Then Instructor Gregory Ortiz sent me a link for this BlueTooth Music Receiver that's only $20.00 and I ordered one as a Christmas present for myself – I have very simple needs 🙂 The total with shipping was a very reasonable $21.69.
I used it for the first time this morning in class and it worked flawlessly. I don't use any other BlueTooth devises with my iPhone (my previous experience with BlueTooth was with a very finicky BlackBerry) but it was very easy to pair. After a reassuring beep that signaled the receiver was paired to my phone, I fired up Spotify and like magic the music began to play. I ran around the 45 bike room to check if it would lose the connection – it worked everywhere 🙂
Then I remembered; airplane mode, John!
Unless you are interested in having your class interrupted by a call, airplane mode is mandatory when you use a smartphone… but then will BlueTooth still work? It turned out that on an iPhone the BlueTooth setting is separate and functions in airplane mode – I'll check to confirm if this is true on an Android ASAP – Yes it is.
I really like this BlueTooth Music Receiver because it doesn't use batteries. You just plug it in and connect the sound system's cord that would normally plug into your device. With BlueTooth on every smart phone, I see this as a must have accessory for any Instructor who would prefer the option of riding with their class, while keeping control of your music.
Today is simply all about fun. And climbing. With lots of load. 3 minutes and 52 seconds of climbing with lots of load at rpm’s of 58. When this song comes on, we get up out of the saddle with a smile on our face and pretty much just crank it up. In good form of course. With the stress of the holidays, my students really appreciate the opportunity to work some of it out without a lot of cueing or coaching. Never did I think I would use Elvis in my cycle class, but this really works well. Enjoy Elvis and “A Little Less Conversation”:
Here is is in Spotify – If you do a search for “A Little Less Conversation” you will find over 100 versions to choose from; many different remixes – at various lengths – so I'm confident you will find the perfect version for your next class!
This makes me happy! During Sunday night's LIVE iTunes training one of the participants had what can only be described as an Aha! Moment, where she learned something that made her investment in time worth every minute.
Over the last 3 1/2 years I've answered hundreds of technical questions from Instructors. I've learned that if one Instructor has a question there are probably a bunch of you with the same frustration who would enjoy learning the answer.
The question was; “how do I restore the correct order of a playlist in iTunes if I have clicked on one of the column headers?”
I made this short video to show how to solve this 🙂
The next training date is January 8th where we will be learning Spotify Premimum for iPhones and Android devices. You can join the notification email list here.
I'm listening to the new track suggestions for our latest Top Indoor Cycling class songs this morning as I get ready for my 8:00 90 min endurance class. When I got to last Friday's suggestion from soundtrack composure Brian Tyler it got me to thinking… could you use a movie score as the playlist for a class? I mean the whole soundtrack? Exactly as it was in the movie?
My understanding is that a lot of thought that goes into what people hear in a movie, almost as much as the visual elements. When you think about it, isn't much of the emotional impact of the movie transferred through the sound track?
Would the audio alone create a compelling ride?
What would happen I paired a movie soundtrack to a long virtual ride DVD?
I started poking around on Spotify and found that Brian Tyler has scored multiple movie soundtracks and interestingly enough, the soundtracks that go along with video games including Need For Speed.
My class seems to be open to much of anything I throw at them. So I'm going to try it this morning – I'll let you know what happens.
Are you looking for that certain something to inspire your class during speed work? This could be it. Super high intensity with rpm’s at 98 and no vocals, you can coach them through and remind them (thanks MI Cameron Chinatti) that speed work is not just about pedal speed, but BIKE speed. There is a fabulous “pull back” at 1:30 and a 42 second build to a big musical pop at 2:12 that pushes to the finish at 3:33. From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack,” Fast Five”, check out track #3, “Assembling the Team”.
Here's the link to the track in Spotify Brian Tyler — Assembling the Team There's a lot of additional music from composer Brian Tyler that you can explore. Let me know if you find another jewel we should be using.
ICI/PRO’s annual GIFT OF MUSIC is being created RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW and we need your help!
Simply post the best songs you taught in 2011. List as many as you wish…there are no rules, no limits, no boundaries. Everyone on the email newsletter will receive an alphabetized compilation and a One Click Spotify playlist as our way of saying “Thank You” for your loyalty, dedication and inspiration.
Or add your favorites directly to the[wlm_private ‘PRO-Platinum|PRO-Monthly|PRO-Gratis|PRO-Seasonal|Platinum-trial|Monthly-trial|PRO-Military|30-Days-of-PRO|90 Day PRO|Stages-Instructor|Schwinn-Instructor|Instructor-Bonus|28 Day Challenge'] Spotify list
To get things started, check out my first 10 songs on our Greatest Hits list.
Links go to Spotify so you can sample each track.
Underworld — Diamond Jigsaw Syntax – Pride ATB — Desperate Religion (Original Mix) Metric — Gold, Guns, Girls
O Saya (iSweat Dance Mix)
Paul Oakenfold & Cee Lo — Falling Depeche Mode – World in My Eyes (Cicada Mix) Robert Miles — Children (Eiffel 65 Club Mix) Gary Go — Wonderful Hybrid – Salt[/wlm_private]
