Dru Lee Parsec
Mar-01-2004, 2:07pm
Hi folks. I'm starting to plan and practice for this year's Julian Bluegrass Festival's guitar and mandolin competitions.
The problem is, there are no rules published. So I don't know if I can play fingerstyle guitar or not. If fingerstyle is allowed then I'll play :
The Last Steam Engine Train: John Fahey (fingerstyle)
Lady's Fancy: Dan Crary (Flatpick)
If Fingerstyle is not allowed then I think I'll either do a version of Soldier's Joy with a jazzy/bluesy solo section or I'll do Mark O'Conner's "Dixie Breakdown".
For the mandolin contest I can't seem to make up my mind what to play. I'm thinking of doing "Red Haired Boy" with a bluesy solo section. This is the way I normally solo to RHB but it might be too similar to the Soldier's Joy version I'd be doing on guitar. It might also be too simple.
I'd kind of like to learn "Cuckoo's Nest" (From the first Nickel Creek album) for my 2nd song but I noticed last year that there were a lot of Chris Thile tunes being played. One girl played both Raining at Sunset AND Song for a Young Queen. She had a few rough spots, but overall did an really good job (I think she won 1st prize in the advanced section). As much as I like Chris's music I wonder if I should avoid being one of the Chris Thile wanna be's. Also, we have to remember that John Moore is usually one of the judges. John was Chris's mandolin teacher so he's heard it all before and he's heard it all done by Chris.
So do you folks have any suggestions for songs/arrangements ? Have you done competitions before? If so what did you learn form the experience?
Thanks
The problem is, there are no rules published. So I don't know if I can play fingerstyle guitar or not. If fingerstyle is allowed then I'll play :
The Last Steam Engine Train: John Fahey (fingerstyle)
Lady's Fancy: Dan Crary (Flatpick)
If Fingerstyle is not allowed then I think I'll either do a version of Soldier's Joy with a jazzy/bluesy solo section or I'll do Mark O'Conner's "Dixie Breakdown".
For the mandolin contest I can't seem to make up my mind what to play. I'm thinking of doing "Red Haired Boy" with a bluesy solo section. This is the way I normally solo to RHB but it might be too similar to the Soldier's Joy version I'd be doing on guitar. It might also be too simple.
I'd kind of like to learn "Cuckoo's Nest" (From the first Nickel Creek album) for my 2nd song but I noticed last year that there were a lot of Chris Thile tunes being played. One girl played both Raining at Sunset AND Song for a Young Queen. She had a few rough spots, but overall did an really good job (I think she won 1st prize in the advanced section). As much as I like Chris's music I wonder if I should avoid being one of the Chris Thile wanna be's. Also, we have to remember that John Moore is usually one of the judges. John was Chris's mandolin teacher so he's heard it all before and he's heard it all done by Chris.
So do you folks have any suggestions for songs/arrangements ? Have you done competitions before? If so what did you learn form the experience?
Thanks