tightr‘A difficult by KAMA KORVELA STIGALL Picking music for a competitive
skating program is a lot like choos- ing a wine to accompany your din- ner. Do you choose something light and sweet, or a bit bold and robust? Do you favor vintage selections, or pick a more youthful variety? Like wine with a fine dining ex-
Coach Peter Oppegard con- fers with Grant Hochstein before he takes the ice for his free skate at the World Championships in Boston.
perience, music not only comple- ments a program — it can transform the entire experience. There is so much to consider when choosing the right piece of music, including the skater’s personality, natural musicality and the image he or she wants to project to the audience. “The biggest challenge of se-
lecting a piece of music is finding that perfect piece that excites my imagination,” coach Peter Op- pegard said. “I like pieces that chal- lenge me in a new direction and allow for some risk.” Oppegard is known for his
deep understanding of music and choosing pieces for his students that will connect with the audience. Competitive programs, he said, are lot like going to the cinema. “When a paying customer gœs
to a movie, they are not paying to see good acting,” he explained. “Most have never taken an acting class in their lives. Instead, they are paying to see no acting at all. If it looks real to them, they can be transformed or taken to another place, or peer inside the soul of another to feel as they feel. To me, that simple test is the toughest test to pass. It can start from great music because music is the conduit that supplies the basic emotion to jump off from.”
20 NOVEMBER 2016
ope’
THERE’S MUCH TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING THAT ‘RIGHT’ PIECE OF MUSIC
JAY ADEFF/U.S. FIGURE SKATING
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