Have you ever had someone say something so revolutionary, that it smacks you hard in the face and knocks you completely off balance?
It happened to me today and I'm still reeling with the potential of this exciting new method of creating great class playlists. Let me explain…
While preparing to record our latest Audio Class PROfile, Instructor Dennis Mellon introduced me to the fascinating concept of Harmonic Mixing, which is used by the top DJs to build a magical playlist.
This isn't mixing songs by BPM with MixMeister, but rather by combining tracks in the same or a complimentary musical key.
The net effect I'm discovering, is a flow/transition between songs that just sounds right. You may not be able to identify why exactly, it just works. If you're a bit tone-deaf like me, it may explain why some of your playlists don't elicit the same positive response, as say your wife's 🙁
This has been a continuous source of frustration for me; Amy, Chris Hawthorne and a bunch of other Instructors I follow on Spotify all have very good ears for music. And yet the playlists I create (using their songs) never sound as good as the original playlist I swipe them from.
Harmonic Mixing is an advanced technique used by top DJs all over the world. By mixing tracks that are in the same or related keys, harmonic mixing enables long blends and mash-ups. The goal is to eliminate key clashes.
The Basics
Harmonic mixing consists of two elements: knowing the key of every song that you play and knowing which keys are compatible.
To get started, find the keys of your songs. You can detect keys with a piano, a good ear, and a background in music theory. To save time, you can use professional DJ software such as Mixed In Key. Mixed In Key scans your MP3 and WAV files, and shows you the key of every song.
The First Mix
To help DJs learn harmonic mixing, Mark Davis created the Camelot wheel, a visual representation of which keys are compatible with each other:
Help for all of us Tone-Deaf Instructors!
The Professional DJ Approach
Many professional DJs move around the Camelot wheel with every mix.
To select a compatible song, choose a keycode within one “hour” of your current keycode. If you are in 8A, you can play 7A, 8A or 9A next. If you are in 12A, you can play 11A, 12A or 1A. This mix will be smooth every time.
You can also mix between inner and outer wheels if you stay in the same “hour.” For example, try mixing from 8A to 8B, and notice the change in melody as you go from Minor to Major.
Harmonic mixing is a simple technique, but it opens up a world of creativity. You will play creative DJ sets and discover interesting song combinations. It's easy to get started with any music genre.
This Camelot wheel is brilliant – just like there are color wheels to help people like me select complimentary paint colors for say the house and trim, the Camelot wheel shows you which musical keys work together and which will clash.
You can listen to Dennis explain how he uses Harmonic Mixing to create playlists that his classes really enjoy and how it could be the answer (dare I say; The Holy Grail) that many of us have been searching for?
Subscribe to the podcast and then join ICI/PRO so you don't miss hearing Dennis Mellon's Harmonically Mixed playlist when we publish it tomorrow.
This Podcast is was originally published on May 7, 2017, I have updated it with our new Podcast host information and I am representing it now. I hope you enjoy it, Joey
The latest issue of ACE Certified News features an article: Create Safe, Effective Indoor Cycling Classes. The author, health and fitness writer Karen Asp joins me to discuss what she describes as the "Five Common Mistakes" made by Indoor Cycling Instructors. Karen also explains what motivated the American Council on Exercise to contract her to write this story.
NOTE: I'm trying to get approval from ACE to reprint the article and will post it asap.
Listen to the Podcast below or subscribe for free using iTunes or Zune.
ICI/PRO members Zack and Joey record their first podcast as part of the ICI/PRO team.
Both Joey and Zack are master indoor cycling instructors, and they both currently race and actively ride outdoors.
Take some time and listen to Joey and Zack as they lay out their vision for the future of the ICI/PRO Podcasts and how this unique tool can help you to elevate your indoor cycling teaching career.
This Podcast is was last published on Feb 7, 2010, I have updated it with our new Podcast host information and I am representing it now. I hope you enjoy it, Joey
Have you ever thought of creating a comprehensive training program for your members to help get them really fit? You want to
incorporate many areas of the gym, not just your indoor cycling class; you want to do the research to make sure the program follows a stepped approach using proper training principles; you want to provide the participants assessments and educational and motivational material along the way. But the amount of work to put it together is daunting so you just never get there!
What if you could take a self-funded, turn-key program that has been proven to work, that will bring profits, teamwork, excitement and success into your facility?
Jade Ng from Finish Strong Training Systems joins Jennifer and me to discuss her turnkey program for fitness clubs. To help ensure the success of the 6-phase, 12-week program, FSTS provides training videos for instructors and personal trainers on the focus of each phase and how to teach the suggested classes. Educational and motivational videos are provided for the participants to help them stay on track. Both Dr Haley Perlus and Jennifer were invited to create some of the videos and training information, and they are honored to be a part of the program.
Listen to the Podcast below or subscribe for free using iTunes
Meet Dave Goss – Graduate student and Indoor Cycling Instructor at the University of Florida!
While working on his music education graduate degree at U-Florida, Dave enrolled in the college's group fitness instructor development program. There he earned his AFAA Primary Group Fitness Certification and then completed his Schwinn Indoor Cycling Certification. Now Dave has scheduled classes at both the colleges rec centers 🙂
Dave originally responded to my request for Instructors who teach at both Big Box and Boutique Studios. He asked if I would be interested in learning more about what it's like to teach in a college – to college students, which of course I was.
My biggest surprise during the interview? When Dave explained how his early AM cycle class is very popular! My experience with college kids is they all (given the chance) will sleep to noon. Listen to the interview to learn who, exactly, he's riding with @ 6:15 in the morning.
Here's the to our free Podcast.
You can connect with Dave through his multiple social media platforms:
We are now offering both ACE and AFAA CEC's at the ICI/PRO conference and Zoning Fitness is providing Blink Heart Rate Monitors to the next 75 Instructors who register to attend the conference.
MyZone displays your students Heart Rates on a screen during class… and a lot more. Listen to my Interview with Steve Newell from MyZone and learn how their system will have your students coming back to your studio – not your competitors 🙂
ICI/PRO members Zack and Joey record their first podcast as part of the ICI/PRO team.
Exciting News!