Noob questions for those of you further down the line

[Shinn-Reika]

I'm begining to wonder how things play out as you progress further down the line.

For example how do you start tp develop programs and such? And who get's to pick the music. Other than Ice dance, I only see people skate to classical songs. I love classical, but I think it would be interesting to skate to other things.

Also what is this deal with gold/silver tests that I hear you talking about?

And is there an outline of all of the different moves somewhere online?

What's your opinion of joining skating club? It's something I'm reluctant to do,seeing as I'm such an unlikely person to try figure skating (nerdy otaku snowboarding former hockey player just to get started). Plus some of the people I've met aren't very nice.

I'm a confused panda.

[Blosmbubbs]

Most skaters have coaches who help them pick music and develop programs or have choreographers. I usually do my own programs because I've been told they are good. Yeah there are websites with all the info you need, rules, regulations etc.. Some people in skating are snobby but others are nice!

[TashaKat]

Hi

With regards to doing programs. As soon as you can do a bit of basic skating (crossovers, turns etc) you can start putting programmes together whether it be you just stringing some moves together or actually working on a programme with your instructor. Even if you can actually DO all the moves doing them as part of a programme is WAY WAY different and definitely moves you onto another level. I think that it helps your skating as suddenly you're not concentrating on just the one move but actually getting from one to the next AND with specific timing. Although difficult to start with it's great fun to do a programme even if you're not working it for a test or competition.

You don't HAVE to skate to classical music and again it depends on why you're doing the programme. If it's for test of competition you have to think about the judges! Let's be honest here, if they hate the music then you've started off on a wrong footing. Although some people (my old dance coach) liked to 'push the envelope' with the kind of music that he skated to he was a bit more conservative with his pupils :) If you're doing a programme just for 'you' or for an artistic number then you've got a lot more choice. When it comes to choosing, it depends on your coach. I used to discuss it with my coaches but they did tend to have a good sense of music anyway, rarely did I hate anything that she suggested. I chose my Prelim Free music which was the theme tune to 'Angel'. No-one else that I knew had used it but everyone loved it.

The test system varies from country to country but generally Silver and Gold tests are towards the 'top of the tree'. They change the test system in the UK so much that I don't know what a Silver or Gold test consists of anymore (I won't go into my rant but in the UK a Silver or Gold used to MEAN something, now (after the changes) I'M Silver Level 6 and was working on Gold Level 7 .... My coach was a REAL Gold Level skater, not everyone used to pass Gold).

With regards to clubs it depends on the club. I wasn't a member of our club for various reasons, it just wasn't 'me'. I enjoyed skating on patch but wasn't really a 'social' skater. The socialising was, to me, was for the cafe!

Some people aren't very nice but it's like life, you won't get on with everyone. You'll find in time that there are lot of nice people of all age ranges in skating and you'll also find out who to avoid like the plague. I had a lot of good friends of all ages when I was skating, once you get to know people most of them will be very friendly and very helpful.

BTW there isn't nothing wrong with being 'unlikely'. Skating isn't all about little princesses in skating dresses, hair in a bun and glitter! There are people from all walks of life, your past experiences will bring an individuality to your skating so ENJOY :D

[Mrs Redboots]

The simplest "programme" is just linking steps. For instance, can you do a couple of forward crossovers, 3-turn, back crossover, step to forwards and repeat? That's a really good beginner exercise, and harder than you might think!
Or the very first dance people learn in this country, which is just a right-over-left crossover followed by a left forward outside swing, followed by a left-over-right crossover followed by a right forward outside swing. And repeat....

I don't know whether you've signed up for lessons yet, either privately or in a group, but if you haven't, that's the first step towards making more progress. Your national skating body will have a system of learn-to-skate tests, usually administered by the instructors, and when you have passed all of them, you move on to the "standard" system, administered by judges and far more formal. But it takes a good two years, if not longer, to get to that stage.

As for joining a club, first find out what the advantages of membership are. It might be that you can use ice at certain times that would be more convenient to you, or that you can use your club membership to take tests more conveniently. But also find out what your club would expect from you in terms of volunteering and helping out at competitions, etc.

Good luck, and do go on letting us know how it goes!

[CanAmSk8ter]

I'm begining to wonder how things play out as you progress further down the line.

For example how do you start tp develop programs and such? And who get's to pick the music. Other than Ice dance, I only see people skate to classical songs. I love classical, but I think it would be interesting to skate to other things. .

Depends what you want to do with it. Obviously if you just want to have fun with it or skate in a show you can use anything you want. To compete, there are limits. I don't know if you're in the U.S., but there are two systems of learn-to-skate programs in the U.S.- USFS and ISI. ISI allows pretty much anything as far as music goes, including vocals. USFS does not permit vocal music in competition. Music also has to be cut to fit the time limit for your level- for the lowest levels it's usually one minute I think.

