1. hobbies and interests
2. guitar

THE LEE RITENOUR SIX STRING THEORY GUITAR COMPETITION!
OFFICIAL RULES!
Effective January 15, 2014!
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NO PURCHASE OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE
WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING!
SPONSORS: The Lee Ritenour Six String Theory Guitar Competition (the "Contest") is
sponsored by Six String Theory LLC; Yamaha Corporation; Berklee College of Music;
Montreux Jazz Festival; Tokyo Blue Note; Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation;
Concord Records; Premier Guitar Magazine; Monster; D'Addario String Company,
Jazziz Magazine, Flathead Lake Lodge; Music Connection and Captain Fingers
Productions (collectively, the "Sponsors"), subject to the following terms and conditions.!
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ELIGIBILITY: An Entrant (Individual) must be sixteen (16) years of age or older at the
time of entry, and possess a valid form of identification (no top age limit). An Entrant
under the age of eighteen (18) shall require parental consent to participate. Invalid or
ineligible entries shall be excluded from consideration. Employees of Sponsors, their
respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, and agents, and foregoing
employees' household or immediate family members (defined as parent, spouse, child,
sibling, or grandparent) are NOT eligible to enter Contest. By their submission of entry,
Entrants warrant they are legally entitled and authorized to make such submission on
their own behalf. In the event of a dispute as to the winner's identity, entries will be
deemed made by the holder of the email account associated with the entry. Void where
prohibited by law or restricted. Subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and
regulations.!
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The Contest is open to Non-Professional Guitarists of all nationalities. An Entrant may
not be a Professional Guitarist and may not be signed to any labels or management.
Professional Guitarists are defined as a guitarist who is making 100% of his/her living
from professional guitar endeavors such as teaching guitar lessons (i.e. 30-60 full time
students); touring full-time with a band; doing session work full-time (records, t.v., film,
commercials, pit orchestras, etc). For example, if a guitarist teaches a few students or
does some gigs, shows and sessions, they would not necessarily be considered a
Professional Guitarist. We realize it is subjective defining what a Non-Professional
Guitarist is but we are providing some general definitions for guidance. The
qualifications of a Non-Professional Guitarist will ultimately be the discretion of the Six
String Theory Management Team. Previous Six String Theory Grand Prize Winners
cannot re-apply, however previous Semi-finalists or Finalists, as well as previous
applicants may apply again.!
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TIMING: Contest begins at 11:59 p.m. PST on January 15, 2014 and continues until
11:59 p.m. GMT on May 15, 2014. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. GMT on May
15, 2014 to be eligible. Late entries will not be considered. Winners will be announced
by June 1, 2014.!
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HOW TO ENTER: One Entrant (Individual) must submit two (2) unedited YouTube
Videos, no longer than 5 minutes each and with no camera stops, of themselves playing
the guitar by registering at: http://www.sixstringtheory.com.!
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Entries may be comprised of original songs or covers, and may be solo performances or
accompanied by others. If accompanied by others, only the entrant is eligible to win and
receive prizes. It is acceptable to submit a non-original composition; provided that it will
not be accepted if it is found that an entrant is "copying" the performance of another
guitarist or artist. In all entries, the interpretation of the melody and solo of that song
must be original in flavor and content. Only one submission allowed per applicant. If
multiple entries are submitted, only the first submission will be considered, and all
entries subsequent to the original submission will be void. The following must
accompany each video submission in order for your entry to be complete: 1) Applicant's
address, email, telephone number, and age; and 2) a non-refundable application fee of
USD $25.00, submitted via credit card through "SixStringTheory.com." Incomplete
entries will not be considered. Applicants should retain copies of all materials sent with
their entries. Sponsors will accept no responsibility for lost entries. No submissions will
be returned. All entries (video and audio submissions) will become the property of Six
String Theory LLC (not the copyright). For any questions regarding the Application
Process, please contact us at: 6stringtheory@gmail.com.!
