The Old School Session Traditional music practice sessions

Workshop Information

Recently, we have been trialling running a short tune-learning workshop at the beginning of each session. This involves spending 30-40 minutes learning a new tune by ear. The idea is to increase the confidence of the sessioners for playing tunes by ear and relying less on the music. After we have learned a tune, we will post notes about the tune we learned here.

The tunes here should all be shown as scores. If they're not then it could be your browser doesn't support the library used to draw the music. You can probably see the ABC notation used to generate the music. I'm trying to add PDFs to all the music so you can download that to see the score. Alternatively, use a new browser!

Select a date below:

• 2024

  • January SOLDIER'S JOY (reel)

• 2023

  • December Foxhunter's, The (slip jig)
  • November Josephine's (waltz)
  • October Báidín Fheilimí (Slide)
  • September The Lilting Fisherman (jig)
  • August The Cow That Ate The Blanket (jig)
  • July Maggie O'Ham (jig)
  • June L'Air Mignonne (polka)
  • May Faroe Rum (Reel)
  • April Rocky Road To Dublin, The (slip jig)
  • March Saint Anne's (reel)
  • February Gravel Walks, The (Reel)
  • January High Road to Linton (Reel)

• 2022

  • December The Bird's (hornpipe)
  • November Derry Hornpipe, The (Hornpipe)
  • October Barefoot (Jig)
  • September The Hills of Kaitoke (slow reel/air)
  • August Going To The Well For Water (slide)
  • July The Butterfly (slip jig)
  • June A Fig For A Kiss (slip jig)
  • April The Happy Polka (polka)
  • March Church Street Polka (polka)
  • February Bundle and Go (jig)
  • January The Holly Bush (jig)

• 2021

  • December Dusty Windowsills (Jig)
  • November The Spotted Dog (jig)
  • October The Flowing Bowl (reel)

• 2020

  • February My Love Is In America (reel)
  • January Castle Kelly (reel)

• 2019

  • December Rolling In The Ryegrass (reel)
  • November The Boy In The Boat (reel)
  • October Old Copperplate, The (Reel)
  • September Free and Easy (reel)
  • August (No tune this month)
  • July The Harp And The Shamrock (hornpipe)
  • June Patsy Geary's (slide)
  • May Winnie Hayes' (jig)
  • April The Seven Stars (jig)
  • March The Morning Star (reel)
  • February The Sweetness Of Mary (strathspey)
  • January Calum's Road (strathspey)

• 2018

  • November Jullåten (Waltz)
  • October Autumn Child (reel)
  • September The Humours Of Glendart (jig)
  • August Stan Chapman's (jig)
  • July The Rolling Waves (jig)
  • June The Green Fields Of Rossbeigh (reel)
  • May The Musical Priest (reel)
  • April The Sally Gardens (reel)
  • March Haste To The Wedding (jig)
  • February The Killavil (jig)
  • January Rambling Pitchfork, The (jig)

• 2017

  • November Crested Hens (waltz)
  • October The Pigeon On The Gate (reel)
  • September Mouse In The Kitchen (jig)
  • August Tripping Up The Stairs (jig)
  • July Willie Coleman's (jig)
  • June The Dunmore Lasses (reel)
  • May The Hare's Paw (reel)
  • April The Abbey (reel)
  • March Joe Derrane's (jig)
  • February The Mist On The Mountain (jig)
  • January The Miller's Maggot (jig)

• 2016

  • December (No tune this month)
  • November Drummond Castle (jig)
  • October The Old Favourite (jig)
  • September The Rose In The Heather (jig)
  • August The Monaghan Twig (reel)
  • July Toss the Feathers (reel)
  • June The Humours Of Tulla (reel)
  • May The Lilting Banshee (jig)
  • April Scotsman Over the Border (Jig)
  • March Gallagher's Frolics (jig)
  • February Pretty Maggie Morrissey (hornpipe)
  • January The Wonder (hornpipe)

