OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
2003
Aerobics
With No Music?
The
Evolution of the Fitness Industry
By
Blanche Hold
What
came first – the beat or the choreography? To have the
body move to a constant beat in a choreographed pattern
has been around for centuries – and like everything else
it has evolved a long way. Movement and tempo go all the
way back to the time of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson
who both recommended physical activity as part of a healthy
lifestyle. The great armies of the past used to march
to the beat of the drum, a simple concept developed centuries
ago – a constant beat to perform a basic body movement.
In
the 50’s Jack Lalanne was instrumental in developing cardiovascular
and resistance training programs in a group exercise setting.
Jack also invented the term to what is now commonly referred
to as a “jumping jack” – I wonder if Jack knew exactly how
much impact the jumping jack would have as aerobics evolved
into what it is today!
The
70’s & 80’s saw fitness guru’s Jane Fonda and Richard
Simmons hit the scene with choreographed routines set to
music and the early 80’s brought more structured group exercise
programs into fitness facilities. Who can forget the terms
“feel the burn” and “give me just one more” - brings back
memories of slouch socks and jazz slippers!
Then
in 1989 we saw perhaps the biggest trend when Gin Miller
hit the scene with the Reebok “Step Evolution”! We all
went step crazy and the fitness boom was on! The 90’s
brought the boxing craze heightened by the popular Tae-Bo
videos created by Billy Blanks.
The
21 st century has continued to progress with a focus on
mind-body programs such as the ever popular Pilates and
Yoga inspired classes, together with specialized programs
incorporating the use of innovative fitness products such
as the BOSU Balance Trainer.
Yes
times have certainly changed – hi low, step, kickbox, indoor
cycling and the list goes on – it’s hard to keep up. But
they all share something in common – music to move to!
How
many of you veteran instructors remember using vinyl in
your classes and packing around 45’s? Or having a live
musician accompany you to class? And lest we forget the
task of – ugh – making our own tapes! Yes – we would go
to the store and buy a handfu l of tapes to make only 1
- 60 minute tape! We would sit in front of our tape player
and go thru all the tapes trying to find the right tempo
for our warm up and then faster music for our hi-low aerobic
classes. And trust me – it was hard finding music for
those hi/low classes – remember - back then there was no
pitch control! We used classics such as “Walking on Sunshine”
by Katrina and the Waves and the absolute favourites – the
theme from “Flashdance” and “I’m So Excited” by the Pointer
sisters! Those tunes gave added energy and life to our
classes!
So
after countless hours of taping and re-taping – we were
finally ready to go live with our 60 minute tape in class!
We had pauses in-between songs where we would patiently
march or jog on the spot until the next song came on; we
had recording level fluctuations – one song would be soft
and the next sounded like a concert – but it worked!
Then
we discovered DJ’s and pitch control – the instructor’s
best friend! DJ’s were awesome - they not only had the
equipment to “pitch” up our music to faster tempos, but
they also had a vast selection of music just waiting to
be copied. Was it legal? Not a chance – but did we care
– nope! Did we worry about phrasing back then – nope!
Did the DJ’s know anything about aerobics – some did,
others did not. Phrasing – 32 counts – “what was that”
we said. So we paid our $40 and $50 per tape and happily
went to class knowing that we had just saved ourselves countless
hours of making our own tapes and the flaws on phrasing
etc was something we could all live with.
Pitch
control was a great asset but was very limited in the clubs.
Pitch control enabled us to take virtually any song, make
it faster and away we went. Then came the new buzz word
“chipmunk music” – we feverishly pitched our music so much,
that at times, it sounded like the artist had just inhaled
helium!
Some
entrepreneurial DJ’s started to see a potential market and
several music production companies were formed in the USA
. In 1987 the industry saw the first “legal” music provider
being Power Productions (Power Music) emerge and in the
following years were followed by Muscle Mixes Music, Dynamix
Music, Inlytes Productions and Tempo Music just to name
a few. Canada ’s first music production company was Dynamic
Workout Tracks, then Gym Jams followed and in 1998, Burntrax
Music came onto the Canadian marketplace.
Our
music needs were changing just as fast as the industry was
progressing. While it had been acceptable at one time
to march on the spot during those annoying pauses in an
aerobics class, when step first entered the industry in
1989, it was more and more evident that instructors needed
more customizations in their music it was increasingly difficult
to keep the flow of a step class going when the music stopped
for the pause. Step choreography was built on the basis
of the 8 count and the 32 count phrase and “continuous”
movement.
Instructors
wanted mixed music and square music - which meant music
was formatted to the 32 phrase. We wanted music to suit
the mood and clientele of our classes. We asked for different
themes – be it top 40, country, rock and roll or beach style
music. We started to ask for different formats – aerobic
and step interval classes, or how about those step and muscle
conditioning interval classes where we had a whistle cue
placed into the song indicating the next transition change.
Professionally
mixed music was much easier to work with, but it did take
some getting used to, as it was a different sound than what
we were accustomed to. Due to copyright and licensing
requirements, music providers did not always have easy access
to the hits on the chart and at time used compilations from
new upcoming artists, which made the music unrecognizable
to clients.
Industry
invented the word “canned music” as it related to this new
product hitting the market. And at times, some of it did
sound very canned and very repetitive with the beat just
going on and on and on ….
Using
tapes in class also had their drawbacks – after repetitive
use tapes would stretch, pitch control played havoc on tapes
and could cause a tape to snap. Technology has advanced
so much that the music available today is flawless as compared
to years gone by. Tapes are almost a thing of the past
with CD’s being so much more versatile. What does the
future hold – personalized MP3 players?
Today
music providers have musical themes featuring Top 40, Disco,
Rock and Roll, Rhythm & Blues, Classical, Movie Themes,
Big Band, Broadway, Country, Gospel, Holistic and more.
Clients can choose from a wide array of musical styles
to suit the class format – aggressive music for those hard-core
boxing classes and innovative holistic sounds for the mind-body
style classes. Instructors virtually have the choice of
hundreds of different compilations to choose from all available
in a wide array of class formats. Instructors have the
option of previewing before they buy, and most reputable
companies offer a satisfaction guarantee on all purchases.
Times
have certainly changed – no more countless hours spent on
searching for tunes and making our own tapes and NO MORE
CHIPMUNKS! The fitness music industry has come a long
way in the past decade – from vinyl to tapes to CD’s, from
Top 40 to Broadway, – music is one of the key motivators
in fitness. Music is a vital tool for instructors to educate,
communicate and motivate others towards a healthy and active
lifestyle. I wonder if Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson
were way ahead of their time and just didn’t know it.
Join
us next issue when we examine the Legalities and Licensing
of Music – plus “Why is Music so Expensive!”
Blanche
Hold is the founder of the Fitness Marketing Group (FMG)
and is the Canadian representative for Dynamix Music.
Blanche has been involved in the fitness industry since
1988 in many different capacities, however she is most recognized
for her expertise in fitness music and is known as the “music
lady” by many. Blanche is Can-Fit-Pro certified and is
the Administrator of the team of PRO Trainers serving Alberta
and the interior of BC. Blanche can be reached via email
at blanche@fmgonline.ca
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