Annual tribute to Merle Travis and the thumbpicking style includes a one day master class, contests and peformances from Danny Dozier, Thom Bresh and Randy Buckner. 2020Thumbpicking Weekend -Ozark Folk Center State Park
15& 16, 2020 Mountain View, Arkansas
Celebrating Merle Travis with Featured Performers/Instructors
Thom Bresh, Randy Buckner and Danny Dozier
Schedule of Events
Friday May 15th
Master Class- Beginners Randy Buckner 9AM-4PM
During the first half of the beginning workshop you’ll learn an easy two-chord fingerstyle arrangement, “Jericho.” After a one-hour lunch break, you’ll learn basic open position fingerstyle chords, alternating-bass patterns for each chord, and right-hand picking exercises designed to develop your ability to play the styles of Chet Adkins and Merle Travis
Master Class Intermediate Danny Dozier 9AM-4PM
Danny's class covers the Blues side of the Thumbpicking. Learn Merle's "Fuller Blues" and dig into other Blues tunes that utilize the style including songs from Rev. Gary Davis and Robert Johnson. Students should bring a slide, for this workshop.
Students will meet in the Administration Building at 9am and break off into separate classrooms with their instructor.
Evening Concert 7PM - Performers to be announced
Saturday May 18th
***12 NOON Deadline to sign up and register for contests*** SeeCONTEST SEC BELOW
Merle Travis Pickin Panel-10am-12noon White Oak Theater
Join Thom, Danny, Randy as they pick and chat about their favorite tunes.
2:30-4:00 Contemporary/Open Fingerstyle Contest
4:30-6:30 Traditional Thumbpicking Contest
Evening Concert 7p Large Auditorium-Thom Bresh
RETURN TO OUR HOMEPAGE ON TICKET LEAP TO BUY TICKETS FOR EVENING SHOWS ONLY
Workshop /Contest Registrations
$79.75 Master Class and ALL EVENTS PASS
Includes one day master class on Friday, admission to the Pickin Panel on Saturday, registration for either or both contests and admission to both Friday and Saturday Evening shows. Students will recieve a name badge when checking in, which is good for admission to all events and concerts for the weekend.
Students can move to any class on the day of the workshop, if desired. Your registration selection gives us an idea of how many students to prepare for, in each level.
$11.50 Contest Particpant Only
Chose either Traditional or Contemporary Contest. Your name will be added to the roster when you register online. This registration fee is ONLY for those who are not registered for a workshop.
$22.00 BOTH Contests Particpant Only
Fee includes entry into both Traditional and Contemporary contests. Your name will be added to the roster when you register online. This registration fee is ONLY for those who are not registered for a workshop.
Arkansas State Guitar Contest General Rules
SIGN UP AND FEE PAYABLE ONLINE.
Walk up, day of registration is $15 for single entry $30 for both.
CONTEST SCHEDULE AND IMPORTANT TIMES
2:30-4:00 Contemporary Finger Style Contest Saturday
Contestants Report Backstage in Large Music Auditorium @ 2:15
4:30-6:30 Traditional Thumbpicking Contest Saturday Contestants Report Backstage in Large Music Auditorium @ 4:15
Contestants must be at the contest stage 15 minutes prior to the start of each division on Saturday to draw for initial order of appearance in the preliminary round. There are two categories of competition: Traditional Thumbpicking and Contemporary Fingerstyle. In an effort to complete the competition in a professional and timely manner, contestants who are not present by 15 minutes prior to draw for playing order will be disqualified from the competition and will forfeit entry fee. It is the responsibility of each contestant to be prompt both in drawing for picking order and performance time. Due to limited space, the green room / rehearsal area is for contestants only.
Contestants must be prepared to play two tunes at each contest appearance. No tune shall be played more than once during all appearances of a contestant. Performances time is limited to five (5) minutes for each contestant per round. Points will be deducted if a performance exceeds the allowed time frame.
Contestants are not permitted to speak on stage
Prizes: Each category has a $1000 (1st), $300 (2nd) and $175 (3rd) prize. Contestants Winner of the Arkansas State Finger Style Guitar Contest will secure admission to the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas.
Thumbpicking Guitar Contest Rules
*Contestants in this category will be required to perform tunes which demonstrate thumb picking in a traditional manner, such as any Merle Travis, or early Chet Atkins tunes.
*Contestants are required to play tunes which use a steady and alternating bass pattern with their thumb. This may be performed utilizing a thumb pick, or bare thumb. Finger picks may be used. No flat picks are allowed.
