Certification Rules

  1. Contestants at each appearance must first play a hoedown; second, a waltz; and third, a tune of choice (other than a hoedown or waltz). No tune shall be played more than once during all appearances of a contestant. Four-minute playing time will be strictly adhered to. Ten points will be deducted from total score for each 30-second interval (or portion thereof) over 4 minutes.
  2. If a string breaks, the FIDDLER will have the option to continue or stop at that point. If the tune is completed, it will be judged as played. If the fiddler stops playing due to a broken string, he or she will be allowed to begin with that tune and complete his or her program.
  3. Contestant may play without accompanist or with not more than two.
  4. Contact microphones and amplified instruments will not be permitted.
  5. No trick fiddling allowed during the contesting appearances. No cross tuning on stage.
  6. No sheet music shall be used in the contesting area.
  7. Judging will be scored on Fiddling Style, Dance Ability, Rhythm or Timing, and Tone Quality. Scores will be accumulative commencing with round one. Points will be deducted for any violation of the above rules.
  8. Judging will be done by three qualified judges. Judging will be done by remote and no judge can see any contestant or hear an introduction or commentary. Contestant is identified only by number.
  9. A stopwatch will be used in the judging room to enable strict enforcement of the four-minute rule.
  10. The Championship and Junior Division will have a 5 Minute time rule. After 5:09 deductions will begin: 10 points per every 30 seconds over time limit.
  11. All divisions except Small Fry and Junior Junior may have up to three (3)    accompanists.
  12. The Junior division will have three (3) rounds.

 

Beginner Novice Eligibility

IF YOU HAVE PLACED IN THE TOP 5 OF ANY CERTIFIED CONTEST IN ANY DIVISION THIS DISSQUALIFIES YOU FOR ANY NOVICE DIVISION EVEN IF YOU MOVE UP IN AN AGE DIVISION! YOU MUST COMPETE IN THE CERTIFIED DIVISON FOR YOUR AGE. THERE WILL BE NO EXEPTIONS.

1.     The contestant must be a beginner, with no experience. 

      Judges have the authority to deem a contestant too advanced to play in the Beginner Novice Division and place the contestant in the intermediate immediately.
Judges have the final say!

Intermediate Eligibility

1.    The Contestant must be an intermediate player to compete in this division.

2.    All 1st place winners of the intermediate novice division must move up to the certified division the next year. If the contestant does not place in the top 8 in the certified division that year they will have the option to compete in the next Intermediate Division the following year, if they meet the age requirements. Once you have won first place in the Jr. Intermediate division you must compete in the certified division. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the contest Chairman, Roberta Pearce or Head Judge, Katrina Nicolayoff

Judges have the authority to deem a contestant too advanced to play in the Intermediate Division and place the contestant in regular division immediately.
Judges have the final say!

Twin Fiddling

    

1.  For Round 1 the contestants must play both a slow and fast tune. For Round 2 the contestants may play a tune of their choice. 
2.There is a 4 minute time limit for round 1 and a 3 minute time limit for round 2..

3.  Judging will be over Difficulty, Timing, Harmony and Tone Quality 

4.  The judges will have the option to sit in the audience to judge.   

Judges have the final say!

 

 

Celtic Divison Rules

 

1. All Celtic Styles will be acceptable including Irish, Scottish,

Cape Brenton, and so forth. However it is encouraged to stay within your

chosen style when choosing your set pieces.  At least two of the songs should be linked in a medley.
A medley of all three songs is preferred but not required."

 

2. Contestants will play three contrasting tunes, including at least one

slower tune (i.e. slow air, slow strathspey, lament, slow march) and at

least one faster tune (i.e. reel, jig, polka, slide). Contestants are

encouraged to choose three tunes of different types; that is, you may

play 2 strathspeys, 2 jigs, 2 reels, etc, but this is discouraged.

 

 

3. The fiddler is able to have 2 accompanists on stage, including one

Celtic drum.

 

4. There will be a 5 minute time limit. For each 30

seconds after 5 minutes 10 points will be deducted from final score.

 

5. The top 3 from the first round will continue to the final round.

 

6. Both traditional and contemporary styles as well as original pieces are acceptable.

 

 

Judging Criteria:

 

Judging criteria will include:  rhythm, ornamentation and bowing,

consistency of style, transitions between tunes, choice of tunes,

technical execution of tunes, expressiveness and musicality.

 

We are not sanctioned by SFIRE. However in SFIRE Rules there can be only ONE judge or more. We are using ONE judge. Unlike a Nationally certified contest, SFIRE uses only CERTIFED JUDGES. The Idaho Open IS NOT a sanctioned or a certified SFIRE competition and we will not at this time run the Celtic Division as a SFIRE competition. Please see judging criteria above for exact judging criteria and rules.  For more information on SFIRE please go to: http://www.scottishfiddling.org/rules0201.html