Video Instructions
Videos should:
- Be unedited, without zooms, pans or changing camera angles. Exception: Introductory slates may be edited in at the beginning
- Include only one selection per video
- Include an introduction or slate. This can be edited in, and can be in the form of a slide or a live introduction.
- Be marked as Unlisted on YouTube, not private or public.
- Have a title with Student Name, Category, and Name of selection
- NOT have any mention of teacher, studio, or school/university. This includes the YouTube channel name, titles, and notes.
Performances should:
- Include accompaniment. For Musical Theater and Classical categories, this must be piano accompaniment ONLY, provided by either a live accompanist or a recorded accompaniment. ****Please note: if a student advances to the YouTube NSA auditions, they cannot use a track in either the Musical Theater or in Classical categories. This means students would need to re-record. For Commercial Music, instrumental tracks may be used, or students can accompany themselves (*see category rules)
- Be memorized. Exception: Oratorio arias in the Classical category.
- Be unamplified. Microphone use for recording is acceptable; amplification is not. Exception: Commercial Music students may now use amplification.
- Contain the full selection. Cuts may be made in piano introductions, interludes, and postludes, but not in the singing.
***Please note, the category time limits are designed for in-person competitions. Judges reserve the right to stop listening after the time limit is reached in video auditions as well, and that should be taken into consideration in repertoire selection. However, teachers and students should not cut their selections to accommodate the time limits; this will result in students having to sing for comments only.
For the full NSA YouTube video guidelines and suggestions, click here (pdf).
Questions? Email auditions@calwestnats.org
