Music Selection for High-Level Figure Skaters: A Guide for Parents

If you’re the parent of a high-level figure skater, you already know how many decisions go into each season. Coaching, training schedules, competitions, costumes… and then there’s music.

Music selection often raises a lot of questions for parents:

• Why this piece?

• Why not something more exciting?

• Why doesn’t my skater get to choose their favorite song?

All fair questions. Let me walk you through how coaches and choreographers think about music—and why it matters so much at this level.

Music Is More Than Just a Song

At the high levels of figure skating, music isn’t background noise. It’s the framework for the entire program.

The right music helps a skater:

• Stay calm under pressure

• Feel the timing of their elements

• Move naturally instead of forcing expression

• Leave a strong impression on the judges

The wrong music can make even a very talented skater look uncomfortable or rushed.

Why We Don’t Just Pick Popular or “Pretty” Music

Parents often ask why we don’t choose music that’s trending or widely loved. The reason is simple: what sounds great off the ice doesn’t always work on the ice.

When choosing music, we look at:

• How your skater naturally moves

• Their speed and power

• Their posture and line

• The kind of emotion they can honestly express

Music should feel like it belongs to the skater—not something they’re trying to perform on top of.

Judges Listen Differently Than the Audience

This surprises a lot of people.

Judges aren’t listening the way an audience does. They’re listening for:

• Clear musical phrases

• Strong accents that line up with jumps

• Moments to slow down and moments to build

• Overall structure from beginning to end

Music that feels emotional but doesn’t have clear structure can actually make it harder for judges to reward performance and interpretation.

Music and Jumps Have to Work Together

At this level, choreography isn’t built around jumps—it’s built with them.

Good music gives us:

• Clear beats for jump takeoffs

• Calmer sections for spins

• Flow for step sequences

• A strong musical high point for the hardest elements

When the music works with the technical plan, skaters feel more confident and in control. When it doesn’t, everything feels rushed.

Why Your Skater Might Not Love the Music at First

This happens more often than you might think.

Sometimes the best competitive music:

• Feels unfamiliar

• Pushes a skater emotionally

• Requires them to grow as a performer

Many skaters end up loving their music after the program is built and they understand how it fits them. Growth isn’t always comfortable at first—and that’s okay.

Editing Matters More Than You’d Expect

Even great music needs the right edit.

A good music edit:

• Feels smooth and natural

• Keeps the program moving

• Highlights important moments

• Avoids awkward cuts or repetition

At the international level, judges notice music edits immediately. A clean edit helps the skating shine instead of distracting from it.

How Parents Can Help (More Than You Realize)

One of the best things parents can do is support the process.

That means:

• Trusting the coaching and choreography team

• Encouraging your skater to stay open-minded

• Letting the program grow over time

Your confidence in the plan helps your skater feel confident too—and that shows on the ice.

Final Thoughts

Music selection isn’t about personal taste. It’s about giving your skater the best possible chance to succeed.

When the right music is chosen:

• Skaters skate with more confidence

• Performances feel natural and connected

• Judges respond more positively

• The program becomes memorable

Behind every strong program is thoughtful planning, experience, and a lot of care—and music is where it all begins.