Rhumba King Details

Heads up for everyone... the Rhumba King is coming soon!

Rhumba King
Original Blues Harmonica Instrumental Songwriting Contest by BluesHarmonica.com and the Harmonica Masters Workshop

It’s time to place what you’ve been learning at BluesHarmonica.com into context! The top three entries will win entrance to the Harmonica Masters Workshop in Trossingen, Germany 10/31-11/4/2012 (http://www.harmonica-masters.de/) as well as have the opportunity to perform their compositions live with B.B. & the Blues Shacks at the Harmonica Masters Concert Friday evening November 2nd! The audience will judge the three performances, with the overall winner crowned Rhumba King and given the opportunity to perform with David Barrett at the end of the evening.

Guidelines
1) Use Diatonic or Chromatic Harmonica - Custom tunings, valving, etc. are allowed. You may also use more than one harmonica if you wish (switching harps in multiple positions).
2) Original instrumental composition (no vocals) - Adapting a non-harmonica tune to the harmonica or rearranging another popular harmonica tune is allowed, but arrangements too close to the original will be scored low.
3) May be acoustic or amplified
4) Accompanied - There must be at least one other instrument to accompany you. Using a pre-recorded jam track (most will do this), a live band or just a guitarist/pianist are all good examples. You may have other instruments solo in your instrumental.
5) Groove – Rhumba or other Latin groove very close to the Rhumba (email David Barrett with a sample if you’re not sure)
6) Must be able to recreate the composition live on the bandstand (including no electronic loopers or sound-on-sound devises).
7) Less than 5 minutes in length
8) Must be a current, subscribed member of BluesHarmonica.com from the date of your submission to the announcement of the winners. You can live anywhere in the world and participate.
9) You may not use a submission previously used at BluesHarmonica.com (such as the Shuffle King or King of the Swing)
10) Have fun… enjoy the process!

Judging Criteria
Good instrumental writing practices are taught in detail in the ten Improvising Study lessons at BluesHarmonica.com, but here are the general areas judges David Barrett (BluesHarmonica.com), Steve Baker (SteveBaker.de) and Lee Sankey (LeeSankey.com) are focusing on…
1) Head/Hook - How catchy is your hook or head in your composition? If we can't stop humming it after we listen, you did a great job!
2) Body - This is the solo section of your instrumental. How well you use Chorus Forms, Focus Notes, Rhythm, Texture, Breaks, Bridge, Dynamics and possible a Soloing Theme to make your soloing interesting.
3) Execution - This is the technical side of your performance: your tone, rhythm, control of technique (bends played in tune), etc. This doesn’t mean that you have to use difficult techniques in your composition (areas 1 and 2 above are scored higher), but what you do play should be executed well.

Performance
The top three entries will be given a access to attend classes, jam sessions and performances at the Harmonica Masters Workshop. This access is non-transferable. We’ll rehearse late in the afternoon on Friday. Winners will be responsible for travel, lodging and all other expenses.

Rhumba Lessons and Jam Tracks on BluesHarmonica.com
1) “Rollin’ Rhumba” 3rd Position Studies 1, 2 and 3
2) Solo Harmonica Study 1 (Examples 2.4 through 2.6), Study 2 (Examples 2.3 and 2.4) and Study 3 (Examples 2.3 through 2.5)
3) “Minor Mambo” Gary Smith Artist Study

Schedule
4/1 - Entries can be uploaded to site
7/15 - No more entries accepted
8/1 - Winners announced
11/2 - Performance!