Shuffle King/Queen - BluesHarmonica.com Original Instrumental Songwriting Contest is Coming Soon!
As current subscribers here's your head start... this will be official as of the March 1st announcement. Improvising/Song Writing lessons will start to go on the site in March. Have fun and enjoy the process... it doesn't matter what skill level you're at... this is your student concert!
Shuffle King
BluesHarmonica.com Original Instrumental Songwriting Contest
Sponsored by Hohner Harmonicas (hohnerusa.com), MegaTone Amps (megatoneamps.com), Eminence Speakers (eminence.com) and Fritz Hasenpusch Custom Mics (harpmicman.com)
Prizes:
- 1st Place: Set of 5 Hohner Blue Midnight Harmonicas; Hohner harmonica case; MegaTone David Barrett Signature Harp Monitor; harp mic overhaul by Fritz Hasenpusch Custom Mics, History of the Blues Harmonica Concert 2xCD Set; signed certificate by judges
- 2nd Place: Set of 5 Hohner Blue Midnight Harmonicas; Hohner harmonica case; History of the Blues Harmonica Concert 2xCD Set; signed certificate by judges
- 3rd Place: Hohner harmonica case; History of the Blues Harmonica Concert 2xCD Set; signed certificate by judges
Rules:
1) Use Diatonic 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 – Even though the contest is called the “Shuffle King,” the groove can be of any type as long as it’s 80bmp or faster.
6) Must be recreatable 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.
9) Have fun… enjoy the process!
Judging Criteria:
Good instrumental writing practices are taught in detail in the Improvising Study lessons at BluesHarmonica.com, but here are the general areas we’re focusing on as judges (David Barrett, Mark Hummel and Rick Estrin) for this contest.
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 and possible 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.
4) Recording quality is of no concern.
Timeline
3/1 – Contest Announced
4/1 – Submissions can be uploaded to website
7/1 – No more submissions will be accepted and judging begins
8/15 – Winners announced
