The New School’s Trad Slow Sessions are traditional Irish music sessions in all ways except one: the tempo. We play the session tunes at a slower than normal pace (usually less than half the speed), so that beginning and intermediate players can more easily learn the tunes and join in the session. More experienced players who wish to refine their techniques at a slower pace are also very welcome.

At many Irish traditional sessions the music can be quite loud and fast, which can be intimidating for newer players. Instead, our sessions are ‘softer and slower’ to facilitate the learning process in a friendly and supportive environment. Also, unlike many Irish sessions, those players who need to read the music can use it at the session, although ultimately our goal is to get everyone playing the music in the aural tradition so they can join other sessions. We limit the tunes to those on our tune list, which allows us to repeat the tunes from session to session.

Trad Slow Sessions take place once a month on Friday evenings 6.30 - 8 pm at the school, and both New School and external students/players are welcome. The sessions are supervised by a New School trad teacher, and tune suggestions are provided in advance, to facilitate group playing. Learn as many or as few as you like!

Currently-enrolled students at the New School are asked to contribute €3 at each session, and external students/players are asked to contribute €6, to help cover music and expenses.

2011-2012 Trad Slow Session Dates
October 14
November 11
December 9
January 20
February 17
March 23
April 27
May 25
June 22

Tune List

For those who do not yet have sheet music, The Session is a valuable tune-sharing website with music and information on hundreds of Irish tunes.

Download the current Tune List in pdf format.

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