3b) No professional parts may be used on instruments EXCEPT professional reeds and strings will be allowed.
3e) It is required that students MUST write a harmony line to be played by one of the instruments when Take Me Out to the Ball Game is performed.
The music in the rules for Take Me Out to the Ball Game has a repeat. Competitors will NOT need to repeat.
Description:
This is a building event. Prior to the competition teams will design and build 2 musical instruments based on a 12 tone tempered scale, capable of being played in harmony. These may be based on real instruments (a guitar, flute etc), or something completely made up (think blue man group). At the tournament teams will describe the principles behind their operation and perform a major scale, a required melody (Take Me Out to the Ballgame) and a chosen melody.
Materials:
Teams MUST bring their instruments and the score for their chosen music. Teams may also bring a copy of the score for 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame'.
Event Leaders will bring the official scoresheet and any devices they so choose to help analyze the quality of the music performed. Event leaders MAY also bring a copy of the score for the required music, but are not required to do so.
Scoring:
High score wins. Points are earned for the quality of the performance as well as construction of the instruments and knowledge of related topics. For a complete list of all scoreable topics, see the official scoresheet.
Common Mistakes:
It is required this year that the instruments perform in harmony. This means actually writing a harmony line, not simply playing the same notes in a different scale.
Strings and reeds are the only parts allowed to be from professional instruments. Do not bring any other professional parts into the event at the competition even if you do not plan on using them (such as guitar straps, straplocks, tuners, etc). Keep those things outside the competition area.
Recommendations:
If teams intend to build a very professional looking instrument, be prepared to show pictures of the work in progress or packaging/receipts from purchased materials to prove that the instrument truly was designed and built from scratch. This will help eliminate any confusion.
