Senior Recital

Violin – Developed in 16th-century Italy, the violin spread across Europe and became the dominant bowed instrument in folk traditions worldwide. Played with a bow and capable of slides, drones, and ornamentation, it’s central to Irish and Scottish fiddle, Eastern European dance music, Scandinavian traditions, and American old-time and bluegrass. It often carries the lead melody and can shift between rhythmic bowing and lyrical phrasing depending on the tradition.

Accordion (Irish Music) – Introduced to Ireland in the 19th century, the accordion—especially the diatonic button accordion—became a core instrument in traditional Irish music. Its push-pull system creates a rhythmic lift that suits reels, jigs, and polkas. It often carries melody in sessions, with ornamentation and phrasing closely tied to dance rhythms and regional playing styles.

Irish Whistle – A simple fipple flute, central to Irish traditional music and Celtic sessions. Its agility makes it ideal for fast dance tunes like reels and jigs.

Banjo (Irish Music) – Though originally derived from West African instruments and developed in the U.S., the banjo was adopted into Irish traditional music in the early 20th century. Typically a 4-string tenor banjo tuned in fifths (like a fiddle), it is played with a pick for fast, precise melody lines. It is especially effective for reels and jigs, where its bright, percussive tone cuts through sessions and reinforces rhythmic drive.

Acoustic Bass (Irish Music) – The acoustic bass, typically the double bass, was adopted into Irish traditional music in the 20th century to support ensemble playing. Plucked rather than bowed, it provides a steady low-end foundation that reinforces rhythm without overpowering melodic instruments. It commonly outlines chord changes and pulse in modern sessions and bands, complementing guitar and bouzouki while keeping a light, dance-friendly feel.

Bodhrán (Irish Music) – A traditional Irish frame drum, widely used in Irish folk since the mid-20th century, though its roots may trace back earlier in rural Ireland. It consists of a goatskin head stretched over a wooden frame and is played with a double-ended stick (tipper) or the hand. It provides rhythmic drive in reels, jigs, and other dance tunes, with the player shaping tone and pitch by hand pressure on the back of the drum.