Mixed Age Dance Band

The Mixed Age Dance Band (also known as the MAD band) plays easy-to-learn tunes for the Princeton Country Dancer’s Community Dance. Our participants range in age from grammar school to senior citizens. It’s a great way to learn a new instrument or learn to play with a live band.

You don’t need to go to lots of rehearsals…just show up early on the day of the dance for a practice! But you do need to know the music.

Here are the tunes you will need. Learn as many as you are comfortable with…you don’t need to know them all. Some people like to play just a few tunes and dance the rest of the time. The whole point is to have fun.

Some tips for faking: play the first note of each measure, or of each group of three (In 6/8 time) or four (in 2/4 and 4/4 times) notes. If you can follow the printed notes with your eyes, even if you can’t play them yet, you’re halfway there. Some people learn best just by listening to the tune several times through before starting to “fiddle” with it, or even by watching someone else’s fingers.

MAD Band Tunes for 2008-2009

Tune Name	General Sheet Music	Violin Sheet Music	Viola Sheet Music	Cello Sheet Music	MIDI File
Careless Sally’s Reel	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Coleraine	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Farewell to Whiskey	No	No	No	No	Yes
Fiddle Hill Jig	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Gay Gordon’s	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Girl With the Blue Dress On	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Growling Old Man and Grumbling Old Woman	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
Oyster River Hornpipe	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Paddy on the Railroad	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sasha	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Scotland the Brave	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
St. Lawrence Jig	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Washington (Steamboat) Quickstep	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wind That Shakes the Barley	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

If you have any questions, call Louise McClure at 609-924-3539.

Click here for the 2007-08 Tune list.