Rules for Harmonica Contestants

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RULES We suggest you print and study these rules to avoid misunderstanding and disappointment on the day. There are two forms, one for your payment, and another for your contest entry or entries. You will be DISQUALIFIED if time limits are EXCEEDED excessively - marks will be DEDUCTED if you OVERRUN SOLO CLASSES ONLY - You may play unaccompanied, or be accompanied by an instrument except another harmonica. You can bring an accompanist or provide a backing on audio CD only. Important - Any setting up must be done within your allotted time - e.g. if you have four minutes, and take 3 minutes to set up, you will be left with only 1 minute to play! Our general advice is to avoid having to set up any equipment. Any such requirement must be agreed with the organisers beforehand. Do not exceed your allotted time. ALL CONTEST ENTRIES - There are no set pieces - choose one or more pieces of music to total no more than the time limit - see above. ONLY AMATEURS may compete - i.e. harmonica must not be your main source of income. Each contestant pays one fee, using a festival entry form to provide his name and address and sending it with his own fee. He may also book other things using this form. There is no separate fee for a group entry. A contestant may enter as many sections of the contest as he wishes, but may compete only once in any class. Amplification will be provided, but only to assist an acoustic performance. This ensures a level playing field, as it enables the adjudicator to hear and judge the player, not the equipment. You may enter as a “youth” if you are under 18 on the day of the contest. Please note, this now includes the old junior section You may enter one or more classes. CD backings and copies of sheet music for the judges (unless you are playing by ear) must reach Peter Wheat, The Bungalow, Shepherds Walk, Woodley, Berks RG6 1BS, 0118 901 4234 by 20th September 2004. Late entries will only be allowed if there is room in the programme. Winners will be awarded trophies etc., which they may keep. Special trophies (e.g. The Ken Howell Memorial Cup, which is awarded for the adult jazz solo) are retained by the NHL and the winners name is added. A word of advice - Judges can usually tell how good you are from just the first few notes you play. They won't thank you if you bore them! And you get no marks for quantity. It is easier to keep a short piece interesting. But, it may help to choose a piece with scope for you to show some variety in your playing. You will be disqualified if time limits are exceeded excessively - marks will be deducted if you overrun. THE JUDGES DECISIONS ARE FINAL. CLASSES 1) SOLO CHROMATIC ENTRY - 1 player: up to 4 minutes of own choice music. 1A) DIATONIC BLUES AND ROCK - any diatonic harmonica(blues harp not chromatic) - 1 player: up to 4 minutes of own choice music. 1B) DIATONIC STRAIGHT MELODIC - any model/tuning of diatonic harmonica, not a chromatic - 1 player: up to 4 minutes of own choice music. 1C) JAZZ SOLO (Any Type of Harmonica) - any choice of harmonica - 1 Player: up to 4 minutes of own choice music. 2) HARMONICA DUO - 2 players: any harmonicas may be used (only harmonicas) - up to 6 minutes of own choice music. 3) HARMONICA TRIO 3 players: any harmonicas may be used (only harmonicas) - up to 6 minutes of own choice music. 4) HARMONICA GROUP - 4, 5, or 6 players: any harmonicas may be used (only harmonicas) - up to 8 minutes of own choice music. 5) HARMONICA BAND - 7 or more players: any harmonicas may be used (only harmonicas) - up to 10 minutes of own choice music. Previous winners Here are some recent winners of the competitions. They were members like you when they won, and some have gone on to great things. Diatonic Blues - (1989)Ian Briggs, (1990)Kieran Doherty, (1991)Steve Hillan, (1992)Ken Howell, (1993)Lee Sankey, (1994)John Burr, (1996)Vinny Reed, (1997)Paul Gillings, (1998)Kevin Wells, (1999)Robin Andrews, (2000)Stuart Farquharson, (2001)Stuart Farquharson, (2002) Adam Wirich, (2003) Tony Jukes, (2004)Frank Bard, (2005) Tony Jukes Chromatic Solo - (1988-91)Julian Jackson, (1992)Ken Howell, (1993)John Brassington, (1997)Roy Green, (1999)Levy Bourbonnais, (2000)David Inns, (2001)Stuart Farquharson, (2002) Philip Achille, (2003) Gerry Ezard, (2004) Philip Achille, (2005) Philip Achille. Please email us if you have not found what you want to know about harmonicas in this web site. Return to top, or the main festival page.