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:

• 2025

  • December The Sound Of Sleat (reel)
  • November Dunphy's Hornpipe (Hornpipe)
  • October Luke Skywalker Walks On Sunshine (jig)
  • September Randers Hopsa (Polka)
  • August Billy Malley's Scottishe (Scottishe)
  • July Belfast Hornpipe, The (Hornpipe)
  • June O'Connor Donn's (reel)
  • May The Swallowtail (jig)
  • April The Rolling Waves (jig)
  • March Tom Busby's (jig)
  • February Bethany's Waltz (Waltz)
  • January The Highlander's Farewell To Ireland (strathspey)

• 2024

  • December OLIVER JACK (reel)
  • November Spootiskerry (reel)
  • October (No tune this month)
  • September The Lark In The Morning (jig)
  • August The Hunter's Purse (reel)
  • July The Farley Bridge (reel)
  • June The Boy In The Gap (reel)
  • May The Kerfunten (jig)
  • April Sourgrass And Granite (waltz)
  • March Madame Bonaparte (Hornpipe)
  • February Milltimber (jig)
  • 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)

2025.12.12 - The Sound Of Sleat (reel)

X: 24
T: The Sound Of Sleat
R: reel
C: D MacKinnon
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Amix
f2|:A2 (AB) Bd d2|e2 ed ef f2|A2 AB Bdde|fded B2 A2:|
vf2 (fe) fa a2|e2 de fdBA|f2 (fe) faae|fded B2 A2|
f2 (fe) fa a2|e2 de fdBA|e2 (ed) effa|fded B2 A2||
|:A2 AG B2 BA|d2 (df) edef|A2 AG B2 BA|fded B2 A2:|
a2 (fa) af a2|e2 de fdBA|a2 (fa) af a2|fded B2 A2|
a2 (fa) af a2|e2 de fdBA|d2 (df) edef|fded B2 A2||

2025.11.14 - Dunphy's Hornpipe (Hornpipe)

X:9
T:Dunphy's Hornpipe
L:1/8
R:Hornpipe
M:4/4
B:November 25
I:linebreak $
K:G
 GABA G2 g2 | feed ecAG | FADE FGAc| BGAF GFED |$
GABA GBdg | feed ecAG | FAdB cA (3DE(F |1A)GGF G2 (3DEF :|2 AGGF GABc |:$ d2 (Bd) gdBd | g2 (3agf gdBd | g2 (fg) ed^cd |
(3efe (d^c) d2 (ef) | gedc B2 G(g | e)cAG FADF | GBd(B cA) (3DE(F |1 A)GGF GABc :|2 AGGF [B,G]4 ||

2025.10.10 - Luke Skywalker Walks On Sunshine (jig)

X:8
T: Luke Skywalker Walks On Sunshine
R: jig
M:7/8
C:David Stone
B:October 25
L: 1/8
K: Amaj
A2 (BA) c(ea)|f2 (af) e(cB)|A2 (BA) e(dc)|fd (f/g/a g)(ec)|
A2 (BA) c(ea)|f2 (af) e(cA)|dB cA (Bcd|1e)c d(B BAG) :|2cA B(G A)(ce) ||
|:f2a e2 (Ae)|B(AB) c2 (ce)|dB cA e(dc)|fd (f/g/a g)(ec)|
f2a e2 (Ae)|B(AB) c2 (ce)|dB cA B(cd)|cA BG A(ce):|

2025.09.12 - Randers Hopsa (Polka)

X: 7
T: Randers Hopsa
R: Polka
M: 2/4
B:September 25
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
F/2F/2|:FA,DF ADFA|dFAd fg/f/ ed|cAEF G>FGB/B/|AdDE F3 F/F/|
FA,DF ADFA|dFAd fg/f/ ed|cAEF G>A Bc|dd/d/ |1 dd d3 F/2F/2:|2 dd d4|
K:A
|:e2 ce a2 gf|ec AB c3 e|d>c Bc defg|b>a gf ecd^d|
e2 ce a2 gf|ec AB c3 e|d>c Bc defg|aa/a/ aa a4:|
K:D
|:f2 ed d2 cB|A2 F/E/D A,DFA|G>F EF GAcA|d2 d/c/d/e/ fd A2|
f2 ed d2 cB|A2 F/E/D A,DFA|G>F EF GABc|dd/d/ dd d4:|X:15

2025.08.08 - Billy Malley's Scottishe (Scottishe)

X:6
T:Billy Malley's Scottishe
B:August 25
M:4/4
R:Scottishe
K:AMj
L:1/8
vaf|:ve>A A>uB c2 (3cBA|ve2 A2 A2 ua>f | ue>A A>(B c2) (3cBA|c2 B2 B2 A>c |
e>A A>(B c2) (3cB(A |c2) e2 (a2a)>f | e3 (f e)>c A>c|1(B2 {cB}A2) A2 a>f:|2(3BcB A2 A2 (3Ace :|:
(a4 a>f) e>a |f4 (f>b) a>f| (e3 e/)(f/ e)>(c A)>(B |{d}c2) B2 B2 (3Bce| a4 a>{ba}f e>a|
f4 (f>b) a>f|(e2 e)>(f e)>c A>c |1(3(BcB) A2 A2 (3Ace:|2(3(BcB) A2 A4:|

2025.07.11 - Belfast Hornpipe, The (Hornpipe)

X:5
T: Belfast Hornpipe, The
M: 4/4
R: Hornpipe
B:July 25
K: D
a>g|:(3fgf d>F  A>D F>A|D>FA>d (3fgf e>f|(3gag e>c c>de>c|G>A{c }B>G E2 a>g|
(3fgf d>F A>DF>A|D>FA>d (3fgf e>f|g>fe>d c>AB>c|1 (3dzd (3edc d2 z2:|2 (3dzd (3edc d2 z>F |(|
|:G>FG>A B>cd>e|f>gf>e d>cd>B|A2F2 {B }A>G A2|G2 E2 {A }G>F G2  |
{A}G>FG>A B>cd>e|f>gf>e d>cd>B|A>fe>d c>AB>c|1 (3dzd (3edc d2 z>F:|2 (3dzd (3edc d2 a>g||
|:(3fgf (3efe (3ded (3cdc|(3BcB (3ABA G2 b>a|(3gag (3fgf (3efe (3ded|(3cdc (3BcBA2 a>g|
(3fgf (3efe (3ded (3cdc|(3BcB (3ABA (3GAG (3FGF|E>ee>d c>A Bc|1 (3dcd (3fec d2 a>g:|2 (3dcd (3fec d2||

2025.06.13 - O'Connor Donn's (reel)

X: 4
T: O'Connor Donn's
R: reel
B:June 25
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Fmaj
|:A2 GF cFFG|(3AAA GF ~G2 FG|EGCG Efed|(3ccc BG AGFG
A2 GF cFFG|(3AAA GF ~G2 FG|EGCG Efed|1 (3ccc BG AFFG:|2 (3ccc BG F4||
|:egge cdeg|cdeg c=Bcd|egge cdec|dffe f4|
eggf eggf|eggf egcg|egga bagf|1 efge f4:|2 efge fccB||

2025.05.09 - The Swallowtail (jig)

X: 3
T: The Swallowtail
B:May 2025
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Edor
u(EF)|:GEE BEE|GEE (uBAG)|vFDD ADD|vdcd AGF|
vGEE BEE|vGEG u(B2c)|vdcd AGF|1vGuEvE uE2F:|2vGuEvE u(E2B)||
|:vBcd u(e2f)|(ve2f) edB|vBcd u(e2f)|vedB d3|
vBcd (e2f)|v(e2f) edB|vdcd AGF|vGEE E3:|

2025.04.11 - The Rolling Waves (jig)

X: 2
T: The Rolling Waves
R: jig
B:April 2025
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
|:FEF DED|D2d cAG|FEF DED|A2F GFE|
FEF DED|D2d cAG|FAF GBG|A2F GFE:|
D2d cAd|cAd cAG|F2d cAG|FEF GFE|
D2d cde|fed cAG|FAF GBG|A2F GFE:|

2025.03.14 - Tom Busby's (jig)

X: 1
T: Tom Busby's
R: jig
B: March 2025
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Edor
|:Bee B2A|Bee BAF|Bee Bee|BAF AFD|
Bee B2A|Bee def|gfe dBG|ABG AFD:|
|:A3 ded|B3 dBG|A3 ded|BAF AFD|
A3 ded|B3 def|gfe dBG|ABG AFD:|

2025.02.14 - Bethany's Waltz (Waltz)

X:288
T:Bethany's Waltz
M:3/4
C: Jenna Reid
R:Waltz
K:G
d3 c BA | AB G3- G | FG AD FG | AB BA FA 
|  d3 c BA | AB G3- G |$ FG AD FA |  G3 A Bc :|:
 d2 g2- gf | fg d4 | cB AG FE | DE FG AB 
|$ d2 g2- gf | fg d4 | cB AG FD |1 G3 A Bc:|2G6  |]:
 |:A3 B cA | B3 c dB |$ c3 d ec | dg fg dG |
 F3 G AF | G3 A Bd | c2 B3 G | FG AF G2 :|]

2025.01.10 - The Highlander's Farewell To Ireland (strathspey)

X: 3
T: The Highlander's Farewell To Ireland
R: strathspey
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: Ador
A,2 A,>B, A,2 A,>F|G>E D<B,G,2 G,>G|E>D E<G B2 A>G|1 E<G D>B, A,2 A,<G,:|2 E<G D>B, A,2 A,2||
|:a2 a>g b<a a2|g2 g>e d/c/B/A/ G>g|e>d e<g b2 a>g|e<g d>B A2 A2:|