Music around the World

[Road Rider]

It's quite an eye opener to see the different types of music that you all play in your classes around the world.
Why is it that in America for instance the majority of Instructors are playing pop, rock, country and dance, wheras in Europe, music genres played are: dance, world, ambient, chill-out, trance, r+b etc... are the norm?

Would you play for instance rock or pop in Europe? Probably not, although some students and instructors love that kind of music.
Me... I think you listen to it everyday on the radio, in the car, on tv, shops etc... everywhere you go you are confronted with this genre!
What one day was cool, hip and trendy and you loved singing to... the next is really cheezy, repetitive and boring.

So I like to let my students escape for 40 mins and play music thats going to take them 'somewhere else' on their journey. Music that doesnt have lyrics (or few anyway), isnt heard everyday, thats different and exciting and gets feedback with replies like 'that music was awesome!', 'great music', 'what was that song you played during that last climb'? etc... 8)

Ever wondered why Master Instructors round the world (or at least on these forums) are not to keen on sharing their music? :evil:
Is it because that they have spent a great deal of time and effort and money researching, finding, downloading this awesome music for their rides and special events, that if they were to 'give' you all this great material would leave their classes and efforts feeling rather flat and the music/classes/ideas would be the same as everyone else? :wink:

Road Rider

[tomslounge]

I'm an American, and I gave up on pop or whatever is played on the radio about 15 years ago, and switched to jazz. My kids turned me on to alternative, mixed in that for a spell, but over the past several years it's been acid jazz, ambient chill / techno / electronic.

I hate techno with too much of "The Silly Organ" mixed in, or too much drum and bass only. I like John Digweed, but Higher Intelligence Agency, Kruder & Dorfmeister are some of my favorites. Mickey Hart once in a while.

Not that any of that necessarity makes for good spinning music, but mention it to show that not all of us in the US are stuck on pop or country or music with a 3 minute radio format.

In my opinion, most country music is largely "nursery rhymes" - not all but a majority of it sounds the same and is what I refer to as 3D music - drinking divorce and depression. I do like a little Johnny Cash, Waylon, Willie and Allman Bros, and even Kid Rock once in a while but I never stick to any one genre - I like lyricless stuff more. I can just as easily listen to some Craig Chaquico (sp?) or Otmar Liebert. Anything that does not try to persuade me with its lyrics, but then I like Dido once in a while too.

It's the mind ride I go for - and when I got into Billy's spinning classes and found he's been into a lot of the same kinds of music, I found the mix of the mind ride and the physical ride awesome.

If you have a high speed connection, a great source of streaming music is http://www.shoutcast.com and you can listen endlessly to ambient, acid jazz and any other genre you can think of.

Oh - also forgot to mention -

http://www.di.fm/forums/index.php?s=

Enjoy

[fitfan]

Why is it that in America for instance the majority of Instructors are playing pop, rock, country and dance, wheras in Europe, music genres played are: dance, world, ambient, chill-out, trance, r+b etc... are the norm?

Because that's what some American's like. Everyone has their own taste in music. I don't play all Top 40 but some mixed in with dance, opera, some jazz. However, from my experience the students dislike an all instrumental CD and songs they don't recognize (I've introduced them to some new stuff and gotten not so good feedback on the songs). They like to listen to music from the 70's and 80's they haven't heard in a while. There are certain "Top 40" artists I will not play (Rod Stewart and Cher annoy me). However, consider this, when you attend the orientation, they recommend music by Sting and Seal - well they are played on Top 40 stations all the time so why are they singled out? Apparently some is good. It all depends on preference. I can easily get "lost" in this music.

I attended a workshop this weekend where the instructor played this weird instrumental music with chanting and stuff like that and I could not get into it so needless to say I didn't have a good ride and walked away frustrated.

Also, I detest country and will not play it.

Just my .02 cents!! :)

[spindawg]

'However, from my experience the students dislike an all instrumental CD and songs they don't recognize (I've introduced them to some new stuff and gotten not so good feedback on the songs). They like to listen to music from the 70's and 80's they haven't heard in a while. '

Fitfan, I agree with you. The avg age in my classes is around 50, and they like to hear some oldies. However, I also use a lot of newer instrumental titles, like Afro Celt, Safri Duo, and some jazz.

I played a mostly instrumental ride today I received from someone else. All but one song we had never heard of. It was good endurance music, but the class didn't like hearing nearly an hour of it.

I got lots of good comments from monday's ride, where I had more of a mix of genres, like a couple of oldies, some juno reactor, some jazz, some Phil Coulter, etc.

