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.
John is a member on the AFS (Association of Fitness Studios) Advisory Council.
Holding certifications from; Schwinn, Heart Zones, Team ICG and Life Time Fitness, John's held regularly scheduled cycling classes between 1998 and 2015 when he moved to Florida.
When the weather permits, you'll find him riding and leading outdoor groups by himself or with his Tandem partner (wife) Amy.
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I have several profiles that only use music from a single movie. Some of my favorite soundtracks are from the Bourne movies (John Powell) – lots of highs and lows. My current favorite movie composers are Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (Social Network and Girl with a Dragon Tattoo). I did a whole ride last week using the Dragon Tattoo music. It was about the stresses of the season – lots of hard work – and the music fit it perfectly. I wouldn’t hesitate to use their music with a DVD of a challenging ride. It might not suit an easier, more ‘pastoral’ ride.
The secret is out!
Like Christine I have several profiles that use movie soundtracks exclusively. The sound track from Chasing Legends is my pre-post class music. I have some riders that get there 15 to 30 minutes early (as I do) to ride to my pre class music.
I use music from Crimson Tide, Gladiator, Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron, 300, pirates of the Caribbean, Kick Ass and many more. Christine, I will now add scores from your favorites.
For inspirational I go to movie soundtracks first.
One of my favorite composers is Hans Zimmer. He and Bryan Adams did the sound track to Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron. The whole movie is about mustangs running free and dream works did a themselves well by hiring Hans Zimmer and Bryan Adams to do the score.
Indeed the 6:21 track ‘Run Free’ is number one in my top five of all time finishing tunes. It can be used as a high speed high cadence finish for any number of profiles or load up the resistance over the last three minutes and climb the unclimbable hill.
I have let the music inspire with little to no coaching (or training or instructing) to setting compelling stories designed for vivid visualizations. It is the one track my classes never seem to mind me using again and again. Indeed, the moment they hear the first few bars they know what is coming.
Soundtracks Rock indoor cycle classes!
I second the Hans Zimmer recommendation. I use his work on both Dark Knight and Inception a lot. I’ll have to listen to Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron.
Obviously I’m a bit late to this party 🙁
This actually worked very well and my class enjoyed it. I prefer balance between the different elements of my class; music, video and me. This soundtrack was compelling, but not over powering (I’m sounding like a wine critic now)and because of the consistency of the music, the compelling video (I used Epic San Diego – Great Western Loop – and a minimum amount of me, I felt like it created a bit of a hypnotic effect that kept everyone engaged for the whole 90 minutes. I’m going to try this again and will be checking out your suggestions.
I use a lot of music from soundtracks, but have never tried this. Thanks for the suggestions! I used a Brian Tyler song, “Final Manipulations” from the movie Eagle Eye for a heavy hill, followed by “Intriguing Possibilities” from the movie “The Social Network.” This pairing was very popular in class.