Dressage to Music - Music

[RachelFerd]

I'm currently creating a dressage to music routine for my 7yo at Elementary level - but with a slight difference in that I'm composing all of the music myself!

I've not done DTM before so I'd be interested in any examples people could share where they think the music is particularly good/suited to the horse. As he's a very lightweight type i'll mainly be working with piano and strings, and some light touches of ambient electronica.

I've been studying music production outside of work for a couple of years now, so it makes sense to try and combine my interests!

I'd also be interested in doing a bit more free practice in this space if anyone else is aiming for winter regionals music and doesn't yet have any music?

 

[VRIN]

bought eyes is a nice light walk

 

[daffy44]

What a great idea to do the music yourself, it'll make feel amazing to ride to, you can make it really personal to you and your horse. I love doing dtm and I choose all the music myself, but I certainly cant compose it!

 

[VRIN]

bright

 

[kathantoinette]

I’ve had mine done mine to 80s music, horse is a cob x sporty type. I think it suits him and we have had positive comments.
Walk: Don’t you want Me
Trot: Dancing with tears in their Eyes
Canter: Man Eater
I’ve written for Regionals judges for the music and imo erratic music doesn’t go down well as much as riders may think it suits their horse!
I also think not chopping/changing between the paces is better so you get a good chunk of the same music to listen to.
I’d love to be able to do my own music but when I had a look into it and downloaded a software package to use I just couldn’t do it!

 

[RachelFerd]

What a great idea to do the music yourself, it'll make feel amazing to ride to, you can make it really personal to you and your horse. I love doing dtm and I choose all the music myself, but I certainly cant compose it!

yeah I'm looking forwards to trying it - I'm really not into the idea of riding to a bunch of pre-recorded songs shoehorned together - although I am open to including arrangements, or themes, from other songs in my own work. That way I'll be able to keep completely consistent instrumentation and style throughout, and hopefully be able to put the right feelings into the different movements in my floorplan into the music... lets see!

 

[daffy44]

It certainly needs to be cohesive throughout the test, and you can really highlight your horses strengths and accent transitions etc if you are composing it yourself, I think it should be fascinating to do. I wish I had the talent to compose myself! I write my own floorplans and choose all the music myself, and I love putting it all together, but composing too will make it so special.

 

[humblepie]

Should be great fun. I had mine done by Gaynor Colbourne at one of her sessions and I love it. The trot music is brilliant as it increases in tempo and sound for the mediums, and the canter music just makes me smile. Was done for elementary but I have used it for medium and a novice once, when the novice class fitted our schedule better at a championship. Should be great fun to do.

 

[RachelFerd]

Well - here's a little sample of what I've prepped for our first DTM competition on Saturday! Only did the floorplan last week and then have put the music together over the last couple of days. It's a bit rough and ready, but looking forwards to giving it a go and seeing what happens. Interested in any feedback on this too as I can keep working on it.

 

[RachelFerd]

Well, we went and did it - and very happy with a solid 70% under a list 1 judge! I got fractionally ahead of my music at one point, but it was actually surprisingly relaxing to ride to the music rather than just concentrating on riding to the markers. So that's one of my two sheets to qualify for regionals sorted!

 

[daffy44]

Well done!! Thats fantastic, especially composing yourself as well, brilliant.

 

[Nicnac]

Well done. I really like that your music has the same base throughout and then added speed/instruments depending on the gait so it's seamless (sorry that's not technical but hopefully you understand what I mean).

My music was done by Gaynor Colbourn and I love it but not sure it will match new horse as he has bigger and quicker paces so will have to try it. Also have another composition by Gaynor so will see which fits him best. A lot of people use another company whose music I always find sounds a bit choppy in the transitions.

 

[Caol Ila]

Some day, someone will do a freestyle to Scottish/Irish trad.

It's perfect for it. But showing is not for me.

I often school to these guys because they play with such lovely cadence.

 

[daffy44]

I've seen a few freestyles to Scottish/Irish trad music, works really well.

 

[Caol Ila]

I guess I don't get out to enough shows (or any). I've not seen it at the international tests I sometimes watch on tele (like the Olympics).

Seems to me that the traditional Cape Breton slow strathspey -- fast strathspey -- reel set would work better for GP than about 99.999999% of people's music.

I live in hope. It's dance music, int it?

You don't even need a horse. You can do it while cleaning your stable.