Mixed Age Dance Bandfiddle

 

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. Anyone of any age, on any instrument, is welcome to join in. 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 some of the music. 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. And you don't need to know every tune to play in the band!

Please bring your downloaded music stand with ALL sections labled (address stickers are great for that). Rehersal is at 1:30 on the day of the dance, at the Suzanne Patterson Center. We'll start with the easiest tunes and play through the list. so those people playing only the easy tunes can rest before the dance. All children must be accompanied by an adult during the practice and the dance.

 

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 2009-2010

 

Tune Name

General

Sheet Music

Violin

Sheet Music

Viola

Sheet Music

MIDI File

Level

All the Way to Galway

B flat

E flat

No

Yes

Yes

Easy

Coleraine

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

More Challenging

Farewell to Whiskey

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

Easy

Growling Old Man and Grumbling Old Woman

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

More Challenging

Jackson's Breakdown

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

Medium

Jimmy Allen

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

Easy

Miss Murray of Lintrose

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

Medium

Oyster River Hornpipe

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

Medium

Paddy on the Railroad

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

More Challenging

Road to Boston

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

Easy

Sasha

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

Medium

Scollay's Reel

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

Medium

Set de la Baie St. Paul

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

Easy

The Rakes of Mallow

B flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

Easy
Tobin's Favorite

B flat

E flat

Yes

Yes

Yes

More Challenging

If we pair tunes, these will be the combinations:

  • Rakes of Mallow/Road to Boston
  • Fairwell to Whisky/Growling and Grumbling
  • Miss Murry of Lintrose/Set de la Baie St. Paul
  • Oyster River Hornpipe/Paddy on the Railroad
  • Jimmy Allen/All the Way to Galway
  • Scollay's Reel/Jackson's Breakdown
  • Coleraine/Tobin's Favorite

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