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 Division only 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.

 

Intermediate 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.    All songs must be played in 1st position and limited 3rd position.  (If a whole A or B part of a song is played in 3rd position or any other position besides 1st position the player will be disqualified from this division and moved to the certified division).

2.    Intermediate players will be playing 2 or 3 part hoedowns with limited variations.  Waltzes’ must be played with limited double stops in 1st position only.  Choice tunes may include 2 and 3 part polkas & rags or jigs.   (Tunes played in Bb & Eb should not be played in this division and will result in ineligibility from any novice division.)

3.    Suggested level of songs for the Intermediate Players are: Stoney Point, Big John McNeil, Ook Pike, Blackberry Blossom, Amelia Waltz, Martins Waltz, and Roxana’s Waltz, Clarinet Polka, Allentown Polka and the like. There should be very limited double stops (5-6 EASY double stops) in ANY song and limited playing outside of 1st position.

4.    SMALL FRY INTERMEDIATE - All contestants who placed in the top three (3) of the Small Fry Intermediate Novice Division must compete in the certified division if they remain in the same age group.  If a contestant places in the top three (3) of the Small Fry Intermediate Division and moves up an age group the next year that contestant may compete in that age group’s Intermediate Division.

5.    JUNIOR JUNIOR INTERMEDIATE - All contestants who placed in the top two (2) of the Junior Junior Intermediate Division must compete in the certified division if they remain in the same age group.  If a contestant places in the top two (2) of the Junior Junior Intermediate Division and moves up an age group the next year that contestant may compete in that age group’s Intermediate Division.

6.    JUNIOR INTERMEDIATE - All contestants who placed first (1) in the Junior Intermediate  Division must compete in the certified division.  Any contestant who placed first (1) in the Junior Intermediate division must move to the certified division the next year and is no longer eligible to compete in any novice division again.

7.    Judges may 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 final say!

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 and never have placed in any contest.  

2.     Beginner Novice will be playing songs such as Boil The Cabbage, Tennessee Waltz, Sweet Marie, Old Joe Clark and very simple tunes like this.  Most of these players are going to be playing one year or less, or these types of songs.

3.     All contestants in the first round must play three tunes: hoedown, waltz & choice tune. In the second round only, contestants will play one tune of their choice (preferable hoedown or choice, this tune cannot be a tune played in round one).

4.      Judges may 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 final say!

5.     All contestants who place in the top five (5) of the beginner novice must move up to the Intermediate Division next year and will not be eligible to play in any beginner novice division again, regardless of change of age.

NOTE on Beginner Novice and Intermediate Eligibility:  If your child is playing more advanced songs such as Sally Goodin, Beaumont Rag, Old South Waltz, Velvet’s Waltz, Dusty Miller, Wild Fiddler’s Rag and with Lots of Double stops, playing outside of 1st position; they need to be placed in the Certified Divisions.

 

We as a committee feel that this is the only way to make the Novice Divisions truly for novice players and make it fair for all involved. Our goals for this contest are that EVERY child goes away from this contest with a feeling of pride and accomplishment.  If your child has been placed in one of the beginning or intermediate divisions and are playing songs to advanced for that division; they WILL be moved to the appropriate division. The judges have final say this this.  We have worked very hard on these rules and ask that you follow and respect them during the contest, excessive complaints or challenges regarding these rules could result in the contestant being disqualified.  Thank you for your understanding and help to make this a successful contest for both advanced and beginner fiddlers alike.

 

Showcase Division Rules:

 

1.  Contestant may only enter the showcase once and be eligible to win one category.

2.  Points from 0 - 10 (including 0) will be given for each category.  Top totals will determine winner of each category.  Ties in Costuming and Fanciest 

     Fiddling will be broken by including points from Entertainer category.  Best    

     Entertainer will be determined by cumulative points from all categories  

     except Twin Fiddling. 

3.  Twin Fiddling may go two rounds only in the case of a tie.  Fiddlers may not use the same song in the second round.

4.  You do not have to sign up for a specific category.  The judges will make that determination during your appearance on stage.

5.  The following showcase awards will be determined: Showcase: Best Costume,   

     Fanciest Fiddling, Best Entertainer, Twin Fiddling.  In the 11 & Under Showcase

     awards will be presented to Best Costume and Best Entertainer.

 

Showcase will be judged on the following criteria:

Best Costume will be judged on the costume, how well the costume matches the theme of the song, and how well the accompanists’ costume matches the theme of the song.

 

Fanciest Fiddling will be judged on trick fiddling (behind the leg, neck, etc); rapid bow/finger movement and creativity.

 

Best Entertainer will be judged on smiles, good eye contact with crowd and crowd response, as well as the sub-totals from costume and fancy fiddling.

 

Twin Fiddling will be judged on difficulty of the piece, harmony and tone quality.

 

The 11 & Under showcase will be judged with the same criteria as above.

 

 

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