Class Design, Choreography, and Music Selection
Class Design, Choreography, and Music Selection tests sequencing, progression planning, musical phrasing, and format-specific structure. The exam expects you to build a safe, coherent class rather than a random list of exercises.
Class architecture
- Warm-up: roughly 5–10 minutes, gradually raising heart rate, rehearsing movement patterns, and including mobility.
- Conditioning block: the main goal, typically 20–40 minutes, using FITTE (frequency, intensity, time, type, enjoyment) to guide overload.
- Cool-down: roughly 5–10 minutes, reducing intensity and restoring range of motion.
- Offer progressions and regressions for every major movement.
Music and choreography
- Match BPM to cadence. Common ranges: warm-up about 120–128 BPM, cardio about 132–140 BPM, cool-down about 100–110 BPM.
- Build combinations in 8-count blocks within 32-count musical phrases. A clear downbeat should align with the start of each phrase.
- Choreography methods include add-on, layering, repetition reduction, and half-time or double-time variations. Cue changes on phrase boundaries.
Worked example
For a 60-minute mixed-impact class: 8-minute warm-up at 120–128 BPM; 35-minute cardio at 132–140 BPM; 7-minute strength at 120–130 BPM; 10-minute cool-down at 100–110 BPM. Teach a four-move combo as four 8-count blocks, link two blocks into 16 counts, then complete 32 counts. Reasoning: the phrase structure gives participants predictable changes and lets you cue before the downbeat.
Traps that cost marks
- Choreography that crosses phrase boundaries.
- Teaching too many new moves at once.
- Ignoring BPM or choosing music without a clear beat.
- Cutting the cool-down to save time.