Commercial Music (CM) Q and A
By offering the CM category within the NSA, NATS encourages serious study of popular and commercial music in the voice studio; to train commercially viable voices that maintain artistic authenticity; and to:
- Provide constructive, written feedback from a panel of impartial adjudicators who are experienced and trained to offer students subjective feedback aligned with industry standards.
- Inspire and encourage students and teachers to learn and respect all styles and genres of music as art music worthy of advanced study.
- Create a collegial and supportive atmosphere that encourages, and values artistic singing deemed excellent in the context of the cultural expectations of each style.
Question: Do I need to bring my own equipment?
Answer: Singers must bring a Bluetooth device (i.e. cell phone or iPad) with their pre-recorded accompaniment tracks. Be sure that your accompaniment tracks include NO BACKGROUND VOCALS. UWW will provide the following in both CM rooms:
Question: Is this category open to singers at all levels?
Answer: Yes, singers in all classes may choose to audition in CM.
Answer: Singers must bring a Bluetooth device (i.e. cell phone or iPad) with their pre-recorded accompaniment tracks. Be sure that your accompaniment tracks include NO BACKGROUND VOCALS. UWW will provide the following in both CM rooms:
- mic
- mic stand (boom mic stand for guitar or piano)
- mic cord
- mixer
- speaker cords
- speakers
- wireless blue tooth speaker for student provided tracks
- NOTE: UWW will NOT provide additional microphone set ups - as accompanying instruments are required to be acoustic.
Question: Is this category open to singers at all levels?
Answer: Yes, singers in all classes may choose to audition in CM.
Question: How does NATS Copyright Compliance policy apply to this category?
Answer: NATS Copyright Policy states that "reproduction of a copyrighted work constitutes copyright infringement unless a license to reproduce such work has been obtained, the use is considered fair use, the work is in the public domain, or a valid exception to copyright infringement exists."
NATS encourages and requires our members and their students to abide by the U.S. Copyright Laws, therefore we require singers and pianists to certify that they are abiding by the copyright laws during the registration process. This certification makes the student, collaborators, and ultimately, the teacher legally responsible for any copyright infringement.
Since there are so many free accompaniment tracks legally available to students, subscription providers of accompaniments like Appcompanist, and prerecorded tracks of personal accompanists as well; NSA has not made any rule excepting the requirement of students to verify that they are abiding by the copyright laws, which would cover tracks as well as sheet music. No proof of purchase is ever required to be presented at an NSA event.
Answer: NATS Copyright Policy states that "reproduction of a copyrighted work constitutes copyright infringement unless a license to reproduce such work has been obtained, the use is considered fair use, the work is in the public domain, or a valid exception to copyright infringement exists."
NATS encourages and requires our members and their students to abide by the U.S. Copyright Laws, therefore we require singers and pianists to certify that they are abiding by the copyright laws during the registration process. This certification makes the student, collaborators, and ultimately, the teacher legally responsible for any copyright infringement.
Since there are so many free accompaniment tracks legally available to students, subscription providers of accompaniments like Appcompanist, and prerecorded tracks of personal accompanists as well; NSA has not made any rule excepting the requirement of students to verify that they are abiding by the copyright laws, which would cover tracks as well as sheet music. No proof of purchase is ever required to be presented at an NSA event.
Question: Who will adjudicate this category?
Answer: NATS relies on its members to adjudicate at the Auditions if they register students, and does everything it can to provide informed judges in every category. Further, at registration, members are allowed to opt in or out of adjudicating categories in which they do not feel adequately experienced/prepared. It is hoped that members will be honest in their assessment of their own knowledge, AND that those with expertise in one or all categories will attend and adjudicate in order to help others further others' knowledge.
Question: I don't teach CM. How can I learn more about this category?
Answer: There are ample and well-prepared resources to assist with this: full guidelines, adjudication rubrics and videos are in the NATS Resource Center - Commercial Music NSA Category Resources. NATS encourages everyone to review this material.
Answer: NATS relies on its members to adjudicate at the Auditions if they register students, and does everything it can to provide informed judges in every category. Further, at registration, members are allowed to opt in or out of adjudicating categories in which they do not feel adequately experienced/prepared. It is hoped that members will be honest in their assessment of their own knowledge, AND that those with expertise in one or all categories will attend and adjudicate in order to help others further others' knowledge.
Question: I don't teach CM. How can I learn more about this category?
Answer: There are ample and well-prepared resources to assist with this: full guidelines, adjudication rubrics and videos are in the NATS Resource Center - Commercial Music NSA Category Resources. NATS encourages everyone to review this material.
