Specially mixed for fitness classes, aerobic music encourages exercisers to continue their movements by giving them added enjoyment during class and reducing their chances of attrition due to boredom. Because aerobic music is created at particular beats per minute, it can also help exercise class participants perform activities at the appropriate pace.
Aerobic Music Format and BPM
In typical aerobic music mixes, beats per minute (BPM) vary slightly in order to allow for a full class format. Classes begin with slightly lower BPM songs, gradually quicken to a climax at the two-thirds point of class, then begin decreasing slightly. This allows the instructor to lead the class in an appropriate warm-up, cardiovascular segment and cooldown. Some music mixes also include an extremely low-tempo song for stretching and relaxation at the end of the class.
BPM for aerobic classes range from 100 to 160 BPM. Lower BPM songs are typically used for yoga or senior classes, and high BPM songs are for boot camp, sports conditioning or floor aerobics classes.
32-Count Phrases
Instructors who teach step, hi-low and other choreographed aerobic classes teach in combinations, or sets of moves that together make up a class. In order for aerobic instructors to teach in combinations, each song in an aerobic music mix is organized into a series of 32-count phrases.
Phrases can be recognized by a slight change in instruments or lyrics that instructors learn to identify during their training--and which students subconsciously recognize. The change in phrase helps students to more easily transition to a new move.
Music and Weight Loss Study
A 2005 study by Christopher Capuano, director of Fairleigh Dickinson University's School of Psychology, determined that music can be a tool for weight loss in women. When monitoring 41 women's progress in a 24-week cognitive-behavioral treatment program that included dieting, walking and a weekly support group, Capuano found that participants who walked while using portable CD players had a much higher rate of adherence to the program: 98 percent versus 68 percent for women who did not listen to music.
Weight Training With Music
The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America strongly discourages attempting to lift weights at the pace of any speed of music. Because weight training is such an individual exercise and should be done slowly, carefully and with good form, lifting weights to a particular beat can increase the chances of injury. Performing an activity too quickly can also reduce range of motion. When weight training, exercisers should either ignore the beat of the music or simply work out without listening music.
Competitive weight lifters and exercisers who lift heavy amounts of weight should be particularly careful when listening to music while training; lifting too quickly can be dangerous when large weights are being used.
Music Providers
Professional music provision for aerobic classes began in 1987. The first provider was Power Music, established by Richard Petty, a DJ in Gaithersburg, Md. Other companies soon recognized the growing market and began releasing their own, appropriately formatted mixes. Today, music technology allows nearly anyone with a computer to create their own mixes. However, most instructors still order CDs or MP3 downloads from professional providers.
While Power Music remains the most popular, other music providers include Work This!, Muscle Mixes, 32MIX, Burntrax and John Sines Music Mixes.
References
- Walking to the Beat
- "Fitness Theory and Practice"; Peg Jordan, R.N.; 1997
- About Power Music
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