FIDDLE RULES

1.     Contestants in all classes (except 6 & Under, 9 & Under and Novice) are required to play a WALTZ, a JIG and a REEL (or hoedown, breakdown or hornpipe) in that order. 

2.     No written music is to be used by fiddle competitors on stage. 

3.     If there are more than ten (10) contestants in any category that requires a WALTZ, JIG and REEL, the Committee may ask that the contestants play a WALTZ and EITHER a JIG or a REEL.

4.     Contestants in the 6&Under and the 9&Under class are required to play ONLY ONE (1) of a WALTZ, a JIG or a REEL.

5.     Competitors for Youngest Fiddler Trophy will have to play a recognizable fiddle tune of at least two parts. 

6.     Contestants in the Novice Category (Ages 10-15) must play a WALTZ and one (1) of a JIG or REEL (or breakdown).

7.     Tunes must be accepted Old Time type and Canadian Style. The TUNE OF CHOICE for the OPEN FIDDLE CLASS is exempted from this rule.

8.     In the Open Class, if a contestant goes on to the playdowns, three (3) different tunes must be played from those played in the preliminaries. Open Class Finalists must complete their tunes within a 5 minute and 30 second time span.

9.     GOSPEL CLASS: The Gospel Class is open to all contestants. Any combination of two or more fiddlers, no age limit. Contestants must play (2) two gospel tunes of contrasting tempo and within a (3) three minute time limit. Contestants must play in harmony parts following the melody.

10.     DUET CLASS: Open to all contestants. Any combination of two fiddlers, no age limit. Must play in harmony a WALTZ and a TUNE OF CHOICE in that order. Top three (3) will play again Saturday night in the Finals. 

11.  Junior Duet Class: This class is open to Ages 15 & Under (both fiddlers competing must be age 15 or under on the day of competition). They are required to play a WALTZ and TUNE OF CHOICE in harmony, in that order.

12.  Robert Rathwell Memorial Trophy, CANADIAN TUNE OF CHOICE CLASS (OPEN FIDDLE Category): The final round set of tunes will consist of a Waltz, Jig, Reel and a Canadian composed tune of choice, played in that order, within a 5 minute and thirty second time limit. Playing over the time limit will result in a five mark penalty from the combined total of judges’ scores of the TUNE OF CHOICE. The name and composer of the Canadian composed TUNE OF CHOICE must be indicated on the Contestant Registration form for the OPEN FIDDLE class contestants. The Canadian TUNE OF CHOICE can be in any style. The Canadian TUNE OF CHOICE is marked separately from the WALTZ, JIG and REEL, for the purpose of the separate Canadian TUNE OF CHOICE prize.

13.   All competing fiddlers will be allowed the choice of either a piano or a guitar for accompaniment. The accompanist will not be allowed to play the melody while the fiddler competes. A standby piano accompanist (House Pianist) is available.

14.  Judging will be based on the following: degree of difficulty, tone, timing, tempo, intonation, bowing, feeling for tune(s) as well as choice of tune(s) over a 4 minute period of judged performance.

15. Winners of Fiddle Categories will receive prize(s) and perform again in the Final Show on Saturday night.