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Hi everyone,

i've been teaching jam since release 35 and i love it love it love it.

however jam 44 is the biggest challenge i've had with my class.

I knew this would be a tough release to get over, from the time i attended my quarterly workshop as i found the moves far to easy to pick up and knowing my class as i do, they love a challenge. Also, alot of the moves in 44 are the same or extremely similar to that of previous releases.

so after 2 weeks of teaching 44 i was a little disappointed when the feedback that came back was really negative although i half expected it.

the feedback was that it was too easy to learn, boring and uninspiring moves (especially retro house), a poor physical workout (i dont agree with that one) and they absolutely despise the groovedown (gotta say i hate it too, but they dont know that)

anyway, i am on week 4 my numbers are dropping a little and im concerned as they tell me last night they they now hate it and are ready to mix old releases already. This is a little disappointing but its not just 3 or 4 people is 75% of my class that hate it.

I have tried to set different objectives for my participants from week to week to try to get the best from this class and i teach with passion and enthusiasm which has built up my class numbers and actually peaked one week at 92 people.

They love jam but not jam 44.

My thoughts on this release is that i love the music, i love the workout but not the groovedown! yes its easy to learn and i would prefer something a little more complex too.

i have no choice but to start to mix from week 5, even though i usually mix at wk 7 or 8. They pay their money to attend my class and i'm not willing to compromise my class numbers, as i don't want to lose them for good especially with the summer approaching.

Has anybody had the same problem?, does anybody have any ideas for me before i head back to club cardio from BJ36?

maybe my class are just too critical?? They are lovely people but they are serious jammers maybe too serious (is that Possible)

look forward to hearing your thoughts

We do a launch for 2 weeks, then can mix in other blocks.  Can't imagine any release being interesting enough to do for so long, not to those who love a challenge, as you are describing.  Perhaps as a result of our much shorter period of teaching a new release exclusively, I like mixing in different blocks to keep things interesting.

Different people like different things.  Feedback I've been getting pretty consistently is that participants like this release.  They say they can actually do a better/harder workout because of the relative simplicity of it, particularly the house block.  I also regularly encourage them not to keep it as a little step hop, but instead to really breakout the single-single-double....to move the way Rachel does in the video.

Hope you're able to keep the interest up.

my classes feel the same way...im not attached to any one release, as I too have been teaching Jam for a good while (since 34), this is our second week with it and they are saying switch it, so i will...no biggie...and go back to something that gives them a good challenge, perhaps krump or something...and then some will complain that its too tricky...you can't please everyone all the time...

G has an amazing job to try and please the one million or so world wide that participate in BodyJam, there was obviously a calling for easier chorey with a better workout (not only from participants, but also instructors who thought the chorey was too time consuming to learn), so for those who wanted that...he gave it to them. For those who like the challenge, we have other releases that provide that...if we mix both into the same class, we can give everyone a little of what they are looking for in BodyJam ...IMHO

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Always grace appetite with soul!!!

orkanbob:

We do a launch for 2 weeks, then can mix in other blocks. 

OMG, 2 WEEKS?!?!?!?!?!

 

We stick to what our trainers have told us, and that's to keep the entire release for 4 weeks, and then switch it up.

For me, I've been teaching it for 2 weeks, will teach it for two more weeks, and then will start switching out things.....  My participants are also not thrilled with the back half of 44, although they LOVE the front half!!!!!!  I think the cardio from the back half is wonderful, but love the free, wild, and aggressive feeling of the front half!

Personally, my folks love it when I ask for feedback as to which releases they'd like to see me mix in and out of their class.  I agree, the folks are PAYING for our product, so why not make them happy, although I will let my folks know that it DOES TAKE TIME to memorize and "re-perfect' the fine art of teaching Body Jam.  They understand, and as long as I follow though with my end of the deal, they don't care if it takes a week or two for me to mix in some new material.

Anyway, I read a post from Laura Wilson that I really enjoyed.  It mentioned finding the challenge of truly perfecting not only the the three levels of our teaching, but also the three levels of dancing that are mandatory in our program.  she also suggested focusing on differing objectives for each class.  (Depending on, and determined by the folks in your OWN PARTICULAR class.)  Perhaps these are things we can look forward to and focus on while we are learning (re-learning) new material.

**Please no throwing things, BUT** Remember, each new release is a journey for our participants.  They experience the release, learn the release, and then make it their own.  I'm not sure how they can fully travel through each of those three steps in less then four weeks.  It's OUR CHALLENGE to take them on the journey! 

Keep Jammin' (and let us know what you decide to mix!)

cbc

 

<<**Please no throwing things, BUT** Remember, each new release is a journey for our participants.  They experience the release, learn the release, and then make it their own.  I'm not sure how they can fully travel through each of those three steps in less then four weeks. >>

Well, I'm only a line worker, and don't have privy to all that was shared....but I'm sure our trainer did not tell us 4 weeks but said 2 was an acceptable timeframe.  BodyJam is the 5th or 6th Les Mills program at the gyms, so we do it according to the program.

Some wouldn't get it in less than 4 weeks, to be sure.  Some get it after 1...and they get it better than I do just by taking the classes lol.  Some would need a whole quarter, since they might only take BodyJam once a week.  And, as you pointed out, simply doing it doesn't guarantee that you'll get it at all