Music is the heartbeat of figure skating. Without music, skaters would still achieve athletic excellence and technical mastery, but with music skaters bridge the gap between sport and art.
There is a lot of thought that goes into picking the perfect music for each individual skater. Below are some tips I have collected over the years of choosing music for my programs.
Find Music That You Connect with Emotionally
The most important aspect of choosing music for skating programs is that you connect to the music on an emotional level. Music can make you feel happy, it can make you feel sad, it can start a dance party or make people tear up.
Music has the power to bridge people from different backgrounds and different generations by creating a shared emotional experience.
If you feel inspired or moved by a certain piece of music, chances are that will show in your skating on the ice. The more inspired you are, the more inspired the judges and spectators will be.
Your Music Choices Will Reflect Your Program Elements
Not all music is created “equally” for figure skating programs. Some music- whether it is the instrumentation, the phrasing, the tempo, etc – will be better suited for skater’s elements in their programs.
Beyond fitting the elements to the music, you also need to strategically plan the order of your elements. What “big ticket” elements do you want earlier in the program? Does the music cater to that order?
Being strategic with your music will allow you to better captivate your audience with a blend of technicality and artistry.
Learn the Ins and Outs of Your Music
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of studying and learning your music. If you understand your music better, you will be able to use the music more fully in your performance.
Some great places to start when it comes to learning your music are:
- Identifying the instruments used in the music
- Finding out what key the music is played in
- Learning the song structure and phrasing
There are some great resources out there to help learn your music better as well:
Music is a Vehicle for Creativity and Curiosity
Ultimately, the music you choose for your skating program will be something you hear and train day-in and day-out for an entire season (sometimes more).
Be curious to explore and find the perfect piece of music that both inspires you and caters to your skating.
There is not a one-size-fits-all recipe for finding music for skaters – each person on the ice will be unique in how they express and move to music. The more you resonate with your music, the more opportunity you will have to explore your inner creativity.
