How to: Pick Figure Skating Program Music

1. It’s time for Ice Girl to have new music for her long program and we’re all relieved. Don’t get me wrong – Ice Girl’s current music is pretty darn cool (Laura’s Zest from Project Runway). However, it’s been a year and it’s just not as zesty as it used to be.

   So, Ice Coach e-mailed me to start the process. Every coach is different, but here’s how our music selection process goes:

   1. Ice Coach says, “We need music.”
   2. I open up Amazon and our library system’s online catalog
   3. My Amazon search terms: Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, movie soundtrack
   4. Poke around Amazon, click on composers, follow Amazon recommended titles
   5. Check to see if the CD is available in our library system, requesting it from different libraries
   6. Enter search terms in library: pops, movie soundtrack (limited results)
   7. Collect CDs from library
   8. Listen to CDs in van with Ice Girl, a mini-notebook, and pen. Listen to some selections, pass over others
   9. Create a mix CD to give to coach
   10. Final decision: coach

   Some skaters or skater moms download MP3s from Amazon (pricey; I know a woman who spent $40 doing this). Others create mix CDs from their own collections. Coach’s input. I know a skater who spent a lot of time making a mix CD for her coach. None of the selections was appropriate, the coach said. The skater was pretty sad about this, but the coach had something specific in mind for the skater. Ultimately, it’s the coach’s decision which selection is the best for the skater, possible choreography, and the level. However, having input and collaboration makes the skater feel better about skating over and over to the same music for the next year. And, let’s face it: we all know the music that makes us cringe at the rink. Please comment: How do you and your coach select music? I expect everyone is different and it would be nice to share your process in the comments section.

Update: I think we have a winner! It looks like Ice Girl will skate to a mix of music from the French film Amelie. You haven’t seen that film? I tell you, it’s awesome. Yes, it has subtitles, but it’s very, very good.