Program ideas for pre-preliminary | Golden Skate

Program ideas for pre-preliminary

GBs mom

Rinkside
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Anyone have music suggestions for a nine year old pre-preliminary figure skater? She's done fun programs up until now, so something that helps her develop a bit artistically would be beneficial.
 

Sibelius

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 28, 2017
Anyone have music suggestions for a nine year old pre-preliminary figure skater? She's done fun programs up until now, so something that helps her develop a bit artistically would be beneficial.

No specifics, but let her choose the music. I worked with my skater last year just listening, she had some suggestions, I had some suggestions, we narrowed the list to those she liked and turned them over to her coach who chose one that she picked. She loved it and her coach liked it as well. There was even another skate dad who I always heard whistling it and he thought it was a great song. I absolutely hated it, all year long. Didn't matter. I can't tell you how happy I was this morning when her new music was played over the rink system as she began working on her new program. This year it's a piece from a classical ballet, it's just perfect, and she chose it!

Bottom line is help her listen, but respect her tastes and choices as well. I do have to say that age appropriateness is one of our coach's prime considerations and I really appreciate it. I see too many 10 year olds out there shaking things they don't have to music that is just not appropriate, and I'm not a prude either!
 

GBs mom

Rinkside
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Agreed. She will be the decider with the coach having veto power. I view my role as to help her identify options. Plus, it's fun:)
 

Sibelius

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 28, 2017
Agreed. She will be the decider with the coach having veto power. I view my role as to help her identify options. Plus, it's fun:)

Yeah, fun until you discover that all your musical tastes are considered "dreck".

Funny, before choosing her new music I went to last years playlist and played one of my favorites (holding onto it for when she has short program and freeskate) and she heard it playing and came out and said she liked it. Hah! Then she chose the classical ballet piece. I felt vindicated.

Since spending hours at the rink listening to practice music and program music (some is actual dreck, one ELITE skater is using music that I swear is from Days of Our Lives) I have a new appreciation for pop, rap and world music. Not all of it mind you, but I've opened up my horizon a bit.
 

ayb2

Rinkside
Joined
Jan 2, 2018
My older girl (12) is more of a powerful jumper and less finesse - she's always leaned towards more "adventure" music with a little jazz - pink panther theme, james bond, legend of Zelda orchestral version, hook, Jurassic park type stuff. We tried a Japanese Miyazaki film score at one point, but coaches said it was too "soft" for her and not enough energy. Younger girl (7) has had more younger and girlier music - songs from Frozen, Zootopia, the Lion King, etc. I could see her doing the theme from Enchanted. I tried to get her to go for the Israel K version of somewhere over the rainbow or the Hawaiian roller coaster ride song at one point, but she hasn't gone for it yet. Try to play up their personality and give both the kid and the coaches some variety to look at. Have seen way too many versions of Rodeo by Copland and too many orchestral versions of Taylor Swift at these lower level events.
 

VegMom

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
You might want to do a skating "war horse" type of song. Something like music from Phantom of the Opera, Swan Lake, or West Side Story.
 

Ic3Rabbit

Former Elite, now Pro. ⛸️
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 9, 2017
Country
Olympics
What kind of skater is she OP?! That will help make a music decision quite easily. Also, I wouldn't just go for a warhorse like Carmen or ones mentioned above, there are top international level skaters that can hardly skate those pieces properly so trying to throw them at a lowel level skater is just not recommended. Also, the music won't magically make one artistic.
 

SmallAminal

On the Ice
Joined
Jul 26, 2016
My two cents here:

I see a lot of kids this age revert to the "Disney Warhorses" - Frozen, Cinderella, Lion King, etc. While they are certainly age appropriate, it gets really tiresome to hear "Let it go" 5 times in a flight. Even if your skater is a fan of any of these - see if you can explore something a little less cliché - its always refreshing when I see a child with an age appropriate program that isn't the "usual suspects". My skater is the same age and is certainly skating to something fun and age appropriate, but its not a song I've ever heard anyone else use and that helps make it unique.

I do think it is nice to let the child have input/say into the song choice - too many times I see kids out there skating to stuff they don't have a connection to and they look miserable. Especially at this age, they have to enjoy it.
 

