Tempo or familiarity?
The playlists I create for my weekend* classes are crucial to the success of the class.
I keep fitness boxing songs at a certain tempo and energy, to keep the class moving. And I put the most intense songs at the end of class.
When Mom came to fitness boxing!
My indoor cycling class relies on the playlist to lead the workout. The workout is timed “per song,” and I find appropriate songs for intervals, “hills,” riding out the saddle, sprints, and so on. (It’s quite a bit of work, ha!)
I have favorite songs, but I’m always trying to find new music so things don’t get stale.
So here’s my question! When you’re attending a group fitness class, what’s more important to you – that the song has the right tempo to get you moving, OR that you’re familiar with the song? Or a bit of both?
I am wondering if people work out harder to songs they know, or if a tempo of a song they don’t know can just take over and lead the way. IF that makes sense.
When I took group classes, it was all about tempo and style. I remember taking a few and thinking “I HAVE to find out what that song is!” I didn’t need to be familiar with the song.
It’s different when I run though – I prefer the upbeat, sometimes high tempo songs I know.
Let me know what you think – I am curious how other people operate!
(And I think my students like my playlists. I’ve gotten compliments on them, and two gave me an iTunes gift card for Christmas and said “we love the playlists you make!” Aww.)
*I’ve found it doesn’t matter as much with my weekday strength classes, but I do often put the higher tempo/more intense music at the end of class.
Themocracy
Hm, I think I like a mix of both. Even if I start going to a class and don’t know the song, it will start to become familiar and I usually end up liking it (if the instructor reuses playlists or songs).
Have you put any BTS on your playlists yet? 😉
Thanks for your feedback! I do reuse some of this stuff. I have to hear some things over and over to like them. And some I never do. Ha. (Thinking more of the radio though).
There was one BTS song I was going to get and never did! Do you recommend one?!
I just took a few classes recently when I joined my new gym. I did not recognize some of the instructor music choices, but the beat and tempo made it fun. In the past I have enjoyed an instructor that had routines that went with certain class tracks. She had 3 and would alternate them for high step aerobics and it was super fun to be able to anticipate what was coming when I attended regularly. It was fun to get used to a routine because I could execute the moves with more intensity.
Thanks for your feedback! I am glad to hear that beat and tempo helped, even though you didn’t know the music. That is a good idea to use those playlists for different types of workouts and cue your students that way – cool!!! Are you going to keep taking classes?
Since I took the dive and hired a trainer for a few months I don’t think I will be able to take classes regularly but once I’m on my own I willl!
Oh cool! I hope you have fun with your trainer!
I like songs I know…so long as they are also songs I like, haha.
I will say that for spin, I really like it when the instructor clearly announces the tempo at the beginning of each song. I’m not good at picking up on tempo even when I’m not exercising, so it’s very helpful to be told some sort of guideline number (i.e. 75 RPM) to go along with the music.
Ha! VERY good point. I would hate to work out to certain artists or songs that I despise! Although maybe not liking them would make me work harder?!
And another good point at the instructor announcing the tempo/purpose of the song you are spinning to! I was thinking about that when I was teaching cycling yesterday – sometimes I didn’t give myself enough transition time from the end of one song to the next to explain what we’d be doing and/or the tempo(cadence) to hit. I would hate to be in a class and think “What am I supposed to be doing?!”
I would say a mix, although I’ve definitely had those experiences of LOVING a song and wanting to know what it is.
I’m now mainly on the trainer, and I use Pandora (I know, I’m so old school!) or I have playlists that I’ve made that I *know* will get me going.
On another, totally random note, for my absolute favorite spin instructor in CA – I really liked his style of teaching/coaching (he focused a LOT on form and it always felt like a ride, not a spin class) AND his music. I still listen to Broken Bells’ “The High Road” as a cool down, and he definitely introduced me to that song.
I have had that feeling in a class and tried hard to remember some lyrics so I could google it later!
Ha! That doesn’t seem old school to me… since I don’t stream music at all. Ha ha ha.
What did he do to make it feel more like a ride? I am going to google that song, thanks!
So… What he did to make it feel like a ride? His attitude was “If I don’t do this on a ride, I’m not going to do it in a spin class”. So, he really focused on cadence, didn’t let people bounce around and focused a lot on rpms – would let us know what the range should be and also how we should feel (he would often say “It should feel like you’re up to shins in mud” for a heavy interval). Hills really felt like hills – we’d do a lot of simulated climbing on the bike; and when we were pushing it on “flats”, it was just flat out hard.
So, I don’t know if that helps at all! But they were great classes – I still miss them!
Oh cool! That does help. That is what I do. “You should be in this range of cadence.” “You should feel like you’re riding in mud.” Those are things I say. Or “Your quads should NOT be grinding on this one!”
It’s too bad you can’t take them anymore! Have you tried any spin classes in CO?
I think a good mix of both and you do that. I love when a song i know and like comes on in one of your classes but there are several songs that you play a lot that I’ve never heard outside of your classes that I now like and associate with you. You do a great job with your playlists and always make them fun.
Aww, thanks! I am glad it works for you! And that you like my music taste 😉
I respond MUCH better to songs I actually know, which sucks for me in most group fitness classes since most teachers play a lot of current “popular” music, which I don’t listen to at all. A couple of the coaches that I like at OT have “theme” days, like 90’s music or old-school R&B, etc. which I find a lot more fun than new stuff.
I always loved your playlists! You play a good mix of new and old stuff, and like Jen said, there’s a lot of songs that I didn’t know but now associate with you and your classes.
Thanks for your feedback – I think you’re the only one who has said they respond better to songs they know (I thought more people would say that)! And you are right that most instructors do play more current stuff. I am glad my playlists worked out for you! 🙂