Developing Musical Freestyles

https://www.usdf.org/education/other-programs/musical-freestyle/

Musical freestyle - or Musical Kur -

·       is a creative interpretation of a piece of music. 

·       provides a creative outlet for rider.

·       is an exciting combination of the technical and artistic aspects of classical dressage.

·       is an artistic program created by the rider to present his or her horse to its best advantage in an artistic, musical context.

The Basics:

Determining The Level?

USDF/USEF Recognized/Sanctioned Shows you must meet the eligibility requirements:

·       To enter a freestyle class at any level, a horse/rider combination must have received a minimum score of 63% in the highest test of the declared freestyle level or any test of a higher level. 

·       You must submit proof of the test verifying the eligibility with the entry for a freestyle class.

Most schooling shows have no eligibility requirements:

·       At what level(s) are you currently schooling and showing?

·       Are you successful at that level?

·       Have you had success at this level and are considering moving up a level?

Time

·       The time limit for all USDF MFS is five minutes.  There is no minimum time requirement.

·       Timing is from the initial halt/salute to the final halt/salute.

·       You must signal the sound engineer within 45 seconds of the entry bell or be eliminated.

·       You must enter the arena within 20 seconds of the start of the music or be eliminated.

·       Exit music (after the final halt/salute) is not allowed.

Music

·       Music is mandatory.

·       Exit music is not allowed.

·       If your music fails during a freestyle, the rider can leave the arena with permission of the judge at 'C'.  The ride may decide whether to restart the test from the beginning or to commence from the point where the music failed.  Judging restarts at the point of interruption.  The marks already given do not change.

·       Any type of music may be selected.

·       Same genre, theme, style, as you want cohesive musical theme.

·       Vocals are permitted.

·       Editing should be smooth and fluid.

·       CD Format and only that ride on it, clearly labeled with competitor's name, horse's name, and level of ride.

·       ALWAYS bring an extra copy of CD with you as a backup. 

·       Consult the prize list for information about sound checks and to whom the CD should go.

·       Remember to pick your CD up at the show office before leaving the show grounds.

Choosing music is the most time consuming and difficult part of the process.

Good music is essential to a good freestyle. 

It is the base for a good freestyle - just as rhythm is the base and necessary element in the training of the horse as in the training pyramid. 

Rhythm: 

1.     horse - the repeated sequence of the footfalls in the gaits of the horse.

2.     music - the repeated sequence of the beats in a measure of music.

Tempo: 

·       the underlying pulse of the music.

·       the rate of repetition of the rhythm.

·       horses tend to have slower tempos than ponies.

·       there is - in some music - a more powerful tempo (beat) than in other pieces of music.

BPM:

1.     the number of beats that fall in one minute.

2.     metronome is used to determine tempo of horse or music.

3.     Average BPMs:  walk - 45-66 bpm, trot - 70-90 bpm, canter - 90-110 bpm.

Choose music that accompanies, enhances, but does not overpower, overwhelm, or limit the horse.  Good music should minimize the weaknesses and show the strengths of your horse.

Videos are a great tool in finding the right music.  It helps to analyze tempo and develop choreography.  Play the music with the video and ask, does the music make the horse look better? or is it just background music?  does it make my horse look worse? Does it evoke an emotion?  Is this emotion you want to get from the audience?

Choosing music is the most time-consuming part of developing MFS.

Considerations in choosing music:

1.     the horse - personality, size, type, breed, way of going, bpm.

2.     the rider - musical tastes, personality, personal interests.

3.     theme/style - fit well together, stands alone, expression, phrasing, cues within.

4.     suitable for different venues - does it have good body and can stand out and not get lost in certain show environments.

5.     You will need to choose at least 3 songs.  The phrasing of the music has to support all 3 gaits with good body, etc.

6.     Horse’s strengths - does he canter or trot better, show off his strengths and diminish his weaknesses.

Memorize your music.  Like your music.  Know where your musical cues are!

Music Search - where to find music:

1.     Everywhere - at home, in your car, music at movies, etc.

2.     Internet

3.     Libraries

4.     Radio

5.     TV

6.     Websites that categorize music to the beats per minute.

·       www.visualdressage.com

·       www.equimusic.com

·       YouTube videos - fabulous freestyles

7.     Movie soundtracks and orchestra versions of well-known songs often work well.

8.     Choose a theme - big band, pop, country, rock, jazz, classical, etc., or from a certain movie.

Choreography

·       Each level has specific compulsory elements that must be performed.

·       Special strengths can be maximized while minimizing weaknesses.

·       The design of the ride should match the ability of the horse and rider.

·       Movements do not have to be made at the letters.

·       Should be correct in execution and procedure.

·       Imaginative and creative and interesting to watch - should not appear test-like -but like a dance and an interpretation of the music using the phrase within the music.

Choreography is like baking a cake:

Ingredients

Determine the Level and how the horse is to be presented.

Know the Rules and Requirements: they are listed on a test sheet which shows the compulsory elements and technical execution.  Can also find them on the USDF website.

Understand the Judging criteria:

·       Use of the arena - keep the judge sitting comfortably.

·       Balance - right and left equal for most of the work.