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CONCORD RECORDS RIGHTS: Concord shall have the opportunity (but not the
obligation) for a period of six (6) months beginning (June 1, 2014) to enter into an
exclusive recording agreement with any of the Six Finalists. In the event that Concord
exercises its right to enter into an exclusive recording agreement with any of the Six
Finalists, the exclusive recording agreement shall contain terms and provisions which
are customarily included in agreements of this nature, subject to good faith negotiations
between the parties. Concord shall also have the right (but not the obligation) to
commercially release and to authorize others to release throughout the world, both
digitally and physically, an audio version of the Six Finalists' videos as an E.P. Concord's
right to release the audio E.P. shall include the right to release the E.P. on Concord's
website www.concordmusicgroup.com and/or any other websites (e.g.
www.sixstringtheory.com) as Concord shall determine in its sole discretion. Each of the
Six Finalists shall receive a royalty for the sale of the E.P., which shall be subject to
good faith negotiations between Concord, Six String Theory LLC and the Six Finalists.!
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CATEGORIES AND JUDGING: A panel of professional guitarists and Advisory Board
judges will evaluate the videos on the basis of technique, interpretation, and artistry in
each of the following six categories: Rock, Blues, Jazz/Fusion, Country, Acoustic, and
Classical/Flamenco. There will one (1) grand prize winner and 5 finalists, ranked 1-5
representing the 6 genres of music. The 6 will be contacted by email and/or phone no
later than June 1, 2014.!
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The judges will rank the grand prize winner and 5 finalists for purposes of the awarding
the prizes described below. !
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Sponsors reserve the right to reject any entry that they deem in their sole discretion to
be vulgar, profane, offensive, or inappropriate. All decisions of the judges are final.!
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PRIZES AND ODDS:
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*Any One (1) of the Six (6) Finalists will be personally selected by Lee Ritenour to
record a duet with Lee Ritenour on his forthcoming Concord Records album to be
recorded in Los Angeles in 2014.!
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*Any One (1) of the Six (6) Finalists may be selected by Berklee College of Music to
apply for the scholarships. All must meet Berklee eligibility requirements (see Berklee
eligibility requirements below). !
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Grand Prize Winner: !
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1. First choice of One (1) Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric guitar from the list
below: *models may vary depending on inventory but comparable models would be
provided !
• Acoustic/Electric: A3R!
• Acoustic/Electric: AC3R!
• Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NTX1200R!
• Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NCX1200R!
• Electric Guitar: SBG1820!
• Handmade Classical Guitar: CG31
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2. Yamaha guitar endorsement opportunity (details determined at conclusion of
contest) !
3. Perform a song at the 2014 Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland with Lee Ritenour
for the “Legends of Guitar” concert. Dates of Montreux Jazz Festival are July 4-19,
2014 and the “Legends of Guitar” concert date during that time period.!
4. Seven day vacation stay at the world-renowned Flathead Lake Lodge for winner and
guest (up to 2 persons total) during summer of 2015 !
5. Professional Mentoring Sessions with Lee Ritenour either in person, phone, Skype
(subject to scheduling) !
6. $1,000 worth of your favorite gear from D'Addario strings & Planet Waves
accessories!
7. Monster Endorsement; Diesel Vektr headphones and Monster cables!
8. Scholarship to the esteemed Crown of the Continent Guitar Festival & Workshop.
Lodging and board provided; travel to Bigfork, Montana not provided. The guitar
winner will also have the opportunity to perform, and be the rhythm section (along
with the SST 3 rhythm section winners), at the esteemed Crown of the Continent’s
week-long festival and workshop for various events. Dates are August 24-August 31,
2014.!
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1st Runner Up:!
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1. Second choice of One (1) of the remaining Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric
guitars from the list below:!
Acoustic/Electric:
A3R!
•
• Acoustic/Electric: AC3R!
• Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NTX1200R!
• Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NCX1200R!
• Electric Guitar: SBG1820!
• Handmade Classical Guitar: CG31!
2. $100 worth of D'Addario strings!
3. Monster Cables!
!
2nd Runner Up:!
!
1. Third choice of One (1) of the remaining Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric
guitar from the list below:!
• Acoustic/Electric: A3R!
• Acoustic/Electric: AC3R!
• Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NTX1200R!
• Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NCX1200R!
• Electric Guitar: SBG1820!
• Handmade Classical Guitar: CG31!
2. $100 worth of D'Addario strings!
3. Monster Cables!
!
!
3rd Runner Up:!
!
1. Fourth choice of One (1) of the remaining Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric
guitar from the list below:!
• Acoustic/Electric: A3R!
• Acoustic/Electric: AC3R!
• Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NTX1200R!
• Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NCX1200R!
• Electric Guitar: SBG1820!
• Handmade Classical Guitar: CG31!
2. $100 worth of D'Addario strings!
3. Monster Cables!
!
4th Runner Up:!
