OFFICIAL KENTUCKY STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
OLD TIME FIDDLERS CONTEST, INC.

JUDGING RULES AND REGULATIONS

NOTICE: RULES ARE UNDER REVIEW AND MAY BE REVISED BEFORE 2008 EVENT. REVISIONS WILL BE POSTED ON WEBSITE BEFORE EVENT.

Print Rules and Regulations

I. GENERAL REGULATIONS:

1. No electric amplification or drums will be permitted in any category.

2. Contestants in the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Fiddler, Bluegrass and Old Time band Categories will perform two tunes in the eliminations and two tunes in the finals. All other contestants will perform two tunes in the eliminations.

a) If necessary, to conserve time, one tune will be cut from each category.
b) In Junior, Intermediate & Senior. Fiddle Categories only, tunes will be a waltz and a break down, rag, reel or hornpipe.

3. Four finalists will be selected in the Junior, Intermediate & Senior Fiddler, Bluegrass Band, Old Time Band, and 8 finalists in each Jig Dancing Division. Finals will be held in these Categories only. All other contests will be decided in the first round.

4. Contestants performing in the individual performer Categories may perform unaccompanied or with one or two accompanists.

5. Judges will not be permitted to enter or play in any category or as a backup for contestant.

6. Tunes played in eliminations will not be repeated in finals by same contestant.

7. Contestants should be present to draw for position at least 10 minutes before their Categories begin.

a) No contestants will be permitted to register for any category after the drawing has started.
b) If one or more contestants are not present when drawing starts, officials will draw one of remaining numbers in box for him/her.
c) Order for finals will be reverse of preliminary finish (#4 going into finals goes first, #1 goes last).

8. Time Limitations: As a measure of respect and courtesy for our audience and judges, the following personal responsibilities are expected:

a) Contestants will be required to begin their first tune within 20 seconds from the time they are announced to the judges. 20 seconds will also be allowed between tunes. Consideration will be given for broken strings, switching instruments, etc. Violation of this rule will result in loss of points and/or disqualification.
b) Tune choices are required to be submitted no later than when the contestant draws for position. Contestants should remain in the backstage area during their category, and are responsible for being backstage one act prior to their position. A contestant will be onstage within 20 seconds from the time they are announced or may be disqualified.

II. RESTRICTIONS ON PERFORMANCES IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES:

1. JUNIOR, INTERMEDIATE & SENIOR FIDDLER CATEGORIES:

a) Contestants in Junior, Intermediate and Senior Categories will not be permitted to use the following tunes in either the eliminations or finals: Orange Blossom Special, Black Mountain Rag, Listen to the Mockingbird, Bile' Them Cabbage, or this type of tune. Contestants will receive no points for tunes .judges deem inappropriate. (If tune questionable, check with stage manager before playing).
b) FIDDLE‑OFF will be between Junior, Intermediate and Senior Fiddlers only.
c) THE BEGINNER FIDDLER CATEGORY will be for fiddlers 11 - 15 years old. A fiddler 15 and under may enter the Junior category (35 & under) or the Beginner Category, but not both. A fiddler in the BEGINNER CATEGORY may play any two tunes he chooses. A Beginner Fiddler can not enter in the Pee Wee Category.
d) PEE-WEE FIDDLER: This category is offered strictly for beginner fiddlers age 10 and under. Pee-Wee fiddler may play any 2 tunes he/she chooses.

2. BLUEGRASS BANJO: Performers are urged to avoid playing songs that have been picked to death, such as Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Earl's Breakdown, John Hardy, etc. The use of Scrugg's type tuners is prohibited.

3. OLD TIME BANJO: 5 string only.

4. BLUEGRASS AND OLD TIME STRING BANDS:

a) Bands must have at least 3 members and no more than 6 members. No member shall play in more than one band in the same category.
b) No member may be replaced between eliminations and finals. A member may be dropped, but none may be added.
c) Old Time Bands shall perform at least one instrumental in the eliminations and finals.
d) Bluegrass Bands shall perform one instrumental and one vocal in eliminations and finals.
e) In Old Time Band, any grouping of instruments will be permitted. No particular instrument will be required to be lead instrument. Old Time String Bands should be careful to use only "Old Time Licks."

5. HARMONICA: The use of chromatic harmonicas will not be permitted. 10-Hole harmonicas only. Only one harmonica may be used per tune. Cross harp (playing in key other than key of harp) is permitted.

6. FLAT TOP GUITAR: Dobro, F Hole, etc., not allowed. If in doubt, check with stage manager before playing.

7. JIG DANCING: Contestants will dance one time in both eliminations and finals. Taps will be permitted, but not required in this category. Free-style jig dancing. Division I will be dancers 35 years of age and under. Division II will be 36 years of age and older.

8. BEGINNER OPEN: This category is offered strictly for beginner musicians to gain experience. Therefore, contestants who are COMPETING IN ANY OTHER CATEGORY except Jig Dancing are NOT eligible to compete in this Category.

9. Dulcimer: Only strummed, picked, or plucked Appalachian or mountain style dulcimers with three or four strings will be judged. Other types may enter, but will not be judged. Metal or plastic types of finger or thumb picks, i.e. banjo or Dobro style, may not be used. Traditional-style playing is encouraged. Modern tunes and progressive styles will result in a loss of points.

10.Standard traditional old-time acoustic instruments only in all Categories, for lead or backup. Such instruments as Bass Guitars, even though not electric, are not permitted.

11. Any contestant winning same category two consecutive years will not compete in same category the following year. This applies to any band members, as well as individual Categories.

III. JUDGING CRITERIA:

1. A maximum of 100 points will be possible for each tune. The specific judging Categories are listed below. Each category will be worth 20 of the possible 100 points. NOTE: Both bluegrass and old time bands will be judged on the overall balance of the band and command of all of the instruments.

2. Judging Categories:

a) Rhythm and Timing - The judges will look for even, consistent rhythm. Rushing, dragging or unevenness in performance will result in lost points in this category.
b) Creativity - The judges will look for variations, improvisations and “good licks". Repetitious performances (i.e., using the "same licks" over and over in the same tune) will result in lost points.
c) Authenticity and Taste - The judges will look for selection of authentic performance styles in each category. Indiscriminate use or variations that make the basic tune unclear (for example, the use of "double shuffle" in the fiddle Categories), and inappropriate modern licks will result in lost points.
d) Expression - The judges will look for the feeling that the contestant puts into his performance. Flat, mechanical, unfeeling performances will result in lost points, as will excessive "showmanship."
e) Execution ‑ The judges will look for tonal quality, clarity and general command of the instrument(s). Bad tone and muffled note will result in lost points.

3. The judges' scoring of each performance will be tabulated and totaled. The total score for each performer will be posted outside the stage after finalists for each category have been announced. JUDGES DECISION WILL BE FINAL.

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