GBs mom

Rinkside
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
She's an energetic, athletic skater more than a ballerina. She does have some natural grace but needs to be developed. She wants to try something that leans more classical/instrumental though is still happy. She's nixed a few of my suggestions saying they're too sad.
 

Vicki7

On the Ice
Joined
Aug 27, 2018
Have a listen to Vitamin String Quartet, they cover a range of stuff, if she wants something a little more classical.
 

Elija

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 25, 2019
Perhaps an instrumental version of a more popular song, like the sort of thing the Piano Guys do? I’ve seen that work well for similar skaters the same level. A girl at my rink (about same level) skates to an classical/instrumental version of Journey’s don’t slop believing - it’s really pretty.
 

WednesdayMarch

Nicer When Fed
Medalist
Joined
Mar 24, 2019
Country
United-Kingdom
Also, the music won't magically make one artistic.

This. So much this.

What does help with the artistic side, however, is the skater picking a piece of music that simply makes them want to dance (or skate). It's not rocket science; the more they like the piece and want to move to it, the better they are likely to interpret it in front of judges. With the bonus of actually enjoying it, too.

My recommendation would be to play some ballet music to your skater and see if any of it makes her start to dance. Ballet music is - obviously - written for dancing, so that's a head start. The Sleeping Beauty has some gorgeous, lyrical, waltzy pieces, Coppelia has fiery mazurkas and czardas and La Fille Mal Gardee has the absolutely wonderful Clog Dance, which I used many years ago and loved every time I skated to it.

Good luck!
 
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Scout

Final Flight
Joined
Sep 5, 2009
Kaiya Ruiter (jgp competitor for Canada) has been skating to Harry Potter this season and last. It's age appropriate and not "ballerina-ish".
 

Ic3Rabbit

Former Elite, now Pro. ⛸️
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 9, 2017
Country
Olympics
She's an energetic, athletic skater more than a ballerina. She does have some natural grace but needs to be developed. She wants to try something that leans more classical/instrumental though is still happy. She's nixed a few of my suggestions saying they're too sad.

Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf March https://youtu.be/ctsWdUaHsHM
A section of the 1712 Overture by PDQ Bach (a spoof of the famous 1812 overture) and lots of fun
Skating loves Cinematic Orchestra and uses their stuff often (To Build A Home and Arrival of the Birds, but I wouldn't pick those) Try these: "Ode to the Big Sea" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5YUevEtRos
Manhatta: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID9lYh_uUVs

Hans Zimmer is an amazing composer and has done many an excellent film soundtrack...Some that may work for your skater
Chevaliers de Sangreal from Davinci Code (I wish a senior elite skater would use this LOL)
Knights March Theme from King Arthur soundtrack (If she is a stronger, more athletic skater this may work for her)
Orchestral Lion King Soundtrack (this is so beautiful and powerful at points) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Waa3PgUyapw
Kung Fu Panda Orchestral https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y00gvip_ty0
Spirit Orchestral https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1IPW8aXghw

Same for James Horner

Freedom from Braveheart
and A Gift of Thistle
For the Love of a Princess https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSW9UPQbeVQ
Entire Avatar Soundtrack for your listening pleasure lol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ7lb1M_JC8&list=PLF490561BA881D005

Kingdom of Heaven soundtrack by Harry Gregson-Williams
Listen from the place I marked it forward....https://youtu.be/cCJupfT1wGI?t=266
Narnia Soundtrack "Battle Song"
"Only the Beginning of the Adventure"

James Newton Howard
"Flying" from the Peter Pan soundtrack


"Unlocking the Mind"
from Theory of Everything Soundtrack by Samuel Karl Bohn

Michael Giacchino
"Fiesta con de la Cruz" from Coco Soundtrack <this one is so fun!

I hope this helps you out! :biggrin:
 

Ykai

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 6, 2019
I feel for younger kids, it is easier to relate to animation movie music. Abstract pieces are beautiful, but hard to interpret for an 8/9 year old. If your girl loves upbeat songs/music, maybe try the "how to train your dragon" ost https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWr0hSKLcXY

One problem I have observed at lower level competitions is that music can be too strong for a skater, and the skating is overwhelmed by the music. It is really very challenging to perform to a strong piece of music when you don't have that power yet.
 
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