·       Design cohesiveness - clear, understand what you are doing, transitions & movements in a logical place.  Predominately symmetrical but symmetry is not a requirement for good choreography.

·       Creativity - Combine elements in creative ways or in different locations than standard tests.  Use interesting and uncommon lines.  Avoid test like design.

Components:

·       Figures - circles, 1/2 circles, serpentines, teardrops.

·       Movements (13) - leg-yield, rein-back, shoulder-in, travers, renvers, turn on haunches, half-pass(trot), half-pass(canter), flying change, pirouette(walk), pirouette(canter), piaffe, passage.

·       Transitions - between gaits and paces.

·       Patterns - design formed by combining the movements, figures and transitions.  Putting it all together to form the design in the sand.

Above the Level - what is not allowed:

·       You are not allowed to ride a movement above the level being shown.

·       Use your test sheet as it lists at the bottom all the movements that are not allowed for the level.

Degree of Difficulty:

·       Exceeds the expectation for the level.

·       Is directly linked to execution.

·       You cannot ride a movement above the level - BUT you can ride ANY transition - as they are NOT a movement.  BUT it better be GOOD!

Considerations:

·       Transitions do NOT need to be at letters.

·       Halt, salute may be done anywhere on the center line.

·       Make your intentions clear to the judge.

·       Avoid long lines without a purpose.

·       Extensions are only considered as such when performed on a straight line.

·       Come into and out of the canter pirouette on a straight line.

Scoring and Judging

Two sets of marks are given - one for technical execution and one for artistic impression.

Technical Execution

·       The beginning and the end of the freestyle must be executed facing 'C' and marked with a halt/salute.

·       Full and half points may be used.

Artistic Impression

·       Scores may be given in tenths (.1) increments.

·       Harmony between horse and rider (co 3) - the willing and un-coerced cooperation and partnership between horse and rider; the ability to accomplish the choreographic patterns with ease; the rider's use of the subtle aids for communication.

·       Choreography - use of arena, design cohesiveness, balance, and creativity (co 4) - Complete and balanced us of space. Logical development and clarity of construction.  Balanced use of rein. Construction of combinations and patterns.

·       Degree of Difficulty (co 2) - Well calculated risks.  The horse/rider team performs a single element or a combination of elements in a way that exceeds the expectation of the level.

·       Music - suitability, seamlessness, cohesiveness (co 3) - Appropriateness of the music to the type and character of horse. Cuts and transitions are smooth and create an overall flow of the music.  Music selections are from one genre, style, or theme.

·       Interpretation - music expresses gaits, use of phrasing & dynamics (co 3) - Appropriateness of the rhythm and tempo of the music to the gaits of the horse.  Choreography reflects changes in the music.

Six Elements of a Dressage MFS

·       Compulsory Elements:  All of the elements to be scored in one box on dressage test sheet, whether movement, figure or transition.

·       Dressage Movements:  An exercise as opposed to a figure, transition or a pattern.  Dressage Movements are leg yields, rein-back, shoulder-in, travers, renvers, turn on haunches, half-pass (trot or canter), flying change, pirouette (walk or canter), piaffe, and passage.

·       Figures:  Geometrical component of a dressage test such as circle, serpentine, and figure-of-eight.

·       Transitions:  Changes between two different gaits or from one pace to another within the same gait.

·       Combinations:  Direct connection of any movement or figure with another movement or figure.

·       Patterns:  Geometric design formed in the arena when movements, figures and transitions are combined.

There is some over-lap.  As examples:  a simple change is a compulsory element and a combination; a half-pass is a dressage movement, but half-pass zigzag in trot is a pattern, and half-pass zigzag in canter with flying change is a combination and a pattern.

Putting it all together - music & choreography.

Watching horses move along with different types of music to see what music makes the horse look better.  You can do this with video or for fun with a group of people and horses in an arena.

You have your music, your choreography, and your stage (the dressage arena).

Timing List:

·       time each movement and figure.

·       count the strides it takes your horse to perform figures.

·       you need a 5-minute freestyle.

·       you can figure 2 minutes for trot work, 2 minutes for canter work, 30 seconds of walk, etc.

Listen to your music and find the phrases in the music.  You will find in most pieces of music a repeated phrase or tune.  Call that 'A'.  There is usually another repeated phrase or tune, call that 'B'.  Then there is usually a phrase that is different and not repeated, this is the 'bridge' and you can call this 'C'.  Bridges are usually used as spaces between symmetrical pieces of music or tunes and are usually stronger and have more body in their character and are good places to show off lengthenings, mediums, extensions. 

When you listen to your music you will then find a pattern which may look something like this:

·       A - circle (22 sec)

·       A - 1/2 circle to travel to set up for leg yield (39 sec)

·       B - leg yield (48 sec)

·       A - finish leg yield and go around short side to... (58 sec)

·       C (bridge) - lengthening

·       A - circle

·       A - 1/2 circle (1.23)

·       B - leg yield (1.39)

·       A - finish leg yield and go around short side to... (2.01)

Classical music is harder sometimes to edit as it does not come in neat little packages or phrases.   Modern music is easier to edit.