Also what is this deal with gold/silver tests that I hear you talking about?

Again, this varies from country to country, but in the U.S. the "medal" tests come after you've finished the learn-to-skate curriculum and usually at least some of the freestyle tests (numbered 1-6) that come after learn-to-skate. The Adult levels go Pre-Bronze, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. For each level there is a freestyle test and a moves in the field test, and the moves test has to be passed before you can take the freestyle test for that level. The dance tests are a little different; there is no separate adult track but if you're over 25 you can choose to take them as "Adult" tests, meaning that starting with the Silver test you're exempt from skating the dances solo, which is required as part of the Standard test. You can continue to take them Standard even if you're an adult if you want to though. The dance tests go Prelimnary, pre-Bronze, Bronze, Pre-Silver, Silver, Pre-Gold, and Gold. Each test has three dances on it (except pre-Gold and Gold, which each have four). You can take the dances one or two at a time; you don't have to take the whole test at once.

And is there an outline of all of the different moves somewhere online?

Probably, but I'm not sure where. I'd seriously consider ordering a rulebook from USFS. It'll have all the moves and dance patterns in it, all the required elements for each freestyle test, and extra info about what exactly is being judged on each move.
At this point, you might also consider joining a learn-to-skate program if you haven't already. USFS learn-to-skate participants get a book to keep track of their progress and it has all the elements for each level in it.

What's your opinion of joining skating club? It's something I'm reluctant to do,seeing as I'm such an unlikely person to try figure skating (nerdy otaku snowboarding former hockey player just to get started). Plus some of the people I've met aren't very nice.
I'm a confused panda.

At this point, I'd enroll in a learn-to-skate program before worrying about joining a club. Unless your local club does a lot of social activities, which can be fun and a good way to meet people, clubs tend to be geared toward the skaters taking USFS tests and doing USFS competitions. I'm just not sure exactly what you'd get out of it at this point. Also, club memberships run from July 1-June 30, so at this point you'd be paying for a year and only getting six months. Does your rink offer freestyle sessions or relatively uncrowded public sessions, or would you have to join the club and buy ice time through them?

Don't worry about being confused. We all start out that way- this is a complicated sport! It's too bad you haven't met any friendly people at your rink, but I bet you will soon. In the meantime, we're all happy to answer questions :)

[jestemkkool]

In regards to programs, club shows typically allow any music but it must be cut to an appropriate length. I believe test and qualifying competitions require non-vocal music but for showcases(like a show only you are in a competition), anything goes.

I have been skating for about 2 years and have already done 2 group performances and one solo. The coach picks the music for group and I had a say in my solo piece- but the song I chose was a last resort.

As for being unlikely, that is no problem. I started skating late, I am a metal head (and proud of it), I snowboard, and I use to do extreme inline skating(until it clashed with fs) and I often go to skating covered in bruises due to paintballing. I think that your background will work to your benefit. It will take some time to get use to figure skates, but if you are a confident skater for hockey, it should be a pretty even transition.

As for the club, I personally am a Basic Skills member at two clubs( one with adults, and one with little kids- at my age it is one extreme or the other). Also, I am a *soon to be* member at a higher level club because I decided to join a precision team. Bercause you are just starting, I would suggest you take lessons through a Basic Skills program. Through this, you learn your basics(which saves you money on privates) and you would also have the benefit of skating with others so you can all help eachother. Also, if you join a Basic Skills club, you may have an oppurtunity to perform in their annual show, which is very fun.

I don't know much about the traditional test track but you may try www.sk8stuff.com which has a link to required test elements.

Good luck and tell us how it goes!
cheers

[flippet]

Something else to think about is that there are different kinds of 'testing', and different reasons for doing programs. The kind of testing that many here talk about are the 'official' tests that you sign up for, pay for, and have judges judging you for. The kinds of tests that I did were strictly for my coach to pass me to the next ISI level. She would help me put a program together, to my choice of music, and at the end of the session of lessons (or whenever I was ready), I'd skate it, and she'd either pass me or not. I once did a program to a nifty Irish piece...it startled my coach at first, because the timing seemed to be getting away from her....until she realized that it was in 5/4 time! It took a bit more thought from her, but we both managed, and I had a lot of fun doing it.

I think that some coaches, especially at the lower levels, may tend to use the same few pieces of music for everyone to test to--there are specific moves to be incorporated, and it's just easier for them if you have a 'standard' program, with the waltz jump here and the spin there--the coach doesn't have to actually turn on the choreographing part of the brain if it's already been done. Plus, the music has been cut to the proper length, and if it's been done before, it's been 'tested' so to speak--why try to re-invent the wheel? Besides....small kids at the beginning levels often don't argue much, they just skate to whatever music the coach gives them.

