IONNSRAMAIDEAN AON-NEACH

Solo instrument competitions at the Mòd are a great chance for young musicians to perform for an audience. This can give them extra motivation to practice and learn new tunes. 

**Important** Enter the competition for your child's school year or age on 1 October 2025 (the time of the Royal National Mòd) - so, for example:

• age 12 in June 2025, but 13 by 1 October 2025, enter age 13-15 competition.

Yes, for solo instrument competitions, children can use sheet music during their performance.

For all solo instrument competitions (except fiddle) you must bring one spare copy of the sheet music on the day of the competition, so we can give this to the judge. Your child may not be able to compete if they don't bring this.

Please read the rules carefully regarding the permitted style of 'own choice' music. Children may receive a lower mark from the judges if their music choice is not in line with those rules.

Children can perform for less than the maximum time, but should not exceed the maximum.

Competitions for 2025:

• accordion or melodeon under age 13 (on 1 Oct 25) - max 3 minutes
• accordion or melodeon age 13-15 (on 1 Oct 25) - max 4 minutes
• accordion or melodeon age 16-18 (on 1 Oct 25) - max 5 minutes.

Music is 'own choice' but must be in the Highland / Gaelic / Piping idiom.

Competitions for 2025:

• chanter age under 13 (on 1 Oct 25) - play a 2/4 March (2 parts only) OR a Gaelic Air (2 parts only) 
• chanter age 13-15 (on 1 Oct 25) - play a 2/4 March OR a Gaelic Air
• chanter age 16-18 (on 1 Oct 25) - play a 2/4 March OR a Gaelic Air.

Competitions for 2025:

Bagpipes age under 13 (on 1 Oct 25) - play a 2/4 March.

Bagpipes age under 16 (on 1 Oct 25) - choose from:

• 2/4 March - minimum 4 parts
• OR
• Strathspey and Reel - minimum 4 parts
• OR 
• Jig - minimum 4 parts.

Bagpipes age 16-18 (on 1 Oct 25) - choose from either:

• 2/4 March, Strathspey and Reel - minimum 4 parts each
• OR
• Hornpipe and Jig.

Competitions for 2025:

• up to Grade 1
• grade 1 - max time 3 minutes
• grade 2-3 - max time 3 minutes
• grade 4-5 - max time 4 minutes
• grade 6 and above - max time 5 minutes.

Music is 'own choice' but must be of Scottish Gaelic origin.

Competitions for 2025:

• fiddle age 10 and under (on 1 Oct 25) - one tune
• fiddle age 11-12 (on 1 Oct 25) - two tunes
• fiddle age 13-15 (on 1 Oct 25) - two tunes
• fiddle age 16-18 (on 1 Oct 25) - three tunes.

Music is 'own choice' but must be in the Highland / Gaelic / Piping idiom. Where more than one tune is required, they can be played separately or as a set.

Competitions for 2025:

• under age 13 (on 1 Oct 25) - max time 3 minutes
• age 13-15 (on 1 Oct 25) - max time 4 minutes
• age 16-18 (on 1 Oct 25) - max time 5 minutes.

Music is 'own choice' but should be a traditional repertoire.