When are NATS CHATS held?
NATS CHATS are usually held the first Sunday (except on holiday weekends) of the academic year: 10-11 pm Eastern Standard Time (New York), 9-10 pm Central, 8-9 pm Mountain, and 7-8 pm Pacific.

September 7th, 2008 (with Guest Host, NATS President-Elect Dr. Donald Simonson)

October 5th, 2008

November 2nd, 2008 (with Guest Host, CCM Specialist Jeannette LoVetri)

December 7th, 2008

February 1st, 2009 (with Guest Host, Lisa Popeil, Voiceworks)

March 1st, 2009

April 5th, 2009 (with Guest Host, Elizabeth Howard, Vocal Power, Inc.)

May 3rd, 2009

Who can join NATS CHATS discussions?
Members of the National Association of Teachers of Singing are invited to participate in the chats. The atmosphere is friendly and casual, however the hosts will moderate to keep the discussion on topic. Please observe standard "netiquette" and professional courtesy. (No "flaming," profanity, or inappropriate personal comments about students or colleagues.) The chat room has a feature which allows you to send private message to other chatters. Chatters may choose to block private messages in order to concentrate on the public chat topic. Please report inappropriate behavior to natschats@shorter.edu

How do I enter the chatroom?
NATS members may enter the chat room from either the NATS CHAT homepage at www.nats.org or from the NATS members section. You will automatically be assigned a chat screenname based on your member ID (example mhoch). Once you are in the chat "LOUNGE" you can enter the "NATS CHAT" room.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE CHATROOM IN A SEPARATE WINDOW

How do I find out what the topic will be?
Topics and dates will be listed here on the NATS CHATS homepage.

NATS Members can check the NATS CHATS message board in the members area of the website for guest bios, recommended reading, and other topical information.

NATS members and visitors may use the easy sign-up below to be included on the NATS Chat Mailing list . You will receive email notifications with news about upcoming chat topics and special guests.

Sign up today!

YES, please click HERE for NATS CHATS dates, topics, and guest information. Be sure to include your Name and Email.

FAQ (Frequently asked questions)
Q: If I arrive late can I scroll back to and read the beginning of the discussion?
A: Not at this time. You will only see the text from the time you enter the room.

Q: If I leave the chatroom, will I be able to see what I missed when I return?
A: No. You will only see new text when you return.

Q: Can I save a text log of the chat?
A: Sure! Save it as a webpage and frequently re-save during the chat.

Q: If I miss a chat, can I read a transcript:?
A: Not exactly. NATS CHATS are intended for real-time participation. However, some chat highlights may be posted on the bulletin board in the members section.

Q: Doesn't it get confusing with several people "talking" at once?
A: It can! You will typically see two or more on-topic subjects happening at once. Respond as you wish and then watch for a reply to that response.

Q: How many people attend the chats?
A: It varies according to topic and season, but attendance has ranged from 4-14 chatters. The new NATS CHATS room functions more smoothly than previous versions and can accomodate many more chatters without screen freezes and technical problems. The more the merrier (and its not considered rude if everyone is "talking" at the same time.)

Q: Can I suggest topics for future chats?
A: Absolutely! Send your ideas for topics and guests to Matt Hoch at natschats@shorter.edu

Q: Can voice students participate in NATS CHATS?
A: We hope to have open student (SNATS) chats in the future. Currently NATS CHATS are only accessible through the members section.

Q: Can I send private messages to a chatter that won't be visible on the main chat page?
A: Yes. This is a good way to meet and greet colleagues without getting the main discussion off topic. Chatters may also choose to block private messages.

Q: I'm busy (or sleeping) on Sunday nights. Do you ever have chats at different times or days?
A: Sometimes. We have tried other days/times and so far, Sunday nights are the best times to catch people at home on their computers. It's late for East coast chatters, but we can't really start much earlier for the West coast chatters.

Q: Are all of the chatters from the US?
A: No! We have several regular chatters from Canada and we are occasionally visited by chatters (insomniacs?) from Europe and South America who join us in the wee hours of the morning in their time zones.

Q: Do you just talk about classical voice?
A: Not at all! Guests have included jazz singers, Broadway singers, etc

Q: Are the chats mainly for college voice faculty?
A: No. Some chats may focus on academic topics, but most of the regular chatters are private studio teachers who don't have the opportunity to network with colleagues in an institution.

Q: Do I have to use my real name in the chat?
A: NATS Members are automatically logged in by first initial/last name (example mhoch). There is currently no system to log on with an alias. So, just be yourself!

Q: Can I use the chats with any computer?
A: Chats are PC and Mac compatible, but you will have best results and fastest streaming with a high-speed or DSL connection.

If you have more questions, please email natschats@shorter.edu