Regional NSA Guidelines, Tips & Reminders
While the NSA Resource Centre provides a wealth of information and should be your reference for everything NSA, we understand the quantity of information on there can be overwhelming and so, we wanted to zoom in on a few important items we've identified during our last NSA Regional Rounds or by our VP for Auditions and bring those to you.
While the NSA Resource Centre provides a wealth of information and should be your reference for everything NSA, we understand the quantity of information on there can be overwhelming and so, we wanted to zoom in on a few important items we've identified during our last NSA Regional Rounds or by our VP for Auditions and bring those to you.
Where to Start?
Review the NSA FULL REGULATIONS.
Seriously, do! Take an afternoon, pour yourself a glass of wine and read it all!
We know it is an extensive document, but most of the answers are in there. When you contact us with your questions, we refer to that document.
ALWAYS refer to the currently published NSA Full Regulations and other NSA documents on nats.org for latest updates; DO NOT refer to your old saved copies from previous years.
Can't find what you are looking for? The chain of action is: Ask your Chapter Audition Chair (if your Chapter is holding auditions) ---> Ask the Region Coordinator ---> If we don't have the answer, we'll find out for you from the National NSA Team.
Gentle reminder: the Region also MUST follow all National rules and guidelines; while Chapters and Regions do have some leeway in the way they run their auditions, we do not have the authority to change rules and requirements of the NSA.
Students Registrations
- The student's age on September 1st will be used to determine the student's category(s) of entry. No aging out of a category mid-NSA cycle allowed.
- Students MUST use and have access to the same valid email throughout the whole NSA process; their profile will be associated with that unique email (one email = one account) and that email will be used for all NSA communications. Families with siblings MUST use a different email for each child.
Regional Registration Fees
- The Student entry fee includes a $4 finance fee going to National for the registration software. The remainder of the money collected will be redistributed through our money awards to our regional winners to support students on their NSA journey.
- The Teacher registration fee collected will help cover NSA varied admin costs such as the hiring of last minute replacement adjudicators or non-NATS expert adjudicators for certain category (if need be); the remaining money will be kept into a fund to provide subsidies to teachers with financial needs wanting to participate in future regional events (such as our first Regional Canadian Region Conference?!?).
Repertoire
- Chapters MUST follow ALL National guidelines, from categories, to age groups and repertoire selection.
- Chapters MUST vet all repertoire presented to avoid disappointments and disqualifications if/when moving up to the Regional and/or National rounds. In particular, pay attention to requirements for CM tracks (pre-recorded track WITHOUT backing vocals!).
Video Guidelines
- Chapters MUST adhere to National video guidelines as many students will use the same video for the whole NSA process.
- Follow the instructions in the "NSA Videos Submissions Guidelines PDF" very carefully or you may risk disqualification. Some of the issues that were identified and need attention: landscape videos to avoid vertical videos being switched to "shorts", how to "slate" and YouTube video settings.
AuditionWare Notes
- Teachers, make sure to register students under the correct level of competition. Select your Chapter for local auditions and Canadian Region for the Regional round.
Regional Adjudications
- It is expected that all teachers presenting students to the NSA will help with regional adjudications.
- In line with other NATS regions, there will be a Substitute Fee of $75 for teachers who won't be able to help with adjudications; that fee will cover expenses the Region may incur should we need to hire replacement adjudicators in order to get adjudications completed in a timely manner.
- All adjudicators MUST review the adjudicating training videos along with Rubrics and Adjudications Best Practises. Recommendation: teachers can also watch those videos to understand what adjudicators are looking for.
Continuing to the National Round?
- National will take over all communications for students who are eligible to continue to the National round.
- The Region has NO SAY in the National decisions.
- Always make sure to read all their emails carefully (they are very thorough with A LOT of information!) and provide them with ALL requested documents by their deadline. Reminder that their deadlines are East Coast Time!
Review the NSA FULL REGULATIONS.
Seriously, do! Take an afternoon, pour yourself a glass of wine and read it all!
We know it is an extensive document, but most of the answers are in there. When you contact us with your questions, we refer to that document.
ALWAYS refer to the currently published NSA Full Regulations and other NSA documents on nats.org for latest updates; DO NOT refer to your old saved copies from previous years.
Can't find what you are looking for? The chain of action is: Ask your Chapter Audition Chair (if your Chapter is holding auditions) ---> Ask the Region Coordinator ---> If we don't have the answer, we'll find out for you from the National NSA Team.
Gentle reminder: the Region also MUST follow all National rules and guidelines; while Chapters and Regions do have some leeway in the way they run their auditions, we do not have the authority to change rules and requirements of the NSA.
Students Registrations
- The student's age on September 1st will be used to determine the student's category(s) of entry. No aging out of a category mid-NSA cycle allowed.
- Students MUST use and have access to the same valid email throughout the whole NSA process; their profile will be associated with that unique email (one email = one account) and that email will be used for all NSA communications. Families with siblings MUST use a different email for each child.
Regional Registration Fees
- The Student entry fee includes a $4 finance fee going to National for the registration software. The remainder of the money collected will be redistributed through our money awards to our regional winners to support students on their NSA journey.
- The Teacher registration fee collected will help cover NSA varied admin costs such as the hiring of last minute replacement adjudicators or non-NATS expert adjudicators for certain category (if need be); the remaining money will be kept into a fund to provide subsidies to teachers with financial needs wanting to participate in future regional events (such as our first Regional Canadian Region Conference?!?).
Repertoire
- Chapters MUST follow ALL National guidelines, from categories, to age groups and repertoire selection.
- Chapters MUST vet all repertoire presented to avoid disappointments and disqualifications if/when moving up to the Regional and/or National rounds. In particular, pay attention to requirements for CM tracks (pre-recorded track WITHOUT backing vocals!).
Video Guidelines
- Chapters MUST adhere to National video guidelines as many students will use the same video for the whole NSA process.
- Follow the instructions in the "NSA Videos Submissions Guidelines PDF" very carefully or you may risk disqualification. Some of the issues that were identified and need attention: landscape videos to avoid vertical videos being switched to "shorts", how to "slate" and YouTube video settings.
AuditionWare Notes
- Teachers, make sure to register students under the correct level of competition. Select your Chapter for local auditions and Canadian Region for the Regional round.
Regional Adjudications
- It is expected that all teachers presenting students to the NSA will help with regional adjudications.
- In line with other NATS regions, there will be a Substitute Fee of $75 for teachers who won't be able to help with adjudications; that fee will cover expenses the Region may incur should we need to hire replacement adjudicators in order to get adjudications completed in a timely manner.
- All adjudicators MUST review the adjudicating training videos along with Rubrics and Adjudications Best Practises. Recommendation: teachers can also watch those videos to understand what adjudicators are looking for.
Continuing to the National Round?
- National will take over all communications for students who are eligible to continue to the National round.
- The Region has NO SAY in the National decisions.
- Always make sure to read all their emails carefully (they are very thorough with A LOT of information!) and provide them with ALL requested documents by their deadline. Reminder that their deadlines are East Coast Time!
