2019 Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival Rules

2017 Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival contest winners.

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Rules That Apply to All Contestants

• Contestants in all divisions are encouraged to announce each tune and to give a one sentence explanation of its origin.
• All contest songs must have been in existence when the Homestead National Monument was established in 1936.
• All decisions of the judges are final.

 

A fiddler competes at the Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival.

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Rules for Fiddling Divisions

• Each contestant will play three tunes:

  • a Hoedown (upbeat danceable tune in two or four)

  • a Waltz (danceable tune in three)

  • a Tune of Choice (a tune other than a hoedown or waltz, such as jigs, polkas, rags, blues, etc.)

• In the Left-Handed Contest the bow and fiddle hands must be reversed. Each fiddler will play one tune.
• Contestants may play with one or two backup acoustic musicians, neither to be playing melody. A backup guitarist is available for fiddlers who need one.

• Contestant will be judged on pitch, tone, rhythm, and presentation (showmanship, interpretation, flair, creativity, charisma, adherence to rules, etc.).

 

Winners of the 2017 Acoustic Band Contest

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Rules for the Acoustic Band Contest

• Each band must consist of at least three members.
• Each band will perform three songs.
• No electric instruments or pickups allowed.
• No drum sets.
• Bands will be judged on their material selection (taste, difficulty, orgininality), performance (musical ability, tone, rhythm, and overall blend of the instruments and vocals), stage presence (showmanship, connection with audience, humor), and adherence to the rules.