GENERAL RULES FOR ALL CONTESTS
WINFIELD, KANSAS

September 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 2009

Contests are open to anyone except those who are performing as a billed or paid entertainer at the 2009 National Flat Pick Championships and those who have been the First Place winner within the past five years—specifically the years 2004 through 2008. However, previous winners may enter and win contests which they have not won within the last five years. For example, the First Place winner of the Bluegrass Banjo Contest in the last five years may enter and win any or all the other contests. Note: First place winners in any previous National Finger Picking Championship are eligible to compete in the International Finger Style Guitar Championship.

Only 40 contestants may compete per contest. This will be the first 40 answering when their names are called from the chronological registration lists, half hour before the contest begins. Contestants MUST HAVE A VALID, PURCHASED TICKET for day of contest.

Contestants must play instruments acoustically into microphone. An instrument's electrical capability cannot be used. Contestants may have one rhythm instrument for accompaniment. It is WVA policy that billed or paid entertainers NOT ACCOMPANY CONTESTANTS. Contestants will not be allowed to take two instruments on stage. Selection committee reserves the right to eliminate contestants whose style of playing and selection of material is not in keeping with the flavor of the festival. A MEDLEY OF TUNES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Maximum playing time of five (5) minutes for all contests except Fiddle.

In an effort to judge the contest objectively and equally, the following criteria will be considered by the judges and assigned point value in each area (except for fiddle and flat pick guitar).

40 points 1. ARRANGEMENT – Contestant's version of the tune selected. Is it appropriate to the tune and instrument? Difficulty and originality will be considered.

40 points 2. EXECUTION, TUNING – Fingering, picking and dynamics will be considered. Is the instrument in tune?

10 points 3. SHOW VALUE – The music should be played with life and feeling. It should not appear listless not should it drag.

10 points 4. OVERALL IMPRESSION

A Winfield non ci sono regole che limitano l'età e nel tempo i vincitori si sono dimostrati dei talenti :

• 2003
  • Bob Evans from Canada FIRST place
  •  Masaaki Kishibe from Japan Second place
  • Mary Flower from Colorado Third place
• 2002
  • John Standefer from Washington FIRST place
  • Phil Volan from Colorado Second place
  • Bob Evans from Canada Third place
• 2001
  • Richard Smith from Tennessee FIRST place
  • Mark Anthony Cruz from Texas Second place
  • Andy McKee from Kansas Third place
• 2000
  • Pete Huttlinger from Tennessee FIRST place
  • Julian Smith from Georgia Second place
  • Mary Flower from Colorado Third place
• 1999
  • Brad Richter from Arizona FIRST place
  • Pete Huttlinger from Tennessee Second place
  • Jay Buckey from Nevada Third place
• 1998
  • Michael Chapdelaine from New Mexico FIRST place
  • Brad Richter from Arizona Second place
  • Sam Pacetti from Florida Third place
• 1997
  • Todd Hallawell from Arizona FIRST place
  • Jalan Crossland from Wyoming Second place
  • Jason Fowler from Canada Third place
• 1996
  • Don Ross from Canada FIRST place
  • Craig Wagner from Kentucky Second place
  • Eddie Rubin from Georgia Third place
• 1995
  • Patrick Kirtley from Kentucky FIRST place
  • Steve Rector from Kentucky Second place
  • Jerome Arnold from Tennessee Third place
• 1994
  • Steven King from Washington FIRST place
  • Marvin McDonald from Washington Second place
  • Patrick Kirtley from Kentucky Third place
• 1993
  • Tim Sparks from Minnesota FIRST place
  • Mark Anthony Cruz from Oklahoma Second place
  • Marvin McDonald from Washington Third place
• 1992
  • Charles David Alexander from Washington FIRST place
  • Eric Lugosch from Pennsylvania Second place
  • Kelly Werts from Kansas Third place
• 1991
  • Ed Hall from Illinois FIRST place
  • Edgar Cruz from Oklahoma Second place
  • Joe Miller from California Third place
• 1990
  • Bradley Jones from Virginia FIRST place
  • Ronald Brooks from Florida Second place
  • Kelly Werts from Kansas Third place
• 1989
  • Muriel Anderson from Illinois FIRST place
  • Ronald Brooks from Florida Second place
  • Bradley Jones from Virginia Third place
• 1988
  • Don Ross from Canada FIRST place
  • Ronald Brooks from Florida Second place
  • Ed Hall from Illinois Third place
• 1987
  • Joe Miller from California FIRST place
  • Geoff Bartley from Massachusetts Second place
  • Don Ross from Canada Third place
• 1986
  • Phil Heywood from Minnesota FIRST place
  • Geoff Bartley from Massachusetts Second place
  • Eric Lugosch from Pennsylvania Third place
• 1985
  • Bill Mize from Tennessee FIRST place
  • Geoff Bartley from Massachusetts Second place
  • Stephen Bennett from Virginia Third place
• 1984
  • Eric Lugosch from Pennsylvania FIRST place
  • Geoff Bartley from Massachusetts Second place
  • Bill Mize from Tennessee Third place
• 1983
  • Pat Donohue from Colorado FIRST place
  • Julian McKea from California Second place
  • Eric Lugosch from Pennsylvania Third place
• 1982
  • Chris Proctor from Utah FIRST place
  • Pat Donohue from Colorado Second place
  • Ed Gerhard from New Hampshire Third place
• 1981
  • Harvey Reid from Maryland FIRST place
  • Seth Austen from Virginia Second place
  • Carl Jones from Arkansas Third place
• 1980
  • Rolly Brown from Maryland FIRST place
  • Danny Gotham from New York Second place
  • Dwight Linkhart from Colorado Third place
• 1979
  • Robert Bowlin from Arkansas FIRST place
  • Royce Campbell from Oklahoma Second place
  • John Barger from Kansas Third place
  Poi è chiaro che chi organizza deve farlo nel modo che ritiene più opportuno e funzionale o semplicemente può decidere di farlo in un certo modo xchè così gli aggrada: c'è libertà e deve essere così.

 Però sarebbe più opportuno, imho, un limite nei confronti di professionisti affermati anche se mi chiedo se poi un Franco Morone, x es., avrebbe veramente voglia di partecipare ad un concorso come questo col rischio di vedersi passare di fronte qualche giovane taalento.

Se poi un 40enne o 50enne vuol misurarsi in un contest così xchè no : credo che sia + importante la proposta musicale che non l'età della persona.

Nella realtà mi domando però quanti potrebbero essere gli over 40 o 50 che si proporrebbero.

Le regole di Winfield sono piuttosto dure mi pare.

Non voglio fare polemica semplicemente esprimere la mia opinione.

Il palco di Fpnet è comunque una buona e valida alternativa.

Non mi fate notare che x es. Ed Gerhard era piuttosto giovane quando ha vinto : lo vedo da me ma  Bob Evans però non era proprio un ragazzino.

Imho, è ben difficile che superata una certa età si possa proporre qualcosa di realmente nuovo : è umano e comprensibile.

Per cui in realtà ci pensa già la natura a porre una barriera consistente nei confronti ns (di me e dei miei coetanei) se poi c'è qualche genio nascosto che nonostante l'età ha veramente una proposta valida non gli porrei limiti.

Faccio notare però che i contest sono lo strumento usato, in genere, x selezionare i musicisti che suonano musica classica.

Chissà come sarebbe andata a finire se negli anni '60 e '70 avessero selezionato i musicisti con i contest…

I Beatles se non avessero incontrato George Martin che fine avrebbero fatto?