[Scmusenet] Hagood Mill's Ol' Time Fiddlin' Convention - Rules for Competition - Saturday, Sept 19, 2009

[Allen Coleman]

Hagood Mill's Ol' Time Fiddlin' Convention

Saturday, Sept 19, 2009

Rules for Competition

 

Registration for String Band Competition is in advance by email to
dean at ancientfootsteps.com or by phone to the Pickens County Museum
(864-898-5963) with a deadline of noon Friday, September 18. Please give
name of band and contact info for one member.

 

Individual instrument category registration must be completed before
11:00 a.m. at the mill site on festival day. The individual instrument
categories are as follows:

(1) guitar,               (2) old time banjo,               (3) fiddle,
(4) open category. 

(5) We also will have a junior fiddle (under age 16) category

 

(1) The judges' decision is final.

 

(2) The judges will not enter or play in any competition category.

 

(3) No electric instruments will be permitted.

 

(4) Each contestant will play one tune except fiddlers, who will be
asked to play two tunes, one slow and one fast. Instrument competition
will be all instrumentals. All string bands will be asked to play a
mini-set consisting of five tunes to include at least one vocal number
and one slow tune with several breakdown dance tunes (note: depending on
the number of entries, we may choose at our discretion to shorten this
mini-set for each band).

 

(5) Each individual contestant (not bands) is encouraged to observe a
time limit of three (3) minutes per tune.

 

(6) Each contestant may have one accompanist, but this is not required.

 

(7) Contestants may enter as many categories as they wish. However,
contestants may enter the "open" category only once.

 

(8) No category will be judged unless there is a minimum of three
entries competing in that category.

 

(9) Contestants must be present and play when scheduled. Allowances will
be made for broken strings and other things beyond the control of the
contestant. Once a category is closed, late arrivals or no-shows will be
eliminated.

 

(10) Emphasis will be on old time or traditional music. Tunes and
playing styles should be traditional old time, not modern, progressive
bluegrass, or other styles. "Show off" tunes, such as Orange Blossom
Special, Whoa Mule, etc. should be avoided. Original material consistent
with the tradition is acceptable. (See rule 1.)

 

(11) An "old time string band" must consist of a fiddle, banjo, and at
least one other stringed instrument (guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, etc.)
with a maximum of six instruments. Musicians can only enter in one band.

 

(12) In the event of a tie, there will be a play-off. A contestant may
not repeat the same tune in the play-off that he or she played earlier
in the competition category.

 

(13) Contestants will be judged on tuning, rhythm & timing (even &
consistent- any jerking, rushing, dragging, or unevenness in tempo will
result in loss of points), and execution (tonal quality and clarity of
performance and general command of the instrument). Creativity and
expression will also be judged as well as authenticity of style.
Variations and improvisations will be allowed under creativity, but
these should not be excessive, so as to destroy or change the basic
melody line of the tune. Expression will be judged by the "feeling"
expressed in the contestant's performance. Flat, mechanical and
unfeeling performances, as well as excessive "showmanship", will result
in loss of points.

 

"Good Luck"

 

 

 

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