2008 Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships
Rules and Regulations
A pdf version of the rules is available for download.
Note: Winners will be invited to take part in the winner's showcase in the latter part of the afternoon.
Each contest is open to anyone except members of acts scheduled to perform and the first place winners of that contest from last year. However, those winners may enter and win any other contests in which they did not take first last year.
Contestants must play only acoustical instruments. No electrical instruments will be allowed. Contestants may have one rhythm instrument for accompaniment. Contestants will not be allowed to take two instruments on stage. Selection committee reserves the right to eliminate contestants whose style of playing and selection of material is not in keeping with the flavor of the festival. A medley of tunes is not acceptable. Contestants may not speak on stage.
In an effort to judge the contestants objectively and equally, the following criteria will be considered by the judges and assigned point value in each area:
Rhythm and Timing (25 points)
The judges will look for even, consistent rhythm.
Rushing, dragging, or unevenness in performance will result in lost points.
Execution (25 points)
The judges will look for tone quality, dynamics, pitch, and general command of the instrument. Bad tone and muffled notes will result in lost points.
Creativity (25 points)
The judges will look for variations, improvisations, and "good licks". Repetitious performance will result in lost points.
Expression (25 points)
The judges will look for the feeling that the contestant puts into the performance. Flat, mechanical, unfeeling performance will result in lost points.
We will accept contest registration until 20 minutes before the scheduled contest time (forms also available on our website). Order of appearance will be determined randomly shortly before the contest begins. Contestants are responsible for checking with the stage manager for their position in the contest. Second and third place prizes are not given if there are too few entries. Score cards will not be given out.
Download the Contestant Registration form.
Download Ensemble Folk Registration form.
Adults: $10 per individual contestant.
Kids: $5
per individual contestant.
Ensemble Folk Singing: $10 for each group.
Please note: an individual may enter the Miscellaneous Acoustic Instruments contest only once per year; in other words, the contestant may not enter multiple times with different instruments.
1st place: $50 and a trophy. (Always awarded.)
2nd place: $30. (Awarded if contest has more than 4 entries.)
3rd place: $20. (Awarded if contest has more than 8 entries.)
All youth entries receive a certificate of participation.
(also see general rules)
(Note: stage assignments subject to change)
State Banjo Championship
North stage. Contestants will play two instrumental numbers in either clawhammer or bluegrass style.
State Ensemble Folk Singing Championship
South stage. Ensembles must consist of two to five voices. Ensembles will sing in any traditional folk singing style. Contestants will have a six minute time limit and will be cut off after six minutes. There is no limit to the number of songs which may be performed within the six minute time limit. Ensembles may have a total of one rhythm instrument for accompaniment. (Note: this is not one instrument per singer.) Instrumentalist need not be a singer. An instrumentalist, who does not sing, may accompany more than one ensemble. Singers may be in only one ensemble.
State Fiddle Championship
South Stage. Each contestant will play a hoedown, a waltz and a tune of his/her choice, in that order. Standard tuning only.
Youth Fiddle Championship
South Stage. This is a separate contest for youth, 16 years and under, who do not wish to compete in the adult competition. Each contestant will play a hoedown, a waltz and a tune of his/her choice, in that order. Standard tuning only.
Senior Fiddle Championship
South Stage. This is a separate contest for seniors, 60 years and over, who do not wish to compete in the adult competition. Each contestant will play a hoedown, a waltz and a tune of his/her choice, in that order. Standard tuning only.
State Finger-Picking Guitar Championship
North stage. Finger-picking is defined as playing a guitar using fingers and thumb. Contestants will play two instrumental numbers in any traditional style.
State Flat-Pick Guitar Championship
North Stage. Flat-pick guitar is defined as playing fiddle tunes on a guitar using a flat-pick. Contestants will play two instrumental numbers in any traditional style.
State Mandolin Championship
North Stage. Contestants will play two instrumental numbers in any traditional style.
State Miscellaneous Acoustic Instruments Championship
South stage. Two numbers, on the same instrument, will be played in the contest. Selections should be in a style traditional for the instrument. Contestants may have one rhythm instrument for accompaniment. An individual may enter the Miscellaneous Acoustic Instruments Contest only once per year; a contestant may not enter multiple times the same year playing a different instrument each time.
Youth Award
No distinction is made among contestants in regular judging on the basis of age; individuals, age 16 or younger, have the same eligibility requirements as all other contestants in the Championship categories. Individuals, age 16 or younger are also judged in addition for the Youth Award. The contestant in this age group, who did not win the Youth Award last year, and receives the highest score in an instrumental contest other than fiddle in this separate round of judging will receive the Youth Award. Scores in the Ensemble Folk Singing, State Fiddle Championship, and Youth Fiddle Contest do not count toward the Youth Award.
Clarifications based on questions from contestants
1. In all contests, including Ensemble Folk Singing, only one rhythm instrument in total is allowed for accompaniment.
2. Contestants are allowed to take on stage and play only one instrument. However, the back-up player may change instruments between each selection played by the contestant.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
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Download the pdf form, complete and return to the registration table AT LEAST 20 minutes before the contest you are entering begins.
Contestant Registration form
Ensemble Folk Registration form
Enter your ZIP code in the text box located below to find directions on how to get to the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships in Lawrence, Kansas.
1. How many rhythm instruments can I have accompany me?
In all contests, including Ensemble Folk Singing, only one rhythm instrument in total is allowed for accompaniment.
2. How many instruments can I play in one contest?
Contestants are allowed to take on stage and play only one instrument. However, the back-up player may change instruments between each selection played by the contestant.
See a list of last years winners.
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