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How to Sell Your Woodwind or Brass Instrument
If you’re looking to sell a quality used Woodwind & Brass instrument we may be able to help. We offer three main ways to sell your instrument via Dawkes:
- Commission Sale
- Part-Exchange
- Buy-In
In this blog we’re primarily giving information about our Commission Sale process which is our main option. However, we do also offer part-exchange and straight buy-ins occasionally if it’s a very popular model (and depending on our stock). Part-exchange values are given in-store so we would recommend booking a visit to see us and try out new gear to trade your instrument against.
Technician Tales: Common Saxophone Faults – And How to Prevent Them
Saxophones look tough, but they’re full of sensitive parts like pads, springs, and keywork that can be thrown out of alignment with the wrong kind of handling. In the repair workshop, our technicians see certain issues over and over again. Most of them are preventable with better habits and a little more care. Here are the top faults seen by saxophone repairers – and how to avoid them.
Master Your Flute Vibrato: Simple Steps to Improve Your Vibrato, Fast
Vibrato is a defining element of flute tone, adding warmth, colour and expressive depth to the sound. Vibrato is a controllable skill that develops through focused breathing, air control and consistent practice. With the help of pro player, Thom Conroy, the following simple steps and exercises are designed to help improve your vibrato in both the mechanics and the musicality.
Technician Tales: Common Clarinet Faults How to Avoid Them
Every clarinet player, from beginner to professional, relies on their instrument’s precision. Yet many of the repair issues technicians see are entirely preventable – small habits that, over time, lead to avoidable faults.
Below are some of the most common clarinet faults our repairers encounter, along with guidance on how to avoid them. A little awareness during daily handling can save you a trip to the workshop (and your clarinet a lot of stress).
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Technician Tales: Common Trumpet Faults and How to Prevent Them
Looking after your trumpet keeps it playing smoothly and sounding its best. Small issues can quickly become big problems if ignored. Head Technician, Abi Taylor, brings you this guide on the most common trumpet faults and how to prevent them, helping you avoid an emergency trip to our workshop!
Technician Tales: Common Double Reed Faults and How to Avoid Them
Every double reed player knows the love-hate relationship with our instruments. As much as we adore them, they can be fragile, fussy, and expensive to repair if mishandled. We spoke to Head Technician, Abi Taylor for some of the most common double reed faults our technicians see and how to avoid them.
The Art of Breathing for Musicians
Breath is at the heart of music-making. Whatever your instrument, the way you breathe shapes your tone, stamina, and expression. It’s tempting to think that “more air equals more sound,” but in practice, the opposite is often true. In this blog, ‘The Art of Breathing for Musicians’ we offer a range of advice to get your diaphragm working and start improving your sound and stamina!
The Classical Guide to Funk: Saxophone Edition
If you’ve come up through the world of études and sonatas, funk might feel like a different planet. The good news? You already have the control and discipline – now you can channel that into crisp articulation and improvisation. Funk solos don’t demand endless runs; they thrive on short riffs, rhythmic variation, and space. With the foundation you already have, it’s about loosening the edges and letting groove take the lead.
Christopher Bill at Dawkes Music
Featured in The Trombonist, magazine of the British Trombone Society
In late April, we were delighted to welcome trombonist and YouTuber Christopher Bill to Dawkes in Maidenhead. The event came together at fairly late notice, but the opportunity arose for us to host a workshop with Christopher, kindly supported by Denis Wick, with whom Christopher is an endorsee (he plays a Wick 12CS mouthpiece.) Many thanks to the British Trombone Society for featuring the event in their magazine, The Trombonist.
The Importance of Warming Up (with Hannah Shilvock)
It’s easy to skip a warm-up when you’re short on time, but those few minutes of preparation make a big difference. Just like athletes don’t sprint without stretching, clarinettists need to ease their body and instrument into playing. A mindful warm-up not only helps your clarinet respond more easily, it also protects you from tension, pain, and potential long-term injury. Here are some easy steps to add into your routine, along with a pro tip from clarinetist and yoga teacher, Hannah Shilvock!
