Gold Medal & Amateur Bass Drumming
Rules and Regulations

Premier Percussion presents the 2008 Davis Drums - Midwest Highland Arts Fund Gold Medal Solo Bass Drumming Championship and Amateur Solo Bass Drumming Championships.

1. Competitor Qualifications

  • Gold Medal Solo Bass Drumming Championshi

A Competitor registered as an Open or Professional solo bass drummer by his/her home association must enter this contest. If a home association does not offer solo bass membership or grading guidelines, those drummers who compete in registered Grade 1 or 2 pipe bands must enter the Gold Medal contest.

An Applicant, registered as an Intermediate or Amateur solo bass drummer or who plays in a registered Grade 3 or lower graded band, who wishes to compete in the Gold Medal contest must contact Cliff Davis at cliff@mhaf.org
  • Intermediate Amateur Solo Bass Drumming Championship

A Competitor registered as a Novice solo bass drummer by his/her home association must enter this contest. If a home association does not offer solo bass membership or grading guidelines, those drummers who compete in registered Grade 5 pipe bands must enter the Novice contest.

    A Competitor registered as Amateur solo bass or who plays bass with a registered grade 4 pipe band has the option to enter either the Intermediate or Novice contest.
  • Novice Amateur Solo Bass Drumming Championship

A Competitor registered as a Novice solo bass drummer by his/her home association must enter this contest. If a home association does not offer solo bass membership or grading guidelines, those drummers who compete in registered Grade 5 pipe bands must enter the Novice contest.

A Competitor registered as Amateur solo bass or who plays bass with a registered grade 4 pipe band has the option to enter either the Intermediate or Novice contest.

In the event an Amateur bass drummer is upgraded as a solo competitor or his/her band is upgraded after applying to compete in this contest, the Drummer will be permitted to compete in the lower grade provided the Drummer has not competed in a higher grade prior to the Amateur Solo Bass Championship.

Amateur Competitors who win 1st thru 3rd in MHAF Bass Drumming Championships and who enter future MHAF Solo Bass contests, must move up to enter either the Intermediate Amateur contest, or to the Gold Medal contest if his/her current grade status is now in that class.

2. Tune Requirements and Results

  • Gold Medal Solo Bass Drumming Championship
    Competitors shall submit: a) One set, composed of a march, a strathspey, and a reel (MSR), with a minimum of four parts each, and b) one hornpipe and jig set (H/J) with a minimum of four parts each. There will be a separate MSR performance, and a separate H/J performance. The three highest aggregate scores of the MSR and H/J will determine the contest placing for prizes. There must be at least three competitors in order for any prize to be awarded.

Gold Medal Competitors must be accompanied by one piper and one snare drummer.

  • Intermediate Amateur Solo Bass Drumming Championship
    Competitors shall submit one set composed of a march, a strathspey, and a reel (MSR), with a minimum of four parts each. The three highest scores will determine the contest placing for medals and prize.

Intermediate Competitors must be accompanied by one piper, and may elect to also have one snare drummer.

  • Novice Amateur Solo Bass Drumming Championship
    Competitors shall submit one set composed of one four-parted 2/4 march. The three highest scores will determine the contest placing for medals.

Novice Competitors must be accompanied by one piper, and may elect to also have one snare drummer.

3. General Rules

  • Competitors shall submit the entry fee and the entry form postmarked or electronically dated (if submitted on-line through MHAF website), no later than December 20, 2007. Entries postmarked or electronically dated after the deadline, or those submitted without the entry fee, will be rejected. No field entries will be allowed.
  • Entry fees are Gold Medal USD $50, Amateur $20.
  • Competitors must include their home association, registration number, and registered grade with the entry form as outlined in the Competitor Qualifications. After submission of the entry  form, no change in grade status will be allowed. The Competitor must be a  member of his/her association in good standing the day of the competition  or risk disqualification. Grade status is subject to verification by MHAF.  Competitors may enter in one grade only. Discrepancies will void the  entry. No exceptions.
  • The order of play will be decided shortly after the closing date for entries.
  • One piper only shall accompany each Competitor.
  • Gold Medal Competitors must have one snare drummer.
  • Amateur Competitors have the option of one snare drummer.
  • Recorded accompaniment will not be allowed.
  • Each Competitor must check-in at the MHAF registration table at the Marriott-Country Club Plaza the evening prior to the contest, by no later than 9:30 P.M. At check-in, each Competitor will receive details of the locations within the hotel complex of practice rooms, the final tuning/warm-up area, competition area, and tentative contest times and order of play.
  • The order of play will be posted the morning prior to the contest at the final tuning/warm-up area. Times will be posted for the first six Competitors; the remaining Competitors will be subject to the order of play. In order to eliminate large gaps in the contest due to players being disqualified or unable to attend, Competitor order of play is subject to change at the discretion of the Stewards. It is the responsibility of each Competitor to inquire with the Stewards as to updates or changes throughout the day of the contest. All Competitors must be ready to compete when called; otherwise they may be disqualified.
  • Competitors must check-in with the Steward at least one-half hour prior to the start of the segment of the contest in his/her grade. Competitors must be at the final tuning/warm-up area at least 15 minutes before his/her scheduled competition time.  Tunes will be submitted to the Steward in the final tuning/warm-up area immediately prior to each respective contest.
  • Each Competitor, piper accompanist, and snare drummer accompanist must compete in appropriate highland dress, including kilt, appropriate cap, and optional jacket, and are expected to remain so attired throughout the day until after the presentation of prizes.
  • Warm-up and practice in a non-designated, public area of the Hotel Complex is disruptive to other Competitors and guests; therefore, such behavior will result in immediate disqualification.
  • Any Competitor acting contrary to the rules of the competition, or the orders of the Judges and Stewards, may be excluded or disqualified from the competition or prize list.
  • All decisions made by the Judges will be final.
  • Entry in the competition is consent for recording sound and image, and distribution on any/all media, which shall become property of Midwest Highland Arts Fund.
  • Directors of MHAF, contest sponsors, MHAF judges, and MHAF instructors are ineligible for entry to the contest.

By applying to this contest, I agree to be bound by these rules.

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