!
1. Fifth choice of One (1) of the remaining Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric guitar
from the list below:!
Acoustic/Electric:
A3R!
•
• Acoustic/Electric: AC3R!
•
•
•
•
2.
3.
Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NTX1200R!
Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NCX1200R!
Electric Guitar: SBG1820!
Handmade Classical Guitar: CG31!
$100 worth of D'Addario strings!
Monster Cables!
!
5th Runner Up:!
!
1. Sixth choice of One (1) of the remaining Yamaha acoustic, classical, or electric
guitar from the list below:!
• Acoustic/Electric: A3R!
• Acoustic/Electric: AC3R!
• Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NTX1200R!
• Acoustic/Electric Nylon String: NCX1200R!
• Electric Guitar: SBG1820!
• Handmade Classical Guitar: CG31!
2. $100 worth of D'Addario strings!
3. Monster Cables!
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[Regarding Yamaha Product Awards]!
The winner can choose one guitar from the designated awards list. The way to choose
the guitar will be subject to the award ranks, starting from the grand prize winner
choosing the guitar he/she wishes. If several winners choose the same guitar, the
winner with the higher rank retains the right to choose first. All prizes will be awarded at
the conclusion of the Final Event. If any winner is deemed a minor in the state or
country of his/her residence, prize may be awarded to his/her parent/legal guardian. All
federal, state and local taxes on prizes are solely the responsibility of winners. All prizes
shall be awarded. The odds of winning depend on the number of Entrants.!
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BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS: In support of Lee Ritenour's Six
String Theory Competition, Berklee will provide one (1) four-year full tuition scholarship
to the Grand Prize Winner of the International Competition in either guitar, piano/
keyboards, bass or drums. In addition, Berklee will provide three (3) $20,000
scholarships to the three runners up ($20,000 annually towards tuition for 4 years =
$80,000). Berklee will select one guitarist, one pianist, one bassist and one drumset
player to receive the four (4) scholarships choosing from a pool of six (6) finalists from
each instrument- guitar, piano, bass & drums. The Berklee candidate selected may or
may not be the grand prize winner of the SST contest in that instrument but will be
chosen from the top six (6) in each instrument. *Berklee may also offer additional
scholarships to any of the top applicants in each instrument, beyond the competition
scholarships. Disclaimer: SST contest applicants do not have to participate in the
Berklee scholarship program in order to apply and/or win the Six String Theory Guitar &
Rhythm Section Competition. Likewise, the winners of the Berklee scholarship program
may or may not be the grand prize winners of each instrument as they will be chosen
from the pool of six (6) in each instrument according to Berklee eligibility requirements
and criteria. A Berklee representative will participate as a member of the Six String
Theory Guitar & Rhythm Section Advisory Board, and the Berklee Scholarship
Committee will select the four (4) scholarship recipients from the list of finalist
candidates identified by the Rhythm Section Advisory Board and SST Guitar Judges.
Eligible Students:
To qualify, applicants must demonstrate outstanding performance abilities on guitar,
piano, bass, or drumset through an initial submission of video/audio material to the Six
String Theory Website. The Six String Theory Guitar & Rhythm Section Advisory Board
Judges will identify twenty-four finalists from all the submissions, and the finalists will be
required to apply to Berklee's undergraduate program in order to be considered for the
Berklee scholarships. Applicants are required to complete an audition and interview
with Berklee and submit their academic transcripts in order to be reviewed for admission
to Berklee College of Music.!
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After finalists have applied to Berklee and are accepted by the Board of Admissions,
they will be reviewed by the Berklee Scholarship Committee (6 from each instrumentguitar, piano, bass & drums) to be considered for a Berklee scholarship. Berklee will
determine which will be the grand prize winner (full tuition, 4 yr scholarship) and which 3
will be the runner-ups ($20,000, 4 yr scholarship). Berklee may also choose to award
additional scholarships to candidates beyond the competition prize scholarships. Ideal
candidates will be high school seniors or recent high school graduates. Recipients must
apply and be admitted by Berklee's Board of Admissions in order to use the award.
Already enrolled Berklee students are not eligible to receive this award. All scholarships
awarded are for four years of study at Berklee in the undergraduate degree or diploma
program. Scholarships are not applicable to Berklee Online or Berklee Master's
Programs. All candidates must be eligible for undergraduate study in the United States
and have completed secondary school prior to July 1, 2014. Timeline:
All submissions for contest registration must be received by May 15, 2014 at
sixstringtheory.com. The finalists will be notified by Six String Theory on June 1, 2014.
