This is a happy little 64 bpm tune by a London based pop/rock duo founded in 2008. They have an intricate groove created by electric piano and off-beat guitar that works perfectly for lifts. Especially going into spring, my classes like to condition their bodies to get out of the saddle efficiently for quick sprints and the ever present pot holes on Minnesota roads! The album cut is 3:57. It doesn’t hurt that the lead singer for this relatively new band, Jamie Scott, is quite gorgeous either! Here is Graffiti6 with “Stare Into the Sun” from their debut album “Colours”:
In my post yesterday about auditioning as a Life Time Fitness Instructor, if I only had three minutes to show my stuff… what music would I use? I suggested that you should use a track that you enjoy teaching to. Now I'm re-thinking it…
I actually auditioned at two Life Time clubs and both times I taught a whole class – and yes, both times I was hired 🙂 My audition wasn't part of an open Instructor call, rather both department heads had recruited me (they both initiated the auditions) to teach as a result of some Guerilla Marketing I had done, once I had decided I wanted to teach for Life Time.
I don't remember exactly what music I used, but I do remember that it was completely wrong for the second audition. It was a 9:30 AM class filled with middle aged women (what I affectionately refer to as a “House Wives Class”) and here I go cranking up Stranglehold by Ten Nugent. Stranglehold, all 8:33 of 74rpm of driving, climbing Nirvana, was not appreciated by this group who were used to their normal Instructor's dance/pop/club music. The old Bowie I'm prone to use probably didn't help either.
If I had it to do over again, and only had three minutes, what music would I use?
I'd use someone else's music. Here's why:
The objective of any audition or interview is to get the job. Period. It's your chance to give the interviewer (or the class) what they're looking for, it's not your time to give them what you want to give them. That comes after your have nailed the audition and secured a class on the schedule. Does that make sense [wlm_firstname]?
So the music I would use would be from a resource that has an understanding (or reputation) for good music to use in an Indoor Cycling class, designed to appeal to a broad audience and is typically the result of a collaboration between multiple Instructors. I few suggestions would be to find a track you like from one of the Spinning CDs, a track from one of hundreds of CDs from any of the fitness music sites or if you are an RPM Instructor you would of course use a track from their catalog.
My point here is that I don't feel many of us, especially new Instructors, can remove enough of our own personal bias in our choice of music. So for something as critical as your 3 minute audition, I'd suggest yielding to the expertise of other's.
If you are using Spotify Mad Dogg Athletics has a bunch of playlists you could choose from. I like this track Various Artists — African Move which has a lot of energy + an International / African sound which I feel would be enjoyed by many. I would cue it up at the :30 mark and run with it 🙂 I can't find a legal free remix but you can get it at Amazon.
For your free track might I suggest using a remix from another popular artist; Robert Miles, who ends up on many playlists. The track Children is very recognizable.
Our 21 year old, Abby, was home from college last weekend, and was cranking the tunes out of her computer, as usual. This normally causes endless eye rolling and much sighing from the rest of us, but not this time! John looked at me and said, “This needs to be the Friday Favorite”, so thanks to Abby, here is a soulful R&B 58 bpm climb by Canadian recording artist Melanie Fiona. “Give It To Me Right” from her debut album “The Bridge” has an undercurrent “Time of the Season” by the Zombies that everyone will recognize. She has a brand new album out “The MF Life” that I cannot wait to get my hands on.
We've got this fabulous Public Radio station here in Minneapolis; The Current. Best described as Eclectic, you never really know what's coming next… but you'll probably like it 🙂 With Amy still in Mexico I was listening to the Current this morning when they played this awesome track that had me thinking “I could use this!” DELTA SPIRIT: CALIFORNIA has a solid 80 RPM beat that I can see as part of a long climb series. [wlm_firstname] how would you use this song?
Some love it, some find it boring and some start digging for their ear plugs the minute they hear it. Say what you like about Drum & Bass electronic music, but I'm finding that many in my class really enjoy the consistent, driving beat. The effect is hypnotic, taking your class to their Happy Place during an endurance ride. Especially when when you deliver the sound in long, continuous tracks like the free tracks below. Even better if you take and mix them together or play them using your computer and iTunes set to cross fade.
Each of these tracks are ~87RPM making them perfect for any endurance class or a long flat between some challenging climbs.
They would also work very well for a FTP Assessment class where the unbroken beat will help everyone keep their cadence up, without needing to focus on the console.
I would use this track as my introduction song, really encouraging everyone to find this pedal RPM and use the music to control their legs.
A hard driving, interesting and diverse song for an intense 72 rpm climb describes this week’s Friday Favorite. From New York, this Indie Band delivers a great 3:37 interactive/current/big-band/call-out/all around great motivating climb tune. My class is enjoying the different aspects of “Nice Guys Finish Last” by Cobra Starship.
I hope yours does too!