Cater to your audience. Some like world music, some like oldies. If you find the right songs, you can use some of all of it.

[madcyclist]

'However, from my experience the students dislike an all instrumental CD and songs they don't recognize (I've introduced them to some new stuff and gotten not so good feedback on the songs). They like to listen to music from the 70's and 80's they haven't heard in a while. '


I TOTALLY disagree.

I commonly play instrumentals and I get rave reviews (to my face and notes to my management) about my music and delivery (btw, my riders' ages range from 22 to 65 yrs old). I play music that I KNOW my participants wouldn't normally hear (which involves a mix of world, electronic, new age and other "eclectic genres". I find that playing this type of music helps to "paint the road" more effectively and adds some intrigue and mystery to the ride (b/c the riders don't know the music and can't anticipate the ride).

I get bored when I hear pop and top "whateva" being played in a class. For me, playing the genres I play helps me stretch my mind and creativity in delivering a class. I can't do that with the top "whateva". But to each his/her own.

I KNOW most Americans around here in (Northern VA) are more open than that. My reviews prove it for one.
--

[jcharry]

I've found that I can sell my riders just about anything if I'm really getting into it. I use all types of music except country. I love finding a great song and turning people on to an artist they might never have heard of before. Safri Duo, Juno Reactor, Count Basie, Eva Cassidy, Rusted Root and many other great artists have found new fans in my classes. In my last class, I did all Irish-sounding music or music by Irish artists, and all but one person LOVED it. I've been using remixes of classic rock favorites lately and getting lots of great feedback.

For Christmas we did a holiday masterclass at my gym where 6 instructors had to take turns leading a packed room full of riders. One instructor was told to put together a tape, and the rest of us had to teach on the fly. When it was my turn to take over the class at the mid-point of the ride, the tape someone else put together came to 2 cool down songs in a row. I had to lead the class through "Da Who Forest" and "Silent Night"! :shock: I taught the class as if there was no music at all, off the bike doing group drafting games, and nobody even noticed the music except when we joked about it.

It's all in how you sell it.

~Judi

I've found that I can sell my riders just about anything if I'm really getting into it. I use all types of music except country. I love finding a great song and turning people on to an artist they might never have heard of before. Safri Duo, Juno Reactor, Count Basie,
~Judi

These are some of my favorites ...

Juno Reactor - Bible of Dreams - 01 - Jardin De Cecile (2 minute warmup included for nuttin extra)
Juno Reactor - Bible of Dreams - 'Conga Fury' [8min] track is cool ...
The whole BofD CD is good for that matter ... (I would probably need a EMT after riding to the Komit track )
Kruder & Dorf. G-stoned 03 High Noon.MP3
Kruder & Dorf. Sessions CD1 - 03-Count Basic Speechless (Drum 'n' Bass)
Kruder & Dorf. Sessions CD1 - 08 Count Basic Gotta Jazz
Kruder & Dorf. Sessions CD2 - 03-Mama Oliver - Eastwest - "got a passion" you may remember this one from either a Lexus or Mercedes commerical - slow down tempo ...
Kruder & Dorf. Conversions 10. The Lick _ Earl Grey
Kruder & Dorfmeister - Tango - Spellbound

-t-

[SpinManiac]

I would have been one more person who didn't love the all Irish sounding music all the time class. I know it comes down to personal preference so no offense to those who like it, but that is the stuff of my worst nightmares.

[zoepup]

'However, from my experience the students dislike an all instrumental CD and songs they don't recognize (I've introduced them to some new stuff and gotten not so good feedback on the songs). They like to listen to music from the 70's and 80's they haven't heard in a while. '


I TOTALLY disagree.

I commonly play instrumentals and I get rave reviews (to my face and notes to my management) about my music and delivery (btw, my riders' ages range from 22 to 65 yrs old). I play music that I KNOW my participants wouldn't normally hear (which involves a mix of world, electronic, new age and other "eclectic genres". I find that playing this type of music helps to "paint the road" more effectively and adds some intrigue and mystery to the ride (b/c the riders don't know the music and can't anticipate the ride).

I get bored when I hear pop and top "whateva" being played in a class. For me, playing the genres I play helps me stretch my mind and creativity in delivering a class. I can't do that with the top "whateva". But to each his/her own.

I KNOW most Americans around here in (Northern VA) are more open than that. My reviews prove it for one.
--

I find both of these replies interesting. My classes fall into the first category. If they can't sing to it, dance to it, and know it, they don't want to HEAR it. What I hope to find is that by giving them what they want (classic rock, sprinkles of top40, some 70's dance) they will become more open to different types of music. I hope this approach works.

Z

[BarbJ]

I find my riders enjoy both, pop/rock and instrumental. I use alot of Safri Duo, Banco de Gaia, Claude Challe, Enigma, Afro Celt, Chemical Brothers, Crystal Method, stuff from Buddha Bar cd's , techno, jazz, etc.. along with some rock (never a whole ride of just instrumental, I tried that once and it didn't go over that well, not to say it didn't work but not as enjoyable) and as long as there is a nice rythm/beat and the students can get a nice flow going, focus on themselves, form, breathing, etc... and not sing along, I'll do it. It's quite often the music you/ I would never play at home that works wonderfully in the spinning room. Had I not been exposed to it by some Master Instructors at conferences or CE's, I probably never would have used some of the instrumentals. Once you do tho..... you will crave for more of it 8) and yes never country music!!!!

Perhaps an opportunity is missing from the entire spinning community for "country spinning nite" ... caint git in with out a hat on ... and a special exemption so people can ride with their boots on ... probably need to install mud scrapers at the gym entrance ...biscuits and gravy after the ride ... ah with a side of bacon and eggs ...

[Lovetospin]

I love all music. When putting a ride together I want something for everybody. Something old, something new, something borrowed (covers) - a good drum or instrumental song for a fast flat, a slow powerful alternative song for a climb. I find the key is to know your riders and find out what they respond to - see what gets them going. My 10am mom group hated Eminem needless to say I saved that for my Saturday crowd.

[zoepup]

I love all music. When putting a ride together I want something for everybody. Something old, something new, something borrowed (covers) - a good drum or instrumental song for a fast flat, a slow powerful alternative song for a climb. I find the key is to know your riders and find out what they respond to - see what gets them going. My 10am mom group hated Eminem needless to say I saved that for my Saturday crowd.

YES! My morning mom crowd almost killed me when I played Eminem. Hmmm.. the narrow minds of some people.
LOL

[Sven_Kiel]

...here in germany you can also play also all genres...not only electronic stuff, also rock and pop and especially some older tracks.... for example Tom Jones, Donna Summer, Blondie and what they actuall like very much is: Dick Brave or Robbie Williams!!!

So I think...it depends always on the melody and feeling in a song and also on the rhythm. Okay...there is something different here in Germany: no chance to play Rammstein, Country or Westcoastrock....too hard for them;-)

What they also like her is ambient mixed with pop for example Schiller and Safri Duo, but also special Rock like Van Halen or Aerosmith.

I also think that first the JGSI has to love the music and then the people love it too and have the right feeling...I think thats the trick......Sven

[AC]

I hate to just use this expression, but really, "it's all good".

Just don't be pigeonholed into playing one thing. Try things that sound good and are not "popular" or repeated. Most participants have limited listening range, so they will repeat back to you what they know. You are supposed to know what to play and try to use the lead bike to try things. Experiment a little, it's only a song!

You can always play the radio if your job depended on it.

[AC]

'However, from my experience the students dislike an all instrumental CD and songs they don't recognize (I've introduced them to some new stuff and gotten not so good feedback on the songs). They like to listen to music from the 70's and 80's they haven't heard in a while. '


I TOTALLY disagree.

I commonly play instrumentals and I get rave reviews (to my face and notes to my management) about my music and delivery (btw, my riders' ages range from 22 to 65 yrs old). I play music that I KNOW my participants wouldn't normally hear (which involves a mix of world, electronic, new age and other "eclectic genres". I find that playing this type of music helps to "paint the road" more effectively and adds some intrigue and mystery to the ride (b/c the riders don't know the music and can't anticipate the ride).

I get bored when I hear pop and top "whateva" being played in a class. For me, playing the genres I play helps me stretch my mind and creativity in delivering a class. I can't do that with the top "whateva". But to each his/her own.

I KNOW most Americans around here in (Northern VA) are more open than that. My reviews prove it for one.
--

I totally agree with madcyclist BTW, which should be recorded for posterity.

[like2bike]

I love sifting through some of the older threads from days gone by. Bumping this one up to the front...ENJOY.

[zmia]

I've found that I can sell my riders just about anything if I'm really getting into it. I
~Judi

I agree with Judi on this...if I'm not getting into the music, my class isn't either. And, because of this, I nearly almost always make a new cd for every class--with something new or something I haven't played in a really long time on it. That said, I never say never to any genre of music...I'll consider something if it moves me regardless of the genre. I typically use music with motion in it (at least that's how I feel it) and it includes everything under the sun with a favoritism for electronica/trance/world and lots and lots of remixes!
~Z