MUSIC: WHY IS IT SO HARD?

Currently, I'm in the middle of writing my 6th annual teaching guide consisting of technique classes, progressions, and combinations in varies styles. This book has more classes than I can count, requiring numerous songs with different beats and tempos in various genres. My challenge isn't what to teach. My challenge is music. I'm also searching for music to use for choreography this season. Once again, the music challenge makes me crazy at times. The music problem seems to lie with jazz. Musical theater can present an issue too, but not like jazz! These days, jazz music is incredibly hard to find! It's like there is nothing new out there that is useable for the classroom or choreography. I'm sure other teachers must be nodding in agreement!

Most current music has a beat that is so fast there is no possible way you can use it to train dancers in technique classes. When I find new music that works for across-the-floor combinations and for training, most of the time the lyrics are less than desired. Of course, I run into this with music for choreography too. I cannot understand why artists must use profanity and inappropriate content in almost everything! Feel my pain? Regardless of whether a dancer listens to this music in the car, at home, or wherever, as a mentor and educator of children of all ages, I just feel it best to "keep it classy" at all times. I have spent HOURS editing music just for classes and I haven't even begun to work on choreography music!

When it comes to music for turns, leaps, and progressions classes, it is so important to have music with a beat that is easy to follow and very distinct. Once again, this is a challenge because this music is so hard to find, BUT it is imperative for the success of the class. Music that has an easy to follow and distinct beat makes it easier for the dancers to be on time with the music allowing them to simply focus on exactly what they are doing with their body placement as they execute the task given to them. They are also standing in lines waiting on their turn so they are listening to lyrics. It's just my opinion, but clean lyrics free of cursing, is very important even if the dancers are teenagers. Dancers need a variety of speeds during the training process too. It's important to be prepared by having multiple speeds of the same song together in your class playlist so you can quickly adjust to tempo for your student's needs.

For those who don't compete or perform a lot of jazz, jazz training is still important. Just like ballet training is necessary, jazz training is too. Jazz technique teaches quick and clean footwork, transitions, direction change, spot change, and weight change. All of these things are needed for contemporary and lyrical. Don't skip the jazz!!!!

When it comes to choreography, finding jazz music is probably the most difficult because I, like many of you, worry about digging to deep in the vault. Do you know what I mean? We all worry about music choices and one worry is this: using music that is old. Well, the truth of the matter is we are ALL using older music for jazz to an extent because there isn't much to choose from when it comes to current music. The beat is either way too fast or the lyrics are inappropriate. With the comeback of true jazz happening, we have to be ok with digging in the vault finding those oldies but goodies. Thinking outside the box with the oldies and bringing them back with current styles, and maybe even a twist, and mixing music together are great options to consider when deciding on music and choreography for this upcoming season.

For educators like me who have been in the business 20 years, this hard to accept, but it's ok to use music from days past....even though we used it 10 or 15 years ago. Even for newer teachers, I think this may be difficult. Think of music like jazz: it's making a comeback. LOL! Just remember when you are cutting music for choreography to use during competition season, just like music you use for class, it's always best to keep it clean, classy, and curse word free!

Dance hard. Dance smart.

Meredith

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