Mandolin Contest

[Kevin K]

Just curious what are some good choices?


Thanks.

[evanreilly]

A good slow waltz, where you can show your tremolo!!
"Lonesome Moonlight Waltz" is one I have used in a contest.

[Ken Sager]

Play songs that are not only easily recognized by judges but will also SHOW OFF YOUR BEST STUFF. If that's trad fiddle tunes, texas fiddle tunes (amped up for contests), slow waltzes, or whatever. Pick something you do well, add your flavor to it, and play it cleanly.

Most of all, have fun.

Good luck,
Ken

[mikeyes]

I agree, play what you play best and don't worry about playing something too many others can play or if what you are playing is not complex or "cool" enough. Judges usually look for clean tasteful playing and some versatility which means you should play up the neck a little, not use too many hot licks to the point that the tune itself is lost in a morass of diddleys, and choose two or three tunes that are distinctive (so don't play "Salt Creek" and "Redhaired Boy" right after each other) but are indicative of your talent. If the tunes are tastefully done (and by that I mean you don't have to do them at 300 bpm which is the tendency in a contest/stress situation and you show nice variations that preserve the tune) you have a chance. Also you will be stressed so you want to play the tunes you know the best and can play automatically.

Of course, there is nothing you can do if the person before you is some child genius who blows everyone's socks off. That happened to me many years ago at a Buddy Spicher festival and fiddle contest when I played "Bill Cheatam" right after some snot-nosed kid did the same thing. He was Mark O'Connor who was about 14 or 15 and making his living at fiddle contests at the time and just getting into the Nashville scene. It did teach me to never enter a contest again, but I have judged them.

So do what you do best, that's all you can ask of yourself. The choice of a tune is not that important (although an "orginal tune" is often the wrong thing to do unless it is really a good tune, I mean really can't stop humming it good) but the approach to the tune is what the judges look for unless you are Rhonda Vincent then they just look.

Contests are not the best way to massage your ego, you are up there in front of all your peers, friends and enemies exposed totally, or at least it seems like it. I'm saying this not to discourage you but to help you realize that you will have to go on automatic pilot and any thinking (such as trying to remember your next lick) is fatal. Take your best tunes, practice them and then practice again and then just play them in the contest.

[keymandoguy]

Most contests have one fast and one slow song If it were me I would pick Kentucky Waltz using lots of tremalo, and maybe Down Yonder http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

If i go to the contest i would want to here fast up beat kickin tunes like Rawhide, and Bluegrass Breakdown. Amanda Jewel is another good one.

[Phogg]

Fast---------Ragtime Annie

Slow---------Lara's Theme (Somewhere My Love)

[Dfyngravity]

What ever you choose make sure you are 100% comfortable with both tunes. Just remember one thing on a fast tune, never play faster or try to play faster than when you are playing alone and completly relaxed. Im not to sure if you have done this before or not, or if you have played in front of crowds but usually you tend to tense up a little and try to play faster to impress people. But remember, clarity and tone are far more important than something that is blazing fast that sounds kind of disjointed.

As for the slow tune, you want to sound just silky smooth. You really want to work on timing, tone, and of course tremelo(if you chose to do so in the song). A well played slow tune impresses me just as much and sometimes more than a fast tune.

Tunes that I like, well:
Lonesome Moonlight Waltz
O'Carolan's Draught(Mr. Tichenor plays this wonderfully on the mp3 page)

Faster tunes:
Jerusalem Ridge
Any fiddle tune that you know well

One last thing to remember. Make each tune your own tune. If a teacher asks a class for a definition any one can look it up in the back of the book and read it word for word. But if you know it and put it in your own words they are much more impressed. Obviously, same thing applys here. You don't have to improv the whole thing, but make it your own. And go out there thinking no one, even the best can beat you. Confidence is the key, even if it's just for fun.

[mandowood]

Where can I find the tab for lonesome moonlight waltz? thanks

[Doug Edwards]

I played my first contest last year. I came in 4th out of 8, ahead of some I thought were better players. Timing and clean playing under stress will make a big difference. I used "Jerusalem Ridge" and "What a Friend We have In Jesus" as my selections.

[mandopete]

A couple of years back I won the mando contest at the Chilliwack bluegrass festival with the Sam Bush version Goin' Back To Old Kentucky off of the Bluegrass Mandolin Extravanganza recording. #There are a number of great mando tunes on that recording that would make great fodder for a contest. #Seems like everyone does a Bill Monroe tune.