RULES

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1. All contestants will register for the competition and pay the designated fee prior to the beginning of the division in which they plan to compete. No person may register in an age division in which they do not meet the qualifications, except those who have won the lower level division 3 years in a row as specified in the FIDDLE rules section below.

2. There will be a brief judges/ contestant meeting shortly before the contest begins. This may be the only opportunity for judges to answer questions; please plan to attend, as the judges’ decisions are final.

3. Contest officials/ players will draw playing order and post it as soon as possible.

4. Contestants will hand tune sheet to emcee, and will not speak into the microphone.

5. Contestants are responsible for appearing on stage on time. Contestants not appearing on stage within two minutes after their numbers are announced may be disqualified.

6. All music must be titled and reflect traditional country, folk, or bluegrass style. No medleys are allowed. Tune disqualification must be a unanimous judges’ decision.

7. Instruments must be unamplified. Contact microphones are not allowed.

8. No sheet music shall be displayed in the contest area. Accompanists may use chord sheets.

9. If a string breaks or slips, the contestant will have the option to continue or stop at that point. If the tune is completed, it will be judged as played. A contestant who stops will be allowed to begin with that tune and continue his/her round.

10. The sound system will be preset to desirable general levels. No individual adjustments will be made.

11. Contestants may play without accompaniment, or with no more than 3 accompanists. Use of a second fiddle is prohibited.

12. Time limit on stage for all categories is 5 minutes. No stopwatch is used, but judges may deduct points for a performance that becomes too long and/or repetitive. Time consideration will be given to contestants for excessive audience response.

13. Scores are based on: old-time ability, dance-ability, rhythm & timing, and tone quality. Points will be deducted for rules infractions.

14. First through third place ties will result in a one-round playoff. Tunes previously performed may not be repeated. Ties will be resolved in this manner for first through fifth place in the open division.

15. Depending on number of contestants, the contest committee may choose to allow contestants registered for age divisions to also register for the open division (additional fees apply). Notification of this will be given once all contestants have been registered.

16. Individual score sheets will be available upon request after awards for a category have been announced.

17. A contestant who threatens, verbally or physically attacks, or attempts to influence a judge, or attempts to jeopardize the performance of another contestant will be disqualified from the current and following year’s contest. He or she will also be asked to leave immediately.

18. The contest director reserves the right to alter the time schedule and order of categories, as necessary.

19. By submitting an entry form, contestants waive recording rights to performances at the contest (these become the property of the Colorado Old Time Fiddlers’ Association, nonprofit and legal entity), are responsible for entering the proper category, and agree to abide by all contest rules.

20. Decisions of the judges and contest director are final. Circumstances not addressed by the above information will be decided by a consensus of the judges. In all instances, the decision of the judges will be final.

Specific Category Rules

FIDDLE:

1. Contestants may compete in either their age categories or the Grand Championship Fiddle category. The Grand Championship Fiddle category will be two rounds. The top five from the first round advance to the second round.

2. Contestants must first play a hoedown; second, a waltz; and third, a tune of choice other than a hoedown or a waltz except for the Twin Fiddle contestants, who will play a slow tune and a fast tune each round.

3. Definitions of tunes: A Breakdown/Hoedown – a tune in 2/4 or 4/4 time which contains parts that are 8 measures in length, suitable for square dancing. A Waltz – a tune in ¾ time. A Tune Of Choice – anything OTHER THAN a breakdown or a waltz including but not limited to – rags, polkas, blues tunes, jigs and schottisches. Out of fairness to contestants who take care to play the correct kinds of tunes, those who don't will lose points in their scores.

4. No trick or fancy fiddling is allowed. No cross-tuning is allowed. Disqualification of a tune must be a unanimous decision of the judges. Trick/ show pieces include but are not limited to “Black Mountain Rag,” “Listen to the Mockingbird” and “Orange Blossom Special,” for example. Questions as to tune selection appropriateness should be directed to the judges prior to entering the stage for the contest. Judges’ decision will be final.

5. A contestant winning an age category three years in a row must sit out or judge the next year, except Small Fry and Junior-Junior contestants, who may move up one age division.

6. Novice Division: Any Age. This must be the first time a contestant has played in any fiddle contest. Contestant may play two tunes of any kind. All other general rules apply.

7. A contestant who wins the Novice Fiddle category may not enter the Novice category in future years. Contestants entering the Novice category may not enter any other fiddle category.

GUITAR ACCOMPANIST:

1. Guitar accompanist will select a fiddle player to play with him or her during the round.

2. They will play two contrasting tunes.

3. In the interest of time and convenience, ‘favorite accompanist’ award may go to the guitarist appearing most often during fiddle rounds. This will be decided at the event.