FIG - AEROBIC GYMNASTICS Code of Points
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1. Music and Musicality -. Max. 2 Points (2013)


The routine must be performed, in its entirety, to music. Any style of music adapted for Aerobic Gymnastics can be used. That means that the music used by the gymnasts should reflect and provide the main characteristics of aerobic gymnastics, and the specificity of the sport and his nature.
 
CRITERIA

    1.1  Selection
    1.2 Composition & Structure
    1.3 Usage (musicality)

1.1. Selection

A good musical selection will help establish the structure and pace, as well as the theme of the exercise. It will support and highlight the performance. It must also be used to inspire the overall choreography and contribute to the style and quality of the choreography, as well as to the expression of the gymnasts.

As an aerobic gymnastic is an artistic exercise, the ‘structures’ which are built before the start of an exercise should be accompanied by a tone, sound environment or distinctive music in order to set the stage for the performance.
Every routine should have a story and the selected music must represent the story the gymnast and the choreographer want to transmit.

The chosen music must give an advantage to the individual competitor’s characteristics and style. The music must be suitable for the category, and enhance the routine.

There are both male and female performer/s as well as the different ages of the competitors. To be an individual competitor or a MP, or a TR or a GR are all different : all the music does not fit with all the categories and ages. These differences should be reflected in the chosen music.

 
Some music themes can be used by men, woman, mixed pair, trios or groups. The way they use and interpret the music will determine and show if the selection was appropriate and helped to highlight the performance or not.

1.2. Composition & Structure

The music used by the performers should have or respect the characteristics of aerobic gymnastics and its nature. It should be dynamic, varied (not monotonous), rhythmical, original (creative), countable (with beats or not, but possible to identify the appropriate timing/tempo for aerobic gymnastics, with a rhythm which can be counted).
Technically the music must be perfect, without any abrupt cuts, giving a sense of one music piece. It should flow, with a clear start and clear ending, with well integrated sound effects (if they are included), respecting the musical phrases.
The recording and mixing of music must be of professional quality and well integrated.

 
The music used has a structure
  • Opening, ending, phrases, accents
  • Rhythm
  • Tempo / pace
  • Beats
  • Melody / Style of music (salsa, tango, folk, disco, rock, joyful, dramatic……)
  • Tone
  • Themes or musical pieces (one or more, like a medley)
 
It is expected that the performers show music with a correct structure and with different parts (varied music), in order to avoid monotony of the music used.
 
In order to have the appropriated sets of AMP sequences, it is recommended to use music with 8 counts structure which will help the recognition of AMP sequences.
 
The music used can be the original or can be a version arranged with a base, without abusing extra accents and/or the extra beats. Using excessive sound effects to emphasize tempo/accents in the musical phrases are not recommended.

1.3. Usage (musicality)

Musicality is the ability of the performer(s) to interpret music and to demonstrate not only its rhythm and speed, but its flow, shape, intensity and passion within his or her physical performance.
 
There must have strong cohesion between the overall performance (movements) and the choice of music.
 
The routine must be performed entirely to music. Choreography utilizes the idea given by the music.
All movements must fit perfectly with the chosen music.
In the creative process, the choreographer creates the movements to that specific music and for that specific competitor(s).
 
The style of the routine must harmonize with the idea of the music. The style of the music should fit with the characteristics and style of the movements presented by the performers. The competitor should be able to express with his/her movements and his/her body language the music played.
 

Every single movement in the routine must be choreographed, and must remain on the rhythm, beats, accents, and musical phrase.

The choreography must follow the rhythm, the beats, the musical phrases and the melody. Inability to move with the music will result in BGM (back ground music).

SUMMARY

1.1. Selection:
  • Support and highlight the performance
  • Give advantage
 
DEVIATION FROM EXCELENT (examples)

  • The style of the routine bears no relation to the idea of the music and the music was not meaningfully used.
  • The chosen music and the competitor’s characteristics and style did not match, and/or is not suitable for his/her age or category
  • The chosen music is not adequate for aerobic gymnastics routines
  • The chosen music is unexciting
 
1.2. Composition & Structure

  • Music appropriated for aerobic gymnastics
  • Correct structure, avoid monotony
  • Meaningful Sound effects
 
DEVIATION FROM EXCELENT (examples)

  • The rhythm of the music is too slow or too fast or doesn’t provide the adequate intensity for aerobic gymnastics routine.
  • The chosen music has not enough changes and becomes monotonous.
  • The arrangement (Mixing) of the music piece is rough, even if only one single song is used
  • Unnecessary connection of several songs put together so that there is neither a feeling of unification nor a sense of unity
  • Excessive and/or meaningless use of sound effects or extra accents
 
1.3. Usage (Musicality)

  • There must be a strong cohesion between the overall performance and the choice of music.
  • Interpret the music
  • Use the different parts and stay with the music to be meaningful

DEVIATION FROM EXCELENT (examples)

  • Since the choreography is separated from the music, the music is only BGM (back ground music).
  • Movements are off the beat (timing error) during the routine.
  • The movements performed are off the phrase of the music during the routine.
  • The movements do not match with the music structure and/or theme (melody)