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RULES

Overview

All divisions will be capped. Registration will close when the division is full, or on April 30th, whichever comes first. There will be no registration on either day of the contest. 

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SMALL FRY AND ADULT:

  • 2 rounds

  • ​Contestants must play a hoedown, waltz, and tune of choice 

  • 4 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period

  • In the event of a tie, contestants will play a full round​

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JUNIOR JUNIOR AND JUNIOR:

  • 3 rounds

  • Round 1: Contestants must play a hoedown and a waltz (3 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period)

  • Rounds 2 and 3: Contestants must play a hoedown, waltz, and tune of choice (4 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period)

  • In the event of a tie, contestants will play a full round​

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SENIOR DIVISION:

  • 1 round

  • Contestants must play a hoedown, waltz, and tune of choice

  • 4 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period

  • In the event of a tie, contestants will play a full round

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OPEN DIVISION:

  • 2 rounds

  • Contestants must play a hoedown, waltz, and tune of choice

  • 5 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period

  • In the event of a tie, contestants will play a full round

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NOVICE DIVISIONS:

  • The novice divisions are for beginner fiddlers ONLY! Preferably fiddlers who have been playing for less than 2 years and have never entered a fiddle contest. 

  • 1 round

  • Contestants must play a hoedown and a waltz

  • 3 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period

  • In the event of a tie, contestants will play 1 tune of their choice*

*not necessarily a choice tune, but anything the contestant wants to play

 

TWIN FIDDLE:

  • 2 rounds

  • Contestants must play 1 fast tune and 1 slow tune in any order. If we are running behind schedule, round 1 may be cut to just one tune.

  • 5 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period

  • In the event of a tie, contestants will play 1 tune of their choice

Novice Rules

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  1. All divisions will be capped. Registration will close when the division is full, or on April 30th, whichever comes first. There will be no registration on either day of the contest. 

  2. The novice division is for beginner fiddlers. Preferably who have never entered a contest and have been playing the fiddle for less than 2 years. DO NOT ENTER THIS DIVISION IF YOU ARE NOT A BEGINNER! Please contact us if you are unsure if this is the right division for you or your student.

  3. Judges are not permitted to compete in any division.

  4. Contestants must first play a hoedown and then a waltz.

  5. Novice contestants will have a 3 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period. If contestants go over the allotted time, they will have 10 points deducted per 30 seconds from their total score.

  6. Contestants must be ready to go on stage when called. 

  7. There will be no limit on the number of accompanists a contestant has, but please make sure the backup doesn't overpower the fiddler!

  8. Judging will be based on the following criteria: Oldtime Fiddling Style, Danceability, Rhythm and Timing, and Tone Quality. Judges' decisions are final. 

  9. If a string breaks (on a fiddle or accompanist's instrument), the contestant has the option to continue playing, or stop to change the string. If the contestant decides to continue playing, the tune will be judged as played. If they decide to stop, they may start again with that tune and complete their round with no penalty. 

  10. In the event of a tie in the top 5 of any division, the contestants will play one tune of their choice.*

  11. There will be no trick of fancy fiddling in the novice divisions. 

  12. No sheet music or tab will be displayed on stage. (accompanists may use chord charts if needed). 

  13. No contestant shall play the same tune more than once.

  14. No amplification will be allowed other than the microphone(s) provided on stage.

  15. Please dress appropriately for a family event. 

​

* not necessarily a choice tune, but anything the contestant wants to play.

General Rules

  1. All divisions will be capped. Registration will close when the division is full, or on April 30th, whichever comes first. There will be no registration on either day of the contest. 

  2. Judges are not permitted to compete in any division.​

  3. Contestants must first play a hoedown, then a waltz, and then a tune of choice. (Round 1 of Junior Junior and Junior will only be a hoedown and a waltz. There will be a 3 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period for round 1 of those two divisions)

  4. Each round in the age divisions will have a 4 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period (except for Junior Junior and Junior. See rule 2). The Open division will have a 5 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period. If a contestant goes over the allotted time, they will have 10 points deducted per 30 seconds from their total score. 

  5. Contestants must be ready to go on stage when called.

  6. There will be no limit on the number of accompanists a contestant has, but please make sure the backup doesn't overpower the fiddler!

  7. Judging will be based on the following criteria: Oldtime Fiddling Style, Danceability, Rhythm and Timing, and Tone Quality. Judges' decisions are final.

  8. If a string breaks (on a fiddle or accompanist's instrument), the contestant has the option to continue playing, or stop to change the string. If they decide to stop, they may start again with that tune and complete their round with no penalty. 

  9. In the event of a tie in the top 5 of any division, the contestants will play a full round.

  10. There will be no trick or fancy fiddling in the age or open divisions. 

  11. No sheet music or tab will be displayed on stage (accompanists may use chord charts if needed).

  12. No contestant shall play the same tune more than once. 

  13. No amplification will be allowed other than the microphone(s) provided on stage.

  14. Please dress appropriately for a family event.​​

​​

TWIN FIDDLE RULES:

 

  1. All divisions will be capped. Registration will close when the division is full, or on April 30th, whichever comes first. There will be no registration on either day of the contest. 

  2. Judges are not permitted to compete in any division.

  3. Contestants must play 1 fast tune and 1 slow tune, in any order. If we are running behind schedule, round 1 may be cut to just one tune.

  4. One person must play the melody and the other must play the harmony. Both contestants will play the whole time (no solos).

  5. The twin division will be broken into two age groups. Choose the age division based on the age of the oldest contestant.

  6. Each round will have a 5 minute time limit with a 20 second grace period. If contestants go over the allotted time, they will have 10 points deducted per 30 seconds from their total score.

  7. Contestants must be ready to go on stage when called.

  8. There will be no limit on the number of accompanists the contestants have, but please make sure the backup doesn't overpower the fiddlers!

  9. Judging will be based on the following criteria: Rhythm, tone/intonation, appropriate harmony, and difficulty. Judges’ decisions are final.

  10. If a string breaks (on a fiddle or accompanist's instrument), the contestants have the option to continue playing, or stop to change the string. If they decide to stop, they may start again with that tune and complete their round with no penalty. 

  11. In the event of a tie in the top 5 of the twin division, the contestants will play 1 tune of their choice.

  12. There will be no trick or fancy fiddling in the twin fiddle division.

  13. No sheet music or tab will be displayed on stage (accompanists may use chord charts if needed).

  14. No contestant shall play the same tune more than once. 

  15. No amplification will be allowed other than the microphone(s) provided on stage.

  16. Please dress appropriately for a family event.​​

© 2023 by Western Idaho Fiddle Contest. All rights reserved.

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