Picking to Win

by Mike Sumner

Maybe you tried once. Perhaps you have always wanted to but didn’t cross the contest line. Or maybe you’re a veteran contestant and its old news to you. For some of you, watching is the fun part. Wherever you find yourself, as a contestant, backup musician, judge or a bystander, bluegrass instrument contests can be a great place to watch phenomenal musicians perform in a high stress environment.

You can find various levels of bluegrass instrument contests scattered across the US. These contests range from non government sanctioned location based contests to state/national sanctioned contests with state and national titles on the line as well as great prizes for the winners. A quick Google search will yield the information you need if you’re looking for a contest near you.

Bluegrass banjo contests attract some very competitive and highly skilled musicians. For those who do compete, they are driven and are there for one reason… to win. With that in mind, let’s take a look at an approach that can help place you in the top finishers for some of these contests.

Let’s remember what we’re talking about… a competition. Human beings who are striving to be the best at their craft are being measured by other human beings. These contestants have voluntarily placed themselves under the subjective eye of the judges. These contests are for the most part subjective in nature. That means for the day of the competition a winner has been selected that pleased the judge’s most that day. This could be due to song selection, execution or many other measurable quantities the day of the contest. Judges do impart their judgment according to certain criteria as provided by the contest. The criteria by which the judges will be reviewing contestants are generally posted prior to the competition. Judges often are listening to contestants for hours. This long process is something to keep in mind when its your turn to compete. If there is a time limit, honor it. There are times when the most knowledgeable contestant won’t win. There are times when the contestant with the cleanest style won’t win. There are contests across the land that make every effort to remove subjectivity from the competition. Judges are hidden, contestants are forbidden to speak to keep anonymity and accompanists aren’t provided microphones. These by far are some of the toughest competitions and attract very gifted competitive musicians. Try to remember that the contest is subjective in one way or another. Approach the contest with these thoughts in mind as you prepare your tunes for the competition.

Are you ready? A contestant can’t expect to throw together a couple of bluegrass songs and hop into a contest. If you are playing to win, there is much planning and practicing invested prior to the competition. Don’t think that Cripple Creek and Foggy Mt. Breakdown executed at a near Scruggs level will win you the contest. Song selection, approach and much practice are all variables that are associated with contest winners. By the time the contest is in full swing, hundreds of hours of practice have accompanied the winners to the circle. There are also many contest players who put in the practice time needed yet haven’t even qualified for the finals in these competitions. If you are playing to win, put in the time needed to get yourself to the winner’s circle. You may be an amazing musician and maybe the most knowledgeable contestant, but without the hours played under the pressure of a competition, even the very best fold under that kind of pressure.

What songs do I play? Judges have heard it all. Remember that. The traditional contest songs, fiddle tunes, classical, jazz, fiddle tunes and original compositions. Play a tune, or tunes, that have a melody that can be followed by the judges and the other contest attendants. A confusing melody might be impressive but if it is hard to follow, you run the risk of losing the judges. Once they have lost interest in the tune, you’re wasting your time. Try to keep the judges listening with songs that are interesting. The success I’ve had has been from using a balanced approach. For a qualifying round that required two songs played I might play one fast and one medium tempo song. If I made it to the finals I would stick with that same approach. In my opinion, one of the greatest contest musicians on the banjo is 1983 National Bluegrass Banjo champion, Mike Snider. He chose great songs and crafted them in such a way that allowed the judges to see his skill without losing the judges due to leaving the melody. Some of the songs I’ve used in the past are: Shucking the Corn (great traditional song), El Cumbenchero (fast song, great melody, challenging), Alabama Jubilee (wonderful melody), Charmaine, When You’re Smilin’, Little Rock Getaway, Bully of the Town and Lady of Spain. I’ve also used originals that have an easy to follow melody yet keep the judges interested. Try using songs that haven’t been played to death in the contest yet select songs that are familiar to the judges. Original songs are outside the familiar scope for the judges. Keep the melody interesting and try not to lose the judges.

How do I craft the song? Is there a proper way? Play your style. Don’t try to be someone else. Your style may sound very similar to a well known banjo player but don’t try to play something that isn’t who you are as a musician. If you are a strong Scruggs player with a Reno twist, construct the songs to highlight those skills. If you are a chromatic/melodic player with a single string flare, create song solos that enhance those styles while staying close to the melody. Staying true to the melody in creative ways will take a contestant a long way toward the winner’s circle. Judges have heard more than you can imagine. A creative approach to a song executed with taste and finesse will stand out. That is what you’re shooting for… make the judges stop and listen. Stand out. Be creative and craft those song solos to highlight your style and gifts. Don’t be anyone else at the contest… be yourself and be confident.

It’s time to execute! You may have played in front of mom and dad or you may have played in front of thousands of people. Either way, when you get on the competition stage, the shakes will tempt you or grab you. There have been times when my entire body was shaking due to the pressure of the competition. Some people don’t experience this… but most do. Expect it. Practice like you’re already there at the competition. Over and over… find yourself at the competition in your mind. The judges are there… the competitors… that competitor you can’t seem to beat. They are all there in your mind. Practice that way. You’ll begin to feel that same pressure. If you can practice under that pressure (with a metronome of course) and deliver, when you get on stage it will be a bit easier. Use those practice regiments that reduce the contest performing pressure. When you finally get on that stage… reverse it. Take yourself back to your practice area. There isn’t anyone around you and you are executing flawlessly. If playing in that environment doesn’t affect you, then shine. Watch the people as you play… entertain them. Do your best to enjoy the moment. This is the moment you’ve been preparing for... its time to fly!

When the contest is over, be gracious. Whether you win or lose its about music and the love of music. We are competitors… yes. But arrogant sore losers hurt the entire competition. Be gracious. If you feel you did better than where you were judged to be, then go back the next year and try again. Try tweaking a couple things about your style. Maybe you didn’t execute as good as you thought. It is possible that you put too much into the song. I’ve seen some amazing banjo competitors lose in part due to having too much content in the song. Don’t try to put every lick you know into the song. Play the song’s melody and play it creatively in only the way that you can. All in all bluegrass banjo competitions are great fun and allow you the opportunity to meet some amazing musicians all the while challenging each of us to be better musicians and better people.

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