The Rhythms of the Past in the Present for the Future

This is it! This is your opportunity to settle the score! Our competitions are designed to promote expansive musical excellence, showmanship, captivating rhythms and good-spirited competitions. Competition winners will receive prize/scholarship money for themselves or the school or organizations they represent.

All interested participants must submit  a 3-to 4- minute DVD of a performance or rehearsal to be reviewed by DTTW for participation consideration by December 1, 2010. Please include contact information i.e. name, phone #, and email address. All DVDs will become property of DTTW and will be used for competition comsideration only. Please review the information below for more details.  

Competition Rules and Regulations

All selected competition participants will be notified via phone or email by December 17, 2010. To ensure competition participation, selected participants must return all festival registration fees, competition fees, rules acknowledgement forms  and copy right clearance forms by January 17, 2011.  Ensembles and groups must submit forms and applications as a group, i.e., one package or envelope.  

All fees are refundable less a 6% service fee prior January 31, 2011.  Specific competition dates, times, and locations will be provided to the individual participant or the indicated ensemble or group contact person 3 weeks prior to the festival.

Only percussion instruments normally accepted as part of a drumming group are acceptable. The use of any electronic instruments or equipment of any sort, as well as string or wind instruments of any type, will result in disqualification. Single tone whistles, animal calls and singing (30-second limit per performance) are acceptable.

Only equipment and props normally associated with a drumming group will be allowed and only in the performance area (70ft x 50ft). Use of any special effects (e.g., laser lights, flammable or inflammable liquids or solids, etc) will result in disqualification.

Individual performers will be allowed 4-8 minutes for a competition performance; groups or ensembles will be allowed 6-10 minutes for a performance .Groups or ensembles will each be allowed 10 minutes set up and 10 minutes breakdown time. Any individual in a group or ensemble that does not play an instrument throughout an entire performance will be disqualified. All performers must enter the performance area from stage right or left only.

Drum set competition participants must set up 20 minutes prior to the scheduled start time provided to the participant by DTTW. Approximately 6-8 drum set participants will be set up in the performance area during a single set competition period. If necessary, a 20-minute breakdown and setup period will be provided for each additional drum set competition.

At the end of all performances, participants must exit the performance area stage right or stage left only.  All competition participants must be a minimum age of 14 at the time of the competition. All high school and college participants must be currently enrolled at the respective school at the time of the competition.

Noncompliance with the age requirements will result in disqualification of an individual performer and a 10-point deduction for each individual in a group or ensemble, as well as disqualification of the member of the group or ensemble.  All other violations will be 10 points per violation during a performance.

Competition group and ensemble participants will receive 2 free badges for individuals assisting them. These badges will permit admission to the performance and exhibits area only. Additional badges (for performance and exhibits areas i.e. friends, family members) may be purchased at $15 per person and will be available on site at the performance or exhibit venue.

JUDGING

Each competition performance will be observed by three (3) judges. Each judge will score a performance in four (4) categories. Each category value will be 10 points, allowing for a total maximum of 120 points. Results of each of 1^st Round Competition will be announced approximately 20 minutes after the completion of the particular competition category. The top 50% or 1/3 of each competition category will remain eligible to compete in the 2^nd Final Round of competition. Winners of the final round of competition will be announced at the banquet. Performers will be judged on originality, technique, quality of cadence or rhythm and appearance.

Competition Categories 

                   Competition Fee    Prize/ Scholarships