Music to school to!

Bernster

Bernster

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Slightly odd question but I'm posting in C&T as I suspect those who do dressage to music might have some recommendations.

Looking for some ideas for music that is good to school to, particularly something that's got the right tempo for trot work. My instructor has suggested that I listen to some tune when I'm schooling on my own as I struggle a bit with rhythm in our trot work. I tend to confuse energy with speed so I need to slow the trot. I know I do that through my seat and rising, but a guide as to what the right rhythm should be, would be fab. And it also means I don't have to do a terrible rendition of whatever song comes into my head which is likely to put off any fellow riders given that I sound like a strangled cat !

My 'go to' songs for hacking have so far been Hotel California, American Pie and Nelly the Elephant. PLEASE HELP ME.
 
I absolutely LOVE riding to Baroque music (well, I am riding Baroque horses): Handel or Vivaldi do it for me.

Or currently working on a display with the theme from "Game of Thrones" and "Last of the Mohicans" thrown in.
 
Have a look at spotify. They have a running option where you put in you meters per minute and it picks songs for you.
I always listen to music when I school but more to help settle my nerves and make me stop concentrating on the imaginary thing that my horse is going to spook at.
 
Cortez said:
I absolutely LOVE riding to Baroque music (well, I am riding Baroque horses): Handel or Vivaldi do it for me.

Or currently working on a display with the theme from "Game of Thrones" and "Last of the Mohicans" thrown in.
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I did wonder whether classical music, that stuff without words, might be suitable. Although that may give me ideas above my station and I shall be expecting us to do some whizzy dressage moves to go with the impressive music !

samsbilly said:
Have a look at spotify. They have a running option where you put in you meters per minute and it picks songs for you.
I always listen to music when I school but more to help settle my nerves and make me stop concentrating on the imaginary thing that my horse is going to spook at.
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Yes, I reckon it also serves a purpose in helping me focus too! I have no idea what tempo to look for though, can anyone help on what BPM/meters per minute range suits working trot?!
 
Ok, so with the aid of some googling, apparently it's likely to be between 75-90 bpm. I do now know how to count myself but that assumes I'm counting a good trot rhythm and not the slightly rushed one that I sometimes end up with, so might need to get ins to assist in my next lesson. But if anyone has other recommendations for their favourite tracks to school to, I'd love to hear them.
 
Just try lots of different types!

I cant school baby pony to anything powerful as it just tops her! So i have a calm chilled album for her.
Chi however bigger the better! Escala is one of my favs at the moment, although Example is also a good album for forward!
 
If you work indoors buy a metronome .
They are a big help .
Eta I think there's an app don't know why I think that but that would be great play into a ear piece .
 
timefort said:
I remember finding this site: http://www.equivisions.co.uk/Music_Database.html and thinking I should explore it more thoroughly at some point, so it might be useful...?

Alternatively, if I pass the arena and hear Nellie the Elephant being played at loud volume I'll know what's going on!!
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That was someone on here who said s/he used it to get a good sj canter ! Wish I could remember who it was but it's stayed with me for some bizarre reason. I blame the rendition of other 70s songs on too many car drives with my pops. I def'y need to update my music choices !!

That link is great, thank you !!
 
You do need to know what BPM is right for your horse in each of the paces if it's really going to help you. this will depend on size and activity etc so it can be quite difficult to guess. i did a dressage to music session with equivisions, and they were great but unfortunatley the horse was very tense and choppy at the session so when he's going nicely the music really doesn't work.
 
using music for schooling sounds like a brilliant idea, I struggle with my young horse, getting a good rythmn without going too fast and have been chanting, one two one two in trot 1,2 3, 4 etc walk and it really does help, but i have also started doing nursery rhymes in my head to try to keep a rythumn it seems to help stop me get so tense.

we don't have an arena so quite hard to play the music in 20 acre field, but, I could play it on my phone i guess ;-)
do you think it is better if the horse can hear it as well rather than having my earphones - maybe on speakerphone??
 
I'm the same monte. I can sing and chant away, but I can do that just as easily at the wrong speed. Getting some music means I'll be more consistent I hope. I'm going to try a little playlist at a similar BPM for trot and see how we go. It doesn't have to be completely spot on, as it's not for competing and might be fun until I do a video and get a proper BPM. I was planning on speaker phone from my phone as I have an arm band holder. I'm far too clumsy to use earphones!
 
yes, very true, i am going to try and figure out the right speed for my boy ;-)
an armband sounds a good idea, might have to give that a go, yep i think i would knock the earphones out as well , especially if we have a slightly bouncy moment .. LOL


Bernster said:
I'm the same monte. I can sing and chant away, but I can do that just as easily at the wrong speed. Getting some music means I'll be more consistent I hope. I'm going to try a little playlist at a similar BPM for trot and see how we go. It doesn't have to be completely spot on, as it's not for competing and might be fun until I do a video and get a proper BPM. I was planning on speaker phone from my phone as I have an arm band holder. I'm far too clumsy to use earphones!
Click to expand...
 
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