As for joining a club--find out what the benefits would be to doing so. Clubs are often competition-oriented, and if you don't want to compete for a while, and there aren't other benefits to joining (like good ice times for a subsidised rate), you may want to wait for a while. It's certainly not something you 'have' to do. (And even if you want to compete later on, you can join USFS as an individual member, for instance, no club required.)

[skaternum]

My 2 cents worth:

As to who picks the music, that depends on the relationship of the coach & student. I pick my own music. I'm an adult and know what I want to skate to, thankyouverymuch. I've skated to a wide variety of music, not just classical, including a Barry White funk instrumental and a selection of old TV theme songs! It doesn't have to be classical all the time. My next program will probably be a blues / jazz cut. Some coaches want to have more control over the music & the program -- it really depends on the coach/student relationship.

When you're just starting out, it's more common to have the coach do the choreography. As you advance, you might use a choreographer.

I'd encourage you to give it a try. Don't join the club until you're ready to take official USFSA tests. The best thing for you to do right now, IMO, is to just *skate.* Don't worry about tests and clubs and programs. Get into skate school or try some private lessons with a coach you think you like. As you get more into it, the coach will help you figure out if/when to join a club, which one to join, what to test, etc. In the meantime, just have fun figure skating. It's a rush!!

[Mel On Ice]

For example how do you start tp develop programs and such? And who get's to pick the music. Other than Ice dance, I only see people skate to classical songs. I love classical, but I think it would be interesting to skate to other things.

I started my first program right about the time I was ready to take my first pre-bronze test, or about 2 years after I first started skating. As an adult skater, I pretty much have all the say in what music I choose to skate to. IMHO, it's embarrassing to see an adult skate to Disney, for example.

And you are not limited to skating just classical! In my short skating career, I have skated to classical, 80s pop, movie soundtrack, big band, a gregorian chant and classic rock.

Also what is this deal with gold/silver tests that I hear you talking about?

And is there an outline of all of the different moves somewhere online?

Depends on what gold & silver tests you are talking about. For USFSA, as far as I know, there are 3: dances, moves in the field and freestyle. Dances are taken by skaters of all ages. The gold and silver MIF and freestyle levels are reserved for USFSA adult skaters. You can find a list of the required elements at the USFSA site or over at www.sk8stuff.com. To get the diagrams of the moves, you will have to buy a rulebook from the USFSA, they run about $15.

What's your opinion of joining skating club? It's something I'm reluctant to do,seeing as I'm such an unlikely person to try figure skating (nerdy otaku snowboarding former hockey player just to get started). Plus some of the people I've met aren't very nice.

Figure skating clubs I think are necessary for establishing your identity in the skating community and I believe it is also easier to enter competitions as a representative of a club. In some areas, it is almost mandatory if you want to skate on freestyle ice. But I have known some skaters who have existed solely as independent entities of the USFSA and have been quite happy with that arrangement.

As for mean people, you are going to encounter them in every aspect of life. And rink/club politics can get heated over the stupidest thing. If it is your desire to join a club, by all means, do what you can to CHANGE it. Be active, become involved, act on your good conscience.

[kittie067]

In regards to the program, ususally i pick the music and my coach approves it and then she makes one up. but usually i add some tid bits in here or there. it seems everyione has explained about the gold and silver issues. also about joininga club, i only joined so it would be easieer to get practice ice and to compete. plus i think you can get cheaper tickets to shows that way too. people can be prety snobby sometimes but give them time to get to know you.
kittie

[Shinn-Reika]

Thanks for all of the advice guys.

It's hard finding helpful people. The only good male figure skater is around 60, and I get shy around women. In retrospect, I haven't really made any freinds that skate(Ironic because I've made a lot of freinds), so it gets kinda lonly.

Anyway I think I'm doing pretty good so far. I'm the best skater in my class (though it is mostly for beginers), and my teacher says I'm around Basic 6-7. I'm also pretty charged, which means I fall like crazy.

Thanks again for such good answers. I guess I'll have to see what happens when my class ends (it's with the college so it lasts for another 7 weeks). I don't think I have the money for a private coach, but I do kinda want to try a programme (why is it spelled like that?) especially if I could do something by Nobuo Uematsu. Like I said I'm a nerd. and proud of it.

[TashaKat]

I do kinda want to try a programme (why is it spelled like that?)

I'm from the UK which is why I spelled it like that. 'Program' is only used in relation to computers over here :D