The top applicants in each instrument will be notified by Berklee on June 10, 2014 and
invited to apply to Berklee. Candidates must apply to Berklee by August 1, 2014.
Scholarship decisions will be issued after applicants complete the Berklee admissions
process and are formally accepted to the college. Decisions for students accepted to
the spring semester 2015 are issued on September 15, 2013. Berklee may choose to
award additional scholarships beyond the Six String Theory Competition prize package
scholarships. !
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NOTIFICATION: Within ten (10) days of winner notification, and prior to the Final Event,
all winners must complete, execute and return the provided Affidavit of Eligibility and
Liability/Publicity Release (plus any additional documents required at the discretion of
Sponsors). Failure to comply with the requirements of this paragraph (or the return of
any prize or prize notification as non-deliverable) may result in disqualification and in the
forfeiture of any right to a prize, in which case prize will be awarded to an alternate
entrant chosen by the judges. The names of the winners will be available for one (1)
year after award of prizes by sending a self-addressed envelope with sufficient prepaid
postage to:!
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Six String Theory LLC!
Attn: Winner's List!
280 S. Beverly Dr.!
Suite 409!
Beverly Hills, CA 90212!
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RELEASE: By participating in the Contest and/or accepting a prize, the Entrants (or
Entrant's parent/legal guardian if any Entrant is deemed a minor in the state or country
of his/her residence) agree to defend, release and hold harmless the Sponsors and their
respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, advertising and promotion
agencies, and the foregoing companies' officers, directors, shareholders, employees,
representatives and agents (collectively "Releasees") from and against any actions,
claims and/or liability for injury, loss or damage of any kind, (including the violation or
infringement of any proprietary or personal right of any individual or entity) resulting in
whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation in the Contest, and/or the use,
acceptance, or possession of a Contest prize, and/or participation in a Contest prizerelated activity, including any action, claim or liability arising from the unauthorized
submission of any information.!
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By participating in the Contest and/or accepting a prize, Entrants (or Entrant's parent/
legal guardian if any entrant is deemed a minor in the state or country of his/her
residence) consent to and give the Sponsors the right to use, publish, and display a
winner's (and where applicable an entrant's) name, likeness, video submission, city and
state, and prize awarded, for the purpose of advertising, trade, publicity and promotional
purposes in any media now known or hereafter discovered, worldwide, and on the Web,
without review, notification or approval, all without additional consideration, unless
prohibited by law.!
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CONDITIONS: Neither the Sponsors nor their respective agencies or affiliates are
responsible for lost, late, damaged, destroyed, delayed, stolen, misdirected, incomplete
entries, or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server or other connections,
miscommunications, failed telephone or computer hardware or software or other
technical failures, unauthorized human intervention, garbled or jumbled transmissions or
other errors of any kind, whether human, mechanical or electronic, including without
limitation, the incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry information online regardless of
cause. Sponsors reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to cancel, suspend, or modify
the Contest if it becomes corrupted in any manner such that it cannot be conducted as
originally planned and, in such event, to select winners from all eligible entries received
prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Sponsors. In such event,
Sponsors shall have no liability to any Entrant who is disqualified due to such an action.
ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY PERSON TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR
ONLINE ENTRY SYSTEM, OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE
CONTEST IS IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND IF SUCH AN
ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND
DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.!
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Sponsors reserve the right to modify these Official Rules for clarification purposes
without materially affecting the term and conditions of the Contest. Failure to enforce
any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.!
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LAW: The Contest is subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void
where prohibited or restricted. All issues and questions concerning the construction,
validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and
obligations of Entrants or Sponsor in connection with any award, shall be governed by,
and construed in accordance with the laws of, the State of California, without regard to
conflict of law principles. Any cause of action by you with respect to the offer (and/or any
information, products or services related thereto) must be instituted within one (1) year
after the cause of action arose or be forever waived and barred. All actions shall be
subject to the limitations set forth above. The language in these Official Rules shall be
interpreted as in accordance with its fair meaning and not strictly for or against either
party. All legal proceedings arising out of or in connection with the Contest or these
Official Rules shall be brought solely in Los Angeles County, California. You expressly
submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of said courts and consent to extraterritorial service
of process.!
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LANGUAGE: English is the primary language of the Contest.