Want to Show Your Stuff at the SC State Fiddling Championship?

The Pickens County Museum of Art and History recently announced the date for the 17th Annual Ole Time Fiddlin Convention and Second Annual SC State Fiddling Championship. 

Last year's inaugural fiddling championship brought a large crowd out to the Hagood Mill to watch the performers.

If you would like to compete in the competitions, here are the official rules. 

(1) Registration for String Band Competition and Fiddling Championship is in advance by email to picmus@co.pickens.sc.us or by phone to the Pickens County Museum (864-898-5963) with a deadline of noon Friday, September 14. Please give name of band and contact info for one member.

(2) All other category registration must be completed 1 hour before competition begins at the mill site on festival day.

(3) The individual instrument categories are as follows:

(A) Fiddle,               (B) Old Time Banjo,               (C) Guitar               (D) “Wildcat” Open Category.

(E) We also will have Junior Fiddle and (F) Junior Open (under age 16) categories (Juniors that wish to compete in an adult category cannot also compete in that same category in the Jr. competition.)

(4) The judges’ decision is final.

(5) The judges will not enter or play in any competition category.

(6) No electric instruments will be permitted.

(7) Each contestant will play one tune except fiddlers, who will be asked to play two tunes, one slow and one fast. Instrument competition will be all instrumentals. All string bands will be asked to play a mini-set consisting of five tunes to include at least one vocal number and one slow tune with several breakdown dance tunes (note: depending on the number of entries, we may choose at our discretion to shorten this mini-set for each band).

(8) Each individual contestant (not bands) is encouraged to observe a time limit of three (3) minutes per tune.

(9) Each contestant may have one accompanist, but this is not required.

(10) Contestants may enter as many categories as they wish. However, contestants may enter the “open” category only once.

(11) No category will be judged unless there is a minimum of three entries competing in that category.

(12) Contestants must be present and play when scheduled. Allowances will be made for broken strings and other things beyond the control of the contestant. Once a category is closed, late arrivals or no-shows will be eliminated.

(13) Emphasis will be on old time or traditional music. Tunes and playing styles should be traditional old time, not modern, progressive bluegrass, or other styles. However, Bluegrass fiddlers may enter the fiddle competition. “Show off” tunes, such as Orange Blossom Special, Whoa Mule, etc. should be avoided. Original material consistent with the tradition is acceptable.

(14) An “old time string band” must consist of a fiddle, banjo, and at least one other stringed instrument (guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, etc.) with a maximum of six instruments. Musicians can only enter in one band.

(15) In the event of a tie, there will be a play-off. A contestant may not repeat the same tune in the play-off that he or she played earlier in the competition category.

(16) Contestants will be judged on tuning, rhythm & timing (even & consistent- any jerking, rushing, dragging, or unevenness in tempo will result in loss of points), and execution (tonal quality and clarity of performance and general command of the instrument). Creativity and expression will also be judged as well as authenticity of style. Variations and improvisations will be allowed under creativity, but these should not be excessive, so as to destroy or change the basic melody line of the tune. Expression will be judged by the “feeling” expressed in the contestant’s performance. Flat, mechanical and unfeeling performances, as well as excessive “showmanship”, will result in loss of points.

For additional information please contact the Pickens County Museum at (864) 898-5963. For Ole Time Fiddlin’ Competition rules and guidelines please request by email at picmus@co.pickens.sc.us