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. 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. Every competitor pays just one fee, allowing entry to as many sections as you wish. You may enter as a “youth” (which now includes the old junior class) if you are under 18 on the day of the contest. Note that you will compete on the Saturday. You may enter one or more classes, but you must play different music in each. Entries in the Solo Jazz class must include the melody and improvisation. CD backings and copies of sheet music for the judges (unless you are playing by ear) must reach Steve Dooley, The Old Rectory, South Pool, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 2RP, 01548 531252. by 18th Oct 2008. 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, (2006) Tony Jokes, (2007) Tony Jukes, (2008) Luke Shaw 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, (2006) Eddie Ong/John Jones,(2007) Eddie Ong, (2008) Mark Hemmings 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.