How Do Fiddle Contests Work?
What is a fiddle contest?
A fiddle contest is a gathering where musicians come together to jam, connect with friends, and compete in a friendly way. Even though it’s called a contest, the main focus is on getting together and playing fiddle tunes with other musicians for fun.
What’s the history of fiddle contests?
The first recorded fiddle contest was held almost 300 years ago! Since the first recorded contest in 1736, fiddlers have come from far and wide to participate in these special gatherings. Many competitors sought the prestige of being crowned champion, and some came in pursuit of the cash prizes, but those weren’t the only reasons fiddle contests drew hundreds of attendees. For audiences, fiddle contests offered unbeatable entertainment. For fiddlers, contests were a unique chance to connect with musical peers and trade tunes from different regions.
Contests grew more and more popular and were often aired on the radio. In the 1920s, Henry Ford began hosting and sponsoring fiddle contests at his Ford dealerships around the nation. Even the Grand Ole Opry got its start as a fiddle contest.
Today, fiddle contests are still a vital part of American culture and heritage. Just like they did back in the 1700s, these events foster musical connection and help preserve a centuries-old musical tradition by bringing together musicians from all around the country (and sometimes beyond). Contests are a primary channel through which the Texas-style old-time fiddling tradition is passed from generation to generation.
How do fiddle contests work?
Each fiddle contest is a little different, but most of them follow the same basic structure.
In the time leading up to the contest, fiddlers prepare their tunes. For each round of the contest, a fiddler plays three tunes: a breakdown, a waltz, and a tune of choice. Read on for info on how to know what tunes go in what categories. A contestant may not repeat tunes they have played in a previous round.
Participants are sorted into divisions based on age. No one is too young or too old to compete. Self-identified advanced fiddlers may choose to enter the Grand Champion division, which is open to participants of any age.
At the contest, each fiddler finds accompanists to play with them onstage. Accompanying instruments are most often guitars, but can also include bass, piano, tenor guitar, or other acoustic instruments.
Accompanists are friendly and happy to help fiddlers. They know the chords for most common fiddle tunes and can read chord charts for any they don’t know. Fiddlers can run through their tunes with their accompanists in the dedicated practice room before going onstage.
Contest organizers post a random order of play for each division. Before going onstage, each fiddler fills out a sheet that indicates the tunes they’ll play. When it’s their turn, the fiddler goes onstage with their accompanists, the emcee announces the tunes, and the musicians play together!
Judges listen to each contestant and score each tune. Then scores are tabulated. If the contest has more than one round, some contestants will play again. In each round, a contestant must play tunes they haven’t played in a previous round.
When the rounds are finished, the top-scoring fiddlers receive their awards and cash prizes. Remember to tip your accompanists each 10% of any winnings you receive.
It’s important to remember that fiddle contests are subjective. The results don’t show that one fiddler is better than another; they’re just a snapshot of how the fiddlers played that day and how those particular judges perceived them. In the words of one of my favorite fiddlers, John Francis, “Take the scores they give you and move on to the next contest.”
The most important part of a fiddle contest is not the competition itself, but the jams that happen before and afterwards. As a participant, take advantage of the chance to listen to some truly great fiddlers at these jam sessions. You can also find musical peers at your level who are excited to jam with you!
What are the three categories of tunes played in a fiddle contest?
In one round, a contestant will play a breakdown, waltz, and tune of choice in that order.
A breakdown is an up-tempo dance tune that has eight measures per part. Reels and hornpipes are the most common breakdowns.
A waltz is any song in ¾ time.
A tune of choice is any tune that doesn’t fit into the two categories above. Rags, polkas, schottisches, jigs, and blues all qualify as tunes of choice.
If you’re not sure about what categories your tunes belong to, you can always ask your local fiddle organization.
How are tunes scored?
At most fiddle contests, judges individually score each of the three tunes that a contestant plays. Then, all three numbers are added together to give that contestant’s cumulative score for that round. The contestants with the highest scores advance to the next round, if there is more than one round, and then receive placement according to their scores from all rounds added together.
Every contest is a little different, so there may be variations in judging. Some contests use consensus judging, in which the judges converse to come to a consensus on the contestants’ placement. Some do not use cumulative scoring but instead start fresh each round. Read the contest’s rules to learn the details of how it is judged.
Here is an example from the Colorado Fiddle Championships of what a scoresheet might look like:
A blank fiddle contest scoresheet from the Colorado Fiddle Championships.
How can I participate in a fiddle contest?
Here’s a basic rundown of how to enter a fiddle contest. The most important thing to know is that folks at the contest will always be happy to help you, answer questions, and cheer you on.
Find a contest you’d like to enter. Here is a list of some (not all) contests to get you started.
Register. Many contests allow online registration. Others have participants register in person on the morning of the contest.
Prepare your tunes. In most contests, you will need a breakdown, waltz, and tune of choice for each round. Click here to learn about what defines each of these categories. To be safe, it’s best to have chord charts for your tunes in case your accompanists are unfamiliar with them.
Arrive at the contest. Show up at least an hour before your division begins. Contest schedules can be variable.
Find your accompanists. Notice who you’d like to play with, introduce yourself, and ask, “Would you play with me in the contest?” Tell them your division and order of play, if you know it. You may also ask to play through your tunes with them once before going onstage.
Fill out your tune sheet. List your accompanists and what you’ll play.
Play your tunes onstage! People will help you make sure that your microphone is properly adjusted before you begin. Make sure that your fiddle is in tune before you start. Once you start fiddling, just enjoy and have fun! The audience and the judges alike will be so glad you’re there playing for them.
If there are multiple rounds, be prepared to play again. If you do not make it into the next round, remember that just the fact that you entered and played is a huge success.
If you receive an award at the end of the contest, be sure to pay each accompanist 10% of your cash winnings. They work so hard to help the fiddlers sound good.
Go enjoy listening and jamming after the contest!
What if I’m new to fiddling?
You can still compete! Fiddle contests are a great way to motivate yourself and get comfortable performing. Many contests offer novice divisions in which participants only play one or two tunes. No matter your experience level, you can have a great time playing in a fiddle contest.
If you mainly play tunes from another style, welcome! As long as you know enough fiddle tunes for a round or two, you can enter a fiddle contest and have a great time. Every person who participates in a fiddle contest plays an important role in keeping this musical tradition alive.
If you’re not part of the fiddle contest community yet, you’ll likely be delighted to find how warm and welcoming folks are. You can always reach out to the contest organizer to ask most questions or to help you find people to connect with.
I’m a fiddle/violin teacher. How can my students participate?
Fiddle contests are a great way to help students stay motivated, build musical connections, learn more musical history, explore different genres, and get inspired. If you want to encourage your students to enter a fiddle contest, share this guide with them, help them register if possible, and make sure they have the appropriate tunes and chord charts. Reach out to the contest organizer with any questions. The contest will be so happy to have your students participate.
