A solo performance on a bowed string instrument such as violin, viola or cello, judged on tone, intonation, bowing and musicality, run as a rating out of 10 for teens or a score out of 100 for youth.
Bowed strings are instruments whose strings are set vibrating by drawing a bow across them: the violin, viola, cello and double bass are the usual family. As a competition item the label covers any of them, and one player performs a chosen piece, usually a melody with or without piano or a backing track, while the panel listens to how the sound is made as much as to which notes are played.
What sets it apart from Strings Plucked is the bow. A bowed note is shaped from start to finish by the right hand, so tone, smooth changes of bow direction, steady pressure and clean string crossings all show immediately. There are no frets on these instruments, so the left hand must place every note by ear, and out-of-tune playing is the most audible fault a panel hears.
A round is easy to run. The player is called, tunes quickly, and performs. A short slow piece shows tone and phrasing, a lively one shows bow control and agility, and many entrants choose a hymn, folk tune or a movement from a student sonata. Organisers should say in the notice whether an accompanist or recorded backing is allowed and whether the player must bring their own instrument, since a shared one is rarely available.
Two eTalenter templates carry it. A teen talent template offers it to ages 13 to 19, English, open to both genders, scored as a rating out of 10 with no time limit printed. A Jamaican community talent template offers it in a Youth group for ages 13 to 40, both genders, English, scored out of 100, again with no time limit printed. Both set it as an individual item, so the title is listed separately from plucked strings, woodwind and brass because each needs its own technique and its own marking.
Where Strings Bowed is run
On eTalenter this item appears in two templates: a teen talent template for ages 13 to 19 and a Jamaican community talent showcase template whose Youth group runs from 13 to 40. As a format, a solo bowed-strings slot is found in school and community music festivals, church and chapel music programmes, talent showcases and conservatoire-style recitals wherever a player can bring their own instrument.
- Jamaica
- Worldwide
Key facts
- Individual item: one player, one performance, one score
- Teen talent template: ages 13 to 19, English, both genders, rating out of 10, no time limit printed
- Jamaican community template: Youth group 13 to 40, English, both genders, scored out of 100, no time limit printed
- Neither template sets a time limit, so the organiser should state one in the event notice
- The label covers violin, viola, cello and double bass; the templates do not restrict the instrument
- Separate from Strings Plucked, which is its own item
On eTalenter, Strings Bowed is filed under Music and typically scored with Marks, Rating out of 10. It appears in 2 ready-made event templates — each one can adjust its time limit, age-group assignment and scoring setup independently.
Across the templates that use it, Strings Bowed is most often entered as an Individual competition, typically scored out of 100.
What judges look at in Strings Bowed
What a Strings Bowed panel is actually weighing up, and where the marks are usually won or lost:
- Intonation: every note placed in tune, since there are no frets and the ear guides the left hand
- Tone quality: a full, even, unforced sound without scratching, whistling or a weak thin bow
- Bow control: smooth changes of direction, steady pressure and clean string crossings
- Rhythm and tempo: a steady pulse that does not rush easy passages or drag hard ones
- Musical expression: phrasing, dynamics and vibrato used to shape the piece rather than added at random
- Presentation and finish: calm posture, a quick tune-up, a confident start and a clear ending
- Each template prints one total or one rating and no split, so a panel wanting separate headings agrees them first
Treat these as the judging focus, not a fixed rubric: publish your own weighted criteria for Strings Bowed under Scoring Setup, or start from the full instrumental music judging criteria guide.
How to prepare for Strings Bowed
How entrants and their teachers usually get Strings Bowed right on the day:
- Choose a piece that suits your level and shows both a singing line and some lively bowing, rather than the hardest piece you can barely play
- Practise slow scales and long open-string bows daily, because tone and intonation are what the panel hears first
- Use a tuner to check the open strings before every practice and learn to tune in under half a minute on the day
- Practise passages with a metronome, raising the speed in small steps, and record yourself to hear rushed or flat notes
- Check with the organiser whether an accompanist or backing track is allowed and rehearse with it at least once
- Bring your own instrument, a spare set of strings, rosin and a cloth, and check the bow hair before travelling
- If the event sets a time limit, time the full piece with a stopwatch and trim it rather than risk being cut off
- Rehearse the opening and closing bars on their own, since a confident entry and a clean last note shape the impression
Frequently asked questions
Is Strings Bowed judged individually or as a team?
Across eTalenter's templates it's most often run as an Individual entry, though an organiser can set either participation type when assigning the item to an age group.
Is Strings Bowed the same as Strings Plucked?
No. Bowed strings are played with a bow drawn across the strings, such as violin or cello, while plucked strings are played with fingers or a pick. Each is its own item with its own marking.
Which instruments can I play in Strings Bowed?
The templates do not name an instrument. The label is generally understood to cover the violin family, so check the event notice or ask the organiser if you play something else.
How long is a Strings Bowed performance?
Neither template that carries it prints a time limit, so the organiser should state one in the event notice.
Is Strings Bowed judged individually or as a team?
Individually. Both templates set it as an individual item, one player and one score, with the teen template using a rating out of 10 and the youth template a score out of 100.
Want the full judging picture? Read the full instrumental music judging criteria guide, or browse every music competition item.
Try Strings Bowed in eTalenter
See every ready-made template that runs Strings Bowed, and install one as a live event — age groups, rules and scoring included.
