Crafting captivating introductions
Moving beyond the basics, we'll explore practical ways to create and find introductions for your traditional music, helping you set the perfect tone for any dance.
Understanding two-note introductions
Following on from the basics of what intros are, we now look at where to find them. The two-note introduction is simple to create. Just add two crotchet length notes from the scale your music is in, placed below the first note of the tune. For example, if your first note is a G and the music is in G major, you might start with E, F#.
Utilising existing tune structures
An easy way to construct intros is to use the last two or four bars from the A or B part of a 32-bar tune. Experiment to see which works best for your piece. The same principle applies to 48 and 64-bar tunes, where you might also have C or D parts to draw from. If you cannot find a suitable two or four-bar segment, the two-note intro comes in handy. Remember, the intro needs to clearly communicate the speed of the music, so dancers can grasp the feel before they begin.
Guidance for aspiring band leaders
This page is specifically aimed at individuals who are new to leading bands for dances and existing band leaders seeking simple, effective ways to find intros. Our goal is to provide you with knowledge of a few of the many ways you can find introductions, focusing on the easiest methods I know. More advanced techniques, such as composing your own intros, will be added to these guides in the near future.