FIDDLE CATEGORIES

1. Competitors in this competition must compete in their age category. No electric instruments and no instruments playing "lead" will be permitted. No fiddler will be allowed more than 4 accompanying instruments. Any stringed instrument is acceptable as backup. Fiddle-Off will consist of the first place winners of the Junior Junior, Junior, Young Adult, Adult and Senior fiddle categories only.

2. Trick fiddling or show tunes are discouraged. "Double shuffle" is acceptable.

3. In the age division, each fiddler must play a Breakdown and a Waltz - IN THAT ORDER. In the Fiddle Off, each fiddler must play a Breakdown, a Waltz, and a Tune of Their Choice IN THAT ORDER. "Tune of Their Choice" means any tune of ANY type and CAN BE another breakdown or waltz. Fiddler must give their tunes, in order of play, to the M.C.

4. Failure to play the tunes in the correct order, playing the incorrect type of tune, or repeating a tune from the age division will result in a 30-point deduction from the total score.

5. THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT - play as long as the tune requires, there is no need to cut your tune short.

6. Contestants should be ready to compete when called to the stage. Contestants should be prepared to begin their first tune within 30 seconds from the time they are announced to the judges. Consideration will be given for broken strings, switching instruments, etc. Excessive time spent or flagrant violation of this rule COULD result in loss of 30 points and/or disqualification at the Contest Director’s discretion.

7. In the event a contestant breaks a string, they will be allowed to restart their tune. If they continue, the tune will be scored as is. If their accompanist breaks a string, the contestant has 30 seconds to decide whether to stop and restart the tune or continue. Any stoppage after this 30 second grace period will result in the tune being scored as is.

DANCING CATEGORIES

1. Open dancing - no holds barred, all ages.

2. Contestants must perform a recognizable dance style in the opinion of the judges. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.

3. Contestants must dance solo with NO assistance from another person or device. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.

4. Shoes must be worn.

FLATPICK GUITAR, MANDOLIN, BLUEGRASS BANJO

1. No tunes are banned but the following restrictions apply:
   1. Banjo             Bluegrass style is encouraged; old-time or jazz is discouraged and will result in lost points.Use of "Scruggs tuners" IS permitted.
   2. Guitar             Flatpick style is encouraged; finger-picking is discouraged and will result in lost points.

2. Each contestant must perform two tunes. No vocals are allowed. If time is short, only one tune will be performed.

3. No electric instruments and no accompanying instrument playing "lead" will be permitted. No more than 2 accompanying instruments. Any stringed instrument is acceptable as backup.

4. Fiddle Rules #5, #6, and #7 also apply to these categories.

GENERAL

1. Registration is accepted up until the number for playing order of the category are drawn or assigned by random drawing - after which no more registrations for that category will be accepted (NO EXCEPTIONS). No one can compete without a signed registration form.

2. The decision of the judges is FINAL. Any contestant or accompanist who harasses threatens or verbally abuses a judge or contest official will first be warned and next be expelled from the contest for the current and next year.

3. Upon contestant registration, all commercial recording, photo, and video rights during the contest are reserved and shall become the property of the Twin Lakes Fiddler Championship. 

Download the Rules here: