Joe Jorgens (see right) is the head of Sonic Edge Music, which provides pre-cut and custom programs for figure skaters. As a professional music editor, he wanted to share ten tips for selecting great music, especially for younger skaters. So far Joe has advised the following:
Tip #1: Select music that is age appropriate
Tip #2: Accentuate the positive
Tip #3: Take into account the skater's style and skating personality
Tip #4: Look for music that delivers a mixture of different tempos and musical themes
Tip #5: Connect with the skater's spirit
Tip #6: Consider recent trends in programs, music and judging
Tip #7: Be unique
Here's Joe's next tip.
TIP #8: CONSIDER SUITABILITY TO RINK ACOUSTICS
Program music has a technical side to its delivery that extends beyond the control of the skater and coach. Each rink has its own acoustical characteristics that will affect what the audience actually hears when your music is played and this can cause your music to sound very different from what you hear on your CD player.
Skating music should always be equalized and normalized so that the volume of the music does not fluctuate greatly. We have all heard programs that are extremely quiet and then push the speakers to their limit. This is a colossal distraction which affects the judges and the audience alike. We should be enjoying the skating and not flinching due to dramatic volume changes.
As we all know, rinks are built for hockey, otherwise there would not be glass protecting the crowds. That being said, they are not built for acoustics and any low base or high treble tones are lost or are greatly distorted. These modulations should be avoided if possible. Additionally, either extreme tends to reverberate against the glass or boards and causes deterioration in the beauty of the music.
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