*All instruments used must be acoustic guitars. Competitors will NOT have the option to run direct.
*Judging will be on traditional thumb picking ability, arrangement, rhythm and timing, tone quality, overall performance, and tuning.
*A MEDLEY OF TUNES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Standard Walnut Valley Rules Applied
In an effort to judge the contest objectively and equally, the following criteria will be considered by the judges and assigned point value in each area
40 points 1. ARRANGEMENT - Contestant’s version of the tune selected. Is it appropriate to the tune and instrument? Difficulty and originality will be considered.
40 points 2. EXECUTION, TUNING - Fingering, picking and dynamics will be considered. Is the instrument in tune?
10 points 3. SHOW VALUE - The music should be played with life and feeling. It should not appear listless nor should it drag.
10 points 4. OVERALL IMPRESSION
Contestants will be prepared to play two instrumental numbers. CONTESTANT MAY PLAY ANY STYLE OF MUSIC, BUT FLAT PICK AND SLIDE TECHNIQUES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. Contestants may use thumb and finger picks. NO FLAT PICK. Standard / traditional acoustic 6-string or standard / traditional acoustic 12-string arch top or flat top guitars with either steel or nylon strings are allowed. Special tunings will be allowed. However, the contestant will NOT be allowed to take two instruments on stage. Maximum playing time is five (5) minutes. Standard or traditional style capos may be used, but no capos which allow the alteration of individual strings, such as the Third Hand Capo, the G7 Capo, AND no partial capos depressing some, but not all strings will be allowed. CAPOS, IF USED, MUST BE APPLIED ACROSS ALL STRINGS OF THE INSTRUMENT.
Arkansas State Finger Style Guitar Contest Rules
The winner of this competition will earn admission to the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship held at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. The rules and stipulations for this contest are constructed in a manner to be consistent with those for Walnut Valley Festival.
General Rules (Walnut Valley Festival Rules)
This contest is open to anyone except: Those performing as a billed or paid entertainer or workshop leader at the 2019 Thumbpicking Weekend and those who have won the Arkansas State Fingerstyle Guitar Contest in the past year or those who have won the International Finger Style Guitar Championship in the past five years.
Contestants must play instruments acoustically into a microphone. An instrument's electrical capability cannot be used. You may retune your instrument between instrumental numbers using a portable electronic tuner. BE AWARE that time spent retuning your instrument on stage will be included as part of the Maximum Playing time of 5 minutes.
Contestants may have one rhythm instrument for accompaniment. It is Ozark Folk Center State Park policy that billed or paid entertainers or workshop leaders NOT ACCOMPANY CONTESTANTS. Contestants will not be allowed to take two instruments on stage. Selection committee reserves the right to eliminate contestants whose style of playing and selection of material are not in keeping with the flavor of the style of the contest. .
Judges will be selected by the contest organizers prior to the contest. They will remain sequestered for the duration of the contest.
A MEDLEY OF TUNES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
This is an open fingerstyle class; Finger picks may be used. No flat picks are allowed.
All instruments used must be acoustic guitars. Competitors will NOT have the option to run direct.
Judging will be on ability, arrangement, rhythm and timing, tone quality, overall performance, and tuning.
Standard Winfield Rules Applied
In an effort to judge the contest objectively and equally, the following criteria will be considered by the judges and assigned point value in each area
40 points 1. ARRANGEMENT - Contestant’s version of the tune selected. Is it appropriate to the tune and instrument? Difficulty and originality will be considered.
40 points 2. EXECUTION, TUNING - Fingering, picking and dynamics will be considered. Is the instrument in tune?
10 points 3. SHOW VALUE - The music should be played with life and feeling. It should not appear listless nor should it drag.
10 points 4. OVERALL IMPRESSION
Contestants will be prepared to play two instrumental numbers. CONTESTANT MAY PLAY ANY STYLE OF MUSIC, BUT FLAT PICK AND SLIDE TECHNIQUES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. Contestants may use thumb and finger picks. NO FLAT PICK. Standard / traditional acoustic 6-string or standard / traditional acoustic 12-string arch top or flat top guitars with either steel or nylon strings are allowed. Special tunings will be allowed. However, the contestant will NOT be allowed to take two instruments on stage. Maximum playing time is five (5) minutes. Standard or traditional style capos may be used, but no capos which allow the alteration of individual strings, such as the Third Hand Capo, the G7 Capo, AND no partial capos depressing some, but not all strings will be allowed. CAPOS, IF USED, MUST BE APPLIED ACROSS ALL STRINGS OF THE INSTRUMENT.