely positive impact on your instrumental playing. Join Hannah for this small group session which will furnish you with some practical tips to take away.
Yoga Intro - Hannah Shilvock
Saturday 30th Nov (10.30am-12pm)
Jazz Improvisation - Simon Bates
Saturday 30th Nov (1pm-2.30pm)
In this 90 minute session we'll be joined by top UK Saxophonist Simon Bates courtesy of Yamaha. Simon is passionate about helping people overcome the fear of improvising, and in this workshop he'll be explaining his simple technique for approaching ANY solo.
The system Simon will demonstrate (with carefully selected backing tracks) is designed to empower any Saxophonist to feel comfortable soloing. With just a general grasp of major scales Simon will explain how you can build a simple but effective solo without getting lost and/or being drowned in chord changes!
Professional Clarinet & Saxophone player Alastair Penman will join forces with our very own Sam Gregory, the Dawkes Brand Manager for this gear session. It can sometimes feel overwhelming when choosing reeds & mouthpieces so Alastair & Sam are here to help!
The idea of this session is to discuss, demonstrate, de-mystify, and explain the differences in mouthpiece & reed design for both Clarinet & Saxophones. Thanks to Vandoren (via Rosetti) and Selmer for supporting this session.
Reed & Mouthpiece - Gear Guide
Saturday 30th Nov (4.30pm-6pm)
Recital - Alastair Penman & Jonathan Pease
Saturday 30th Nov (7pm-8.30pm)
We're delighted to be welcoming the dynamic duo of Alastair Penman (Sax) & Jonathan Pease (Piano) to finish off the first day of our Clarinet & Sax weekend. This will be a recital on the Dawkes Live stage featuring popular classical repertoire and also a selection of Alastairs compositions.
This is a great opportunity to come and enjoy some virtuosic Saxophone playing in our stylish and intimate venue.
We'd particularly encourage Saxophonists of all ages (and their families) to come and be inspired by Alastair & Jonathan. We have made the ticket price very affordable (£5) thanks in part to kind support from both Selmer Paris & Vandoren (courtesy of Rosetti) both of whom Alastair is an endorsee for.
Learn to Diagnose Your Instrument
Sunday 1st Dec (10am-12.30pm)
As part of our big Clarinet & Sax weekend we wanted to include some practical & useful tips on understanding how your instrument works. These 60 minute sessions led by one of our expert Woodwind Technicians are designed to help you diagnose technical issues with your Clarinet or Sax and inform you about why they are happening, and what to do next.
These two sessions are held on site at our specialist Woodwind and Brass Warehouse in Maidenhead by Sun Hellerud who is an experienced member of the Dawkes Repair team. Sun has regularly run courses for musicians explaining more about how instruments work.
Emma Rawicz is a young saxophonist, bandleader and composer with an astonishing musical maturity. At just 22 years of age, Rawicz has achieved a huge amount, including the release of two critically acclaimed albums “Incantation” and “Chroma”, extensive headline tours across 15 countries, appearances in high profile festivals and venues including concerts featuring as a soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and with the German SWR Radio Big Band at a sold out Berlin Philharmonie.
She was the youngest ever Artist in Residence at Cambridge Jazz Festival and has received a number of awards and nominations recognising her achievements.
We can't wait to welcome Emma back to the Dawkes Live stage after a sold out gig here back in Feb 2023, and we thank Drake Mouthpieces for supporting us.
Live @ Dawkes - Emma Rawicz Trio
Sunday 1st Dec (3pm-5pm)