Nicole, I'm glad it looks to have helped. That, as I'm sure you have gathered is just one view point/ interpretation of a tune and there is no single correct way of playing a hornpipe - at least when playing in sessions or playing solo/ as a group - I would suspect playing a set tune for a dancer(s) would be a completely different matter.

My way, when I play in sessions is having my idea of how I want to play the tune but that can be modified depending on who is in the session, how they play, who maybe leading the tune, even the mood of the session, etc.

I am no expert by any means, I am not a dot reader (although I know enough to sometimes use notation - including software) and although competent enough to feel reasonably comfortable in most sessions I go to, am no lead player...

Just saying that to qualify what I'm about to say as I am not qualified!... Try to listen to the music and join in with others, remember approaches can be different and in time, it will make some sense and become good fun and it will all come together at the same time...

I hope I'm making sense on that.

Jon