John is it possible to add the BPM to all the songs in my iTunes library? The short answer for most of us is yes, with the exception of any tracks you purchased directly from iTunes back when much of their music carried DRM – Digital Rights Management. What follows is a complete video tutorial for adding the BPM to unprotected tracks in your iTunes music library.
While not being a huge fan of Auto BPM counters,* I do agree that having a number of methods of sorting your music in iTunes can be helpful and will help you become more efficient at creating cadence based playlists.
*I encourage Instructors to actually sample tracks using a Tap to the Beat counter, rather than depending on a software program to show the BPM of a track. Just because a song is listed at 150 BPM doesn't mean it will communicate a tempo that you can use to set your cadence at 75 RPM. Info about the Tap to the Beat counter can be found here.
MixMeister offers a simple and easy to use BPM Analyzer you can download for free here for both PC and Macs. Download and install it now. What's typical missing form any MixMeister product is a full explanation of how to use their software… and that's where I can help 🙂
Next watch this short video to learn how to add BPM to your iTunes library.
This Friday brings you a 91 bpm flat that John “would never listen to”. However, it grabbed me, and my class liked it a lot last night as we worked sprints. It has some Michael Jackson flashback sounds (RIP Michael) and we held our working leg speed and high endurance heart rate for a 4:08 steady state break from sprinting. Chris Brown does a nice job on “She Ain’t You” from his F.A.M.E. CD. (By the way, John will end up listening to this when he takes my class on a Saturday morning!)
No, I don't do the whole “Friday the 13th” bit.
But today's Free Music Friday is a bit unconventional in that it's a number of very long songs that you could incorporate into one of your endurance classes.
I'm really getting into the whole “Zen” thing and Trance music at the right BPM is really working and my class seems to enjoy it 🙂
These tracks aren't on Spotify – but you can download it for free.
What's cool about Magic Show (15 mins @ 100 BPM) is there is a fade to 3 minutes of quiet at the end. Not normally what you want, but I suggest giving it a try. My experience is that everyone will stay quite and use the quiet as a time to recover – maybe get a drink – all without me needing to say anything. Magic Show by David Steinlage
Right Click > Save As to download to your computer
I sure enjoyed talking with everyone who participated in Sunday's training 🙂
I'll be scheduling the next Spotify LIVE training soon – click here to get on the early notification list.
A number of you were interested in the little Tap to the Beat BPM counter I used when I sample music. Right Click the image to download. This is a very simple tool, tap your Space Bar or Enter Key in time with the music. Click the reset button to clear and start over. It doesn't do anything beyond display the average BPM you are tapping – it won't add the results to the song.
One of the best parts of conducting these live interactions is that I learn more about what is confusing to you – so I can help!
One PRO member asked the question; “when I click the link to one of the PRO Playlists for an Audio PROfile I see it in the main screen of Spotify, but it isn't added to my list of Playlists.
I see now that this is confusing, so here's what you need to do to save a PRO Playlist or a Playlist that was shared with you from another Spotify user.
1) Click the Spotify link included in each Audio PROfile.
2) The link will open a new browser window showing something similar to this;
Clicking the gray button will open the Playlist in Spotify:
Next you will see the new Playlist added to your list 🙂
Alternatively, if someone shares a Playlist directly with you, it will show in your Spotify Inbox
Today is about “tongue in cheek” fun on a climb. At 63 rpm’s, it is versatile enough to use for a seated or standing climb. It also has the perfect feel for “lifts” while simulating getting out of the saddle for pretend potholes in the road. You could even tell a little story about riding with John and Amy on springtime roads in Minnesota after a horribly cold (is there any other kind here?) winter. The potholes here are legendary! Quick reflexes out of the saddle are necessary and much appreciated. We use high load and bring workload to AT by the end of the song at 3:19. Enjoy “Sway”, the bonus track from The Pussycat Dolls album:
Here is a nice inspirational tune from a band out of Aurora, Colorado to use coming out of, or leading into a climb, with rpm’s of 73. There is some nice points where you could add your voice to coach and guide your class, with inspirational cueing or storytelling, to bring them to a strong finish. Check out Tyler Ward and his band The CO's “Keep It Together” from their Keep It Together EP. Happy New Year and wishing you all a fabulous 2012!!!!!
Here is the official version of Keep it Together (this version is 76rpm) for your free track! Click the little down arrow on the right 🙂 Keep It Together by The CO
Happy New Year and wishing you all a fabulous 2012!!!!!
