About us
Our big band, Monday Swing,is a group of amateur musicians of all ages, who since 1984,have met under the aegis of the Dunbartonshire Wind Ensemble Trust to practice and perform music written in the ‘swing’ style of music for dancing which originated in America around 1935. Our library of arrangements echoes the music introduced to the listening and dancing public all those years ago by the bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Glen Miller to name only a few. Big band swing music has endured and evolved right up to the present day, so much so, that swing music is now performed around the world by professional, student and amateur musicians.
Our swing band is a 'learning' big band aimed at the younger reed or brass player who is keen to try out 'swing' music, but we also cater for adults who may have played an instrument in the past and long to dig the old sax, trumpet or trombone out of the loft to give it a blow. Our numbers also include a number of 'lads and lassies' who have taken up instrumental music in their adult years and are playing our music with great success.
Musical Standards and Instrumentation
Monday Swing plays commercial band arrangements that are graded on a scale of 1 to 6 for technical difficulty. The band normally plays scores from grade 2 to 4 inclusive to ensure that all our players get the opportunity to play and improve. Enjoyment however is the name of the game and participation is more important than expertise, although experts are always welcome to join us and give a little help to other players.
If you can read music and play alto, tenor or baritone saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass or drums we have band parts waiting for you.
Monday Swing is primarily a rehearsal band for players interested in learning how to play Big Band Swing Music consequently young musicians are particularly important to the band. WE ALWAYS WELCOME NEW PLAYERS at rehearsals so do not hesitate to come along and sample playing our music. There is no charge for sampling!. Contact us >>>
About our Musical Director
John Jenkins-known to his friends as Ian- has directed Monday Swing for the last few years, encouraging new players and increasing standards of performance with consummate ease. A retired company senior manager and lifelong musician, Ian has played saxophone and clarinet with many big bands and small jazz groups as a semi-professional musician in the West of Scotland. Ian has for a number of years tutored younger saxophonists and it was this experience which encouraged Ian to accept the position of Musical Director with Monday Swing. Ian keeps the band active throughout rehearsal time believing, as he does, that the pleasure is in the playing. Perceptive and kindly he draws the best from his charges, imparting knowledge and encouraging musicality with easy authority.
Evening Rehearsals
Monday Swing rehearses throughout the school year on Monday evenings 19.30hrs to 22.00hrs in Kessington hall, Milngavie Road, Bearsden.
As we rent the hall from East Dunbartonshire Council, we are allowed to enter the hall 15 minutes early to set up our equipment for a prompt start. At the end of the evening we must restore the hall to its original condition and be out by 22.15hrs.
Rehearsal Dates September 2007 to June 2008
Monday 3 September to Monday 17 December 2007 inclusive. EXCLUDING Monday 24 September ( Glasgow September Weekend)
Monday 7 January to Monday 16 June 2008 inclusive. EXCLUDING Monday 24 March and Mondays 5 and 26 May (Public Holidays)
How to Get There
Kessington Hall is the large red sandstone building located on the right hand side of Milngavie Road (A81) about 300 metres to the North of Canniesburn toll when driving towards Milngavie. At the first set of traffic lights turn right into Kessington Road where there is parking. Bus services stop at Kessington Road next the Hall. Hillfoot Train Station is about 300 metres North of the Hall on Milngavie Road.
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