[khanage]

Hi all,

I am just starting to shadow at the moment and i have presented a couple of tracks with mixed success so far.

I am interested in what tips other jam instructors have on a couple of things:

1. How do you keep track of the number of reps you are doing? I am find especially in BJ 50 in the house section - i lose my choreo because of the repetitive music lyrics and beat.
2. Also when you have done the intial and follow up cues and everyone is getting the moves, what things do you do or say to keep it going. I'm finding i am repeating alot of my cues. How do you spice up the class to dance more and especially make some noise.
3. How do manage your time as sometimes i feel i am overpracticing and a bit larthegic at times.

Thanks in advance. I'm really interested for any advice even if its silly.

Khanage

[teraquis]

Hey Khanage, welcome to the inner circle, lol. How is the shadowing going ? I hope you have a good mentor and that you are getting lots of things to work on - it only gets better from here on in !

To respond to your questions...

1. I agree, keeping track of the number of reps can be difficult. I am sure this would have been drilled in to you during training, but especially for these types of tracks (where the music may not have obvious verse/ chorus structure) you will want to script, script, SCRIPT...
If you know what you are going to say, and you have scripted it according to where you are in the track, it makes keeping in with the reps much easier. For example if you give a base cue and then say nothing for a while, all you are doing is counting the number of reps - the class gets bored, until you say something next.
You may have also been told that instructors tend to be the most verbose - we talk too much. So scripting will help you with what to say and when. When you do write a script, make sure it is adaptable from class to class, otherwise you will sound like a robot - and it will show.

My other trick with this is to know the songs intimately. And I do mean inside and outside. You should be able to sing along, know when there are accents in the music, where the music pulls back, and when it lifts. These little things are great especially if you get lost, which happens to the best of us. It also helps if you can identify the lyrics (correct lyrics though !!) as these may give you a hint as to how many reps remain etc.

2. Several things may help with motivating the class. The flava cues should help with getting people to make noise and dance better... By this you are going to have to try what works etc. For example, the Tribal House block in 50 - draw on the theme of Tarzan and Jane, the Amazon, Jungle parties. Incorporate this in to the feeling cues.
For example, sell the idea of the tap wide x 2 and the arm reach x 2 in the first part of the choreo as reaching for jungle vines - participants are swinging through the jungle and need to get to the jungle party. They need to really reach for the vines with their hands.
I like to use the idea of the jungle party at the end as what they are working towards, and then they can "finally" break out and perform with all their friends at the end.
Knowing the music helps here also. Learning to pull back and say virtually nothing at the right times can really help with the vibe in the studio. For example as soon as "Finally" kicks in, and the class changes from crunch-knees and moves in to the taps, you want to say nothing and just let the class absorb the song. By now they probably know the lyrics - so just let them lip-sync along with you for that first verse. Chances are they are ready to add the single single double without much cueing or coaching (you added that rhythm in the recovery).
As for the class making noise - some just won't. Some will do it without being prompted, especially as you become more relaxed and confident with time. Some just need prompting - for example:
"How are we going ? Auckland make some noise !!"
"Did we like that ? Do we want more ?"
Again, choose these moments carefully... they tend to make the noise either when the music is really quiet, or if the song is an anthem (for example "silence" from BJ45) and they know the lyrics, they know it is building up etc.
Try and make it to other classes, and not just Bodyjam classes either. As silly as it sounds, take a notebook with you and record any cues/ things that stand out for that instructor. I can't count the number of wicked little things I have picked up from other instructors.

3. This could be tricky to answer. Without knowing you and what you are capable of doing, there could be any number of reasons why you feel drained. Chances are you are adding in the practises over and above what you used to do on a weekly basis - so more demand on your body. Over time you will adapt. In the meantime make sure you have plenty to fuel yourself and make sure you are taking rest days as well. If you overdo it, you help no one.
Check the type of training you are doing - is it just running through the DVD in your living room, or are you able to practise with other instructors in front of a mirror ? Are you also balancing your training with other disciplines such as weight training, cardio training etc ?


I hope this helps a little, I would also be curious as to what other people do, what other tips are out there for the more repetitive tracks etc.
What do you do for your training/ learning etc ?

[khanage]

Thanks Teraquis. Your reply was very informative and much appreciated.

I did my Jam training on Jam 49. I have shadowed for about 3 weeks 'officially' with my current instructor on Jam 50.
First week i purely shadowed but the next week i got thrown in the deep end and presented the tribal house routine. I think the tribal house is much harder to learn. I didn't script much that week because i thought i was going to shadow again, so i found out the hard way i needed to script more as cues dont come naturally to me. I am male instructor from Australia.
Anyways i am finding it a bit challenging at the moment as i have to present in front a class rather then fellow instructors.

In regards to cueing i have noticed that i have sometimes a short span of time to get my cues thru. I'm not sure how i should approach cueing in this kind of situation. Eg The Finally track with the single, single, walk forward and then alternate to the otherside and leading to the taps.

Also do you count the beats of 8 subconciously because one of mentor told it would be out? I purely go by lyric and music changes.

Also with scripting, do you say i have x more to go or do you say a cue which will link to how many reps are left?

In regards to my workout, before i used to do instructing i use to do 1-2 class a day for 6 days. I do step, rpm, combat and jam. But now i'm teaching/shadow on a tuesday i trying to cut back on the classes i do since i also practice jam at home as well.

Oh yeah i was going to ask, have you ever been in a non jam class and the instructor asks you to do a jam move for them? I get that alot!

Thanks,
Khanage