• 2015

  • December (No tune this month)
  • November Jessica's (polka)
  • October The Finnish (polka)
  • September Pull The Knife And Stick It Again (jig)
  • August The Maid At The Well (jig)
  • July The Banks Of Lough Gowna (jig)
  • June Sleep Sound In The Morning (reel)
  • May Dick Gossip's (reel)
  • April The Sligo Maid (reel)
  • March My Darling Asleep (jig)
  • February The Pipe On The Hob (jig)
  • January The Hag At The Churn (jig)

• 2014

  • December (No tune this month)
  • November The Blackthorn Stick (jig)
  • October Calliope House (jig)
  • September The Black Rogue (Jig)
  • August Dennis Murphy's (polka)
  • July Hardiman The Fiddler (Slip Jig)
  • June Concertina Reel (reel)
  • May (No tune this month)
  • April (No tune this month)
  • March (No tune this month)
  • February (No tune this month)
  • January Larry O'Gaff's (jig)

• 2013

  • December In Dulci Jubilo (hornpipe)
  • November (No tune this month)
  • October Michael Turner's Waltz (waltz)
  • September Old Joe's (jig)
  • August The Rollicking Boys Of Tandragee (jig)
  • July Danse Breton (reel)
  • June The Lea Rig (Reel)
  • May The Star Of Munster (reel)
  • April Laride ("Gavotte") (Laride a six temps)
  • March Tobin's Favourite (jig)
  • February (No tune this month)
  • January The Ships Are Sailing (reel)

• 2012

  • December (No tune this month)
  • November Navie on the Line (reel)
  • October Planxty Irwin (Jig)
  • September The Faery's Reel (reel)
  • August Mountain Road, The (reel)
  • July Banshee, The (reel)
  • June Donnybrook Fair (jig)
  • May Coleraine, The (jig)
  • April Little Diamond, The (polka)
  • March Maids Of Ardagh, The (polka)
  • February Waiting for the Federals (American Reel)
  • January Shove the Pig's Foot a Little Closer to the Fire (American Reel)

• 2011

  • December (No tune this month)
  • November (No tune this month)
  • October Maggie in the Woods (Polka)
  • September Fairies, The (hornpipe)
  • August Lanigan's Ball (jig)
  • July Down by the Sally Gardens (waltz)
  • June Behind The Haystack (jig)
  • May Spanish Lady (polka)
  • April Jim Ward's (jig)
  • March Lucy Farr's (barndance)

2023.12.08 - Foxhunter's, The (slip jig)

X: 1
T: Foxhunter's, The
M: 9/8
L: 1/8
R: slip jig
K: Dmaj
|: "D"FDF F2D "G"G2E | "D"FDF F2D "A"E2D | "D"FDF F2D "G"G2B | "D"AFD DEF "A"E2D :|
|: "G"B3 BAG FGA | "Em"B2E E2F G2B | "A"ABc dcB ABc | "D"d2 D D2 F "A"E2 D :|
|: "D"fdf f2d "G"g2e | "D"fdf f2d "A"e2d | "D"fdf f2d "G"g2b | "D"afd def "A"e2d :|
|: "G"gfe dcB AGF | "Em"B2 E E2 F G2 B | "A"ABc dcB ABc | "D"d2 D DEF "A"E2 D :|

2023.11.11 - Josephine's (waltz)

X: 1
T: Josephine's
M: 3/4
L: 1/4
R: waltz
K: Gmaj
"G"DGA|B d c|BAG|D2 E|"C" C2 C/2C/2|EGF|E3|"D"D3|
"G"DGA|B d c|BAG|D2 E|"C"C2 C/2C/2| EFG|("D"A3|A)Bc|
|:"G"dBd|g2f|"C"e3|"G"d3|"C"ced|cBA|"G"B>c B|"D"ABc:|
|"Em"BAG|"D"F2G|"C"G3|CDC|"G"B,DG|"D"FEF|("G"G3|G3)|

2023.10.13 - Báidín Fheilimí (Slide)

X: 1
T: Báidín Fheilimí
R: Slide
M: 12/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:A2 D FED ABc d2 B|A2 D FED GEE EFG|
A2 D FED ABc d2 c|1 d2 B ABG FDD D2 B:|2 d2 B ABG FDD D2 A||
|:d2 ef2 dg2 e fed|B2 cd2 B ABG FED|
d2 ef2 dg2 e fed|1 B2 d ABG FDD D2 A:|2 B2 d ABG FDD D2 B||

2023.09.08 - The Lilting Fisherman (jig)

X: 1
T: The Lilting Fisherman
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:dBG uGBd|~g3 ez g|dBG GFG|Az D cBA|
dBG uGBd|~g3 ez g|dBG FGA|BGF G2z :|
K:D Major
|:~A3 AFA|~f3 fz e|dce dcB|AFF F2 G|
~A3 AFA|~B3 Bz e|cec ABc|[1dfe d2z:|[2dfe dfe||

2023.08.11 - The Cow That Ate The Blanket (jig)

X: 1
T: The Cow That Ate The Blanket
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
"G"B2A BGD|GAG GBd|"C"efg dBG|"D"AcB ABc|
"G"B2A BGD|GAG GBd|"C"efg "(Am7)"dBG|1 "D"AGF "G"G2 A:|2 "D"AGF "G"GBd||
|:"Em"g3 efg|"D"fag fed|"C"g3 edB|"D"BAG ABc|
"G"B2A BGD|GAG GBd|"C"efg "(Am7)"dBG|1 "D"AGF "G"GBd:|2 "D"AGF "G"G2 A||

2023.07.14 - Maggie O'Ham (jig)

X: 1
T: Maggie O'Ham
R: jig
B: Haand me doon da fiddle, 1979
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Amaj
|:\
vA2(uB/c/ e2.f) | ve2(uc B3) | vA2(uB/c/ e2.c) | vB3 uE3 |\
vA2(uB/c/ e2.f) | ve2(uc BAB) | {cd}vc3 uA3 | (A3- A2)E :|
"*"|:\
vA2uA A2A | G2G G2G | F2A E2C | B,2A, B,2C |\
(vA,B,C E2)uF | vE2(uC B,A,B,) | C3 A,3 | A,3- A,3 :|

X: 2
T: Da Foula Reel
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Amaj
|:AAA A2f | ecB A2c | B2cA2c | A2AF2E | ABA A2f | ecB A2 c | B2 c A2c | e3E3 :|
|:fec Bce | fecB2A | a2cB2 c | A2A F2E | fec Bce | fec B2A | a2c B2c | e3E3 :|

2023.06.09 - L'Air Mignonne (polka)

X: 2
T: L'Air Mignonne
R: polka
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Amaj
EAB|:c>cce cBAB|c>cce cBAB|F3A E3 c|1 BAGA BEAB:|2 BAGB ABce||
|:f>ffa fece|f>ffa fecA|F>FF A E3c|1 BAGA BEce:|2 BAGB AEAB||

2023.05.12 - Faroe Rum (Reel)

X: 24
T: Faroe Rum
R: Reel
B: Haand me doon da fiddle, 1979
M:C
L: 1/8
K: DMaj
|: vA(uAAF) ABd(uB | AF)vFuD vE2(uFG) | vA(uAAF) ABd(ue | fa)fe d2[f2d2] :|
|: ve(uAcA) ve(uAcA) | ABde f2(uaf) | ve(uAcA) ve(uAcA) | ve(ugfe) d2d2 :|

X: 25
T: Aandowin at da Bow
R: reel
B: Haand me doon da fiddle, 1979
M: C
L: 1/8
K:Gmaj
(vA | B)GAG TE2D2 | (vBG)u(AG) BGAd | BGAG TE2(uDE) | GABA G2G :|
(ug | eg)dB AGk!>!E2 | (ueg)dg egvd(ug | eg)dB AG E(ue | k!>!g2g)(vg a)(ufg2) |
"^ff"egdg egvd(ug | eg)dB vA(uGED) | GABG TE2(uDE) | GABA G3 |]

X: 26
T: Da Forefit o'da Ship
R: reel
B: Haand me doon da fiddle, 1979
M: C
L: 1/8
K: DMaj
|: vk!>!d2","yde dAvF2 | (uAB)AF (ED)EF | (3AAA AF ABde | k!>!f2ed kB2AB :|
|: k!>!d2","y(fd) adfd | k!>!d2","y(fd) eAAf | k!>!a2-a(e f)d(ef) | vd(uBAF) E2AB :|

2023.04.14 - Rocky Road To Dublin, The (slip jig)

X: 1
T: Rocky Road To Dublin, The
M: 9/8
L: 1/8
R: slip jig
K: Ador
"Am"efe "G"d2B "Am"~A3|E2A A2A "G"Bcd|"Am"efe "G"d2B "Am"A2c|"G"B2G G2A Bcd:|
"Am"e2a a2f "G"~g3|"Am"e2a a2f "G"g2d|"Am"e2a a2f "Em"g2e|"G"d2B G2A Bcd|
"Am"e2a a2f "G"~g3|"Am"e2a a2A "G"Bcd|"Am"efg fga "Em"g2e|"G"d2B G2A Bcd||

2023.03.10 - Saint Anne's (reel)

X: 1
T: Saint Anne's
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
R: reel
K: Dmaj
|:"D"fedf edcB|A2FA DAFA|"G"B2GB EBGB|"D"A2FA DAFA|
"D"fedf edcB|A2FA DAFA|"G"BGed "A"cABc|"D"eddc d2 de:|
|:"D"f2fg fedc|"G"Bggf g2gf|"A"edcB ABce|"D"baa^g abag|
"D"f2fg fedc|"G"Bggf g2gf|"A"edcB ABcd|"D"eddc d2 de:|

2023.02.10 - Gravel Walks, The (Reel)

X:1
T: Gravel Walks, The
R:Reel
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
|:"Am"A2eA BAeA|A2 eA "G"BAGB|"Am"A2 eA Bdef|"G"gedc "Em"BAGB:|
"Am"A2 aA "e/Am"gAfA|"Am"A2 eA "G"BAGB|"Am"A2 aA "e/Am"gAef|"G"gfge "Em"dBGB|
"Am"A2 aA "e/Am"gAfA|"Am"A2 eA "G"BAGB|"Am"ABcd "C"efga|"G"gedc "Em"BAGB|
|:"Am"cAAG "e/Am"A2AB|"F"cA (3AAA "G"BGBd|"Am"cAAG A2 ef|"C"gfge "Em"dBGB:|
|:"C"c2 gc "e/C"acgc|"C"c2 gc "G"BAGB|"C"c2 gc "Am"acga|"Em"gedc "G"BAGB|
"C"c2 gc "e/C"acgc|"C"c2 gc "G"BAGB|"Am"Aa (3aaa agea| "Em"gedB "Am"[1A2 AB :|[2 A4|

2023.01.13 - High Road to Linton (Reel)

X:1
T: High Road to Linton
R: Reel
K: A
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
ed|:"A"ceef a2 ae|"D"f2 fe "A"a2 ae|ceef a2 ae|"D"fa"A"ec "E7"B2 "A"A2:|
|:"A7"vcee(=g "D"f)dd(f|"A"e)cc(e "E7"d)BBd |"A7"cee(=g "D"f)ddf|"A"ecac "E7"B2 "A"A2:|
|:"A"a2 a2 ef a2|efae "D"fa"A"ef|a2 a2 efae|"D"fa"A"ec "E7"B2"A"A2:|
|:"A"c2 ec "D"de f2|"A"c2 ec "E7"BcdB|"A"c2ec "D"defg|"A"afec "E7"B2 "A"A2:|