New Music Monday: Tap Solo Songs!

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Do you have a student who can't keep his or her feet from flying? Try these super-quick songs:

"Airmail Special" (Nikki Yanofsky)
"Bumble Boogie" (Freddie Martin)

More Jazz Tunes

"Frim Fram Sauce" (Diana Krall) – A great soft shoe song – Diana Krall's voice and the slow jazz music are perfectly suited for some tapping on top. Just make sure your soloist has the stage presence to pull off this slower number.
"This Can't Be Love" (Stacey Kent) – Enjoy Diana Krall? Check out Stacey Kent for some other lovely tappable female jazz vocals.
"Steppin' Out" (Tony Bennett) – perfect for a male tap solo

Fresh Tap Music

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11Oct2011

New Music Monday: Halloween Playlist

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Tired of the playing the Kidz Bop version of "The Monster Mash"* or "Who Let The Ghosts Out"* for your halloween class yet? Here's a fresh group of creepy and spooky songs just in time for the spooky season!

* Here's the link to that album in case you're not tired of it!

http://widgets.itunes.apple.com/itunes.html?wtype=4&app_id=null&country=us&partnerId=30&affiliate_id=http%3A%2F%2Fclick.linksynergy.com%2Ffs-bin%2Fstat%3Fid%3DQaW75AlCQx4%26offerid%3D146261%26type%3D3%26subid%3D0%26tmpid%3D1826%26RD_PARM1%3D&t=Halloween%2520Playlist%25202011&d=From%2520The%2520Dance%2520Buzz%2520Blog&pl=0,434962720,182920863,157192623,388158217,434961477,18623845,362996073,201458527,283170189,266397084,265518008,304173796,139988983,338722113PRESCHOOLERS
Boogie Monster – Recess Monkey – your kids won't be able to sit still when this song starts playing
Harry's Haunted Halloween Circus – Ralph's World
Looking for Dracula – Charlotte Diamond
Dressing Up – The Wiggles

19Sep2011

New Music Monday: Currently Loving…

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Short music post today – just wanted to share three songs I’ve been loving lately!

Titanium (David Guetta feat. Sia) – My go-to warm up songs for my older students. I’ve been using this in tap and jazz classes as it has a nice steady beat and hasn’t been overplayed on the radio yet.

Timshel (Mumford & Sons) – This is a hauntingly beautiful piece that I’ve been using in my lyrical/contemporary classes. Easy to put emotion into it.

I’m In Here Piano/Vocal Version (Sia) – I can’t help it – I love Sia’s voice. You might recognize her from “Breathe Me” a few years ago. I just love the different sound she has. I’ve been using this song in lyrical and jazz class for a cool down.

18Sep2011

Great How-To Music Editing Videos

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Getting ready for competition or recital season and need to cut music?

Check out the great series of tutorials on music editing by Morriss Partee of SquirrelTrenchAudio. The explanations can get a bit long, but if you are struggling to know how to edit your music, there are some great tips here.

And if all else fails, Morriss also offers custom music editing.

13Sep2011

Playlist Update for Fall 2011

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Now that the studio is open and I’m getting back into the swing of things, I updated some of my playlists for class and wanted to share my favorite new songs with you! Most of these are from the Top 40 and some are old favorites, but hopefully they might inspire you or give you something new for the season!

Not offered on iTunes:
Pumped Up Kicks (RLYNX Remix) – Foster The People
Party On The Floor – DJ Earworm Remix – check out his other remixes too!

6Sep2011

LXD & Coke Zero

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Have you seen the Coke Zero and League of Extraordinary Dancers campaign for a new dance move?

It’s still running so there’s some time left to enter, but what’s also great is they provide some nice dance tracks for you to use in your submission videos AND they are free to download!

The ones that I’ve listened to would be great to use for hip hop class – plus all the songs are more than 3 minutes long! I’ve only listened to a few tracks all the way through and while there are no swear words, you might want to listen to the content to make sure its appropriate for your age group.

To get to the songs, click on How To Participate and select your track and click “Download”.

Full Disclosure: Coke or LXD did not pay me to write this!

5Sep2011

New Music Monday: Work Playlist

Posted in Music by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

It’s Labor Day here in the United States, so in honor, here is a short work-inspired playlist to with a little something for everyone!

These songs would also work great for a job-themed recital – we did “Work & Play” a few years back.
Continue reading →

29Aug2011

Review: Tempo Magic App

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

I was so excited to try out my new Tempo Magic Pro app last week at our dance intensive tap classes (see previous post here). I will admit that every time I see it on my iPhone screen I cannot resist the urge to say "tempo MAGIC" while wiggling my jazz hands with a magician-like flair. Try it with me now… tempo MAAAAGIC!

Ok.

Moving on.

The app is pretty straight forward. The first thing you have to do is add the songs you want to slow down. Tap the playlist button.

21Aug2011

Tempo-Changing App!

Posted in Uncategorized by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Just read Morris Partee’s post over at Dance Advantage on this awesome new app for changing the tempo of your music: Tempo Magic Pro

This app allows you to adjust your song tempos on your iPhone or iPod touch. As a tap teacher, I am so excited about using this app in class! Our sound system currently has tempo-changing CD players, so I used to burn my music to a CD and then use the CD player to playback with different tempos. I am hoping this app will change my life.. hah! I am teaching this week at our summer camp intensive, so I will report back with results.

…off to go play with my iPhone now!

If you’re also an iPhone addict, you might also like to check out this post on two free iPhone apps that I use as a dance teacher.

16Aug2011

2011 Song Selections

Posted in Music by Cait (The Dance Buzz)

Just wanted to jot down my song list from this past year for posterity! (Or so I can look it up at a later time when I can’t remember what that song was I used way back when…)

All links open in iTunes, unless otherwise noted

Ruby Blue – Roisin Murphy: Large group jazz, ages 14-18
Firework (cover) – Sunny Choi: Small group ballet, ages 13-15 (YouTube link)
Crabbuckit – K-OS / Tightrope – Janelle Monae: Large group tap, age 14-17
Who’s To Say – Vanessa Carlton: Large group lyrical, age 12-14
Live It Up – Group 1 Crew: Large group jazz, ages 11-13
Honky Tonk Badonkadonk – Trace Adkins: Large group tap, ages 11-13, dressed up as old people…it’s better if you don’t ask
Sister Kate – The Ditty Bops: Small group tap, ages 10-12
Boogie Shoes – KC & The Sunshine Band: Small group jazz, ages 8-10, with red sequin sneakers of course!
Waka Waka – Shakira: Large group modern, ages 6-9
Ma Belle Evangeline – Princess & Frog: Large group ballet, ages 6-8
Happy Feet – Joanie Bartels: Small group tap, ages 6-7
Funkytown – The Chipmunks: Large group jazz, ages 6-7
Trickle Trickle – The Manhattan Transfer: Large group tap, ages 6-7
Animal Crackers In My Soup – Shirley Temple: Small group tap, ages 4-5
Gravity – Sara Bareilles: Contemporary solo, age 18
Bubbly – Colbie Caillat: Tap solo, age 17
Stuck Like Glue – Sugarland: Tap solo, age 16
I Want You Back – Colbie Caillat: Tap solo, age 15 (YouTube link)

And my favorite dance for the year:

Oh What a Beautiful Morning / Flight of the Bumble Bee / Imma Be / Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows : Had two really small classes, so I combined them and the 4 & 5 year olds were flowers and danced to Oh What a Beautiful Morning. Then the 6 & 7 year olds came in to Flight of the Bumblebee and then danced to the chorus of “Imma Bee”. Then they all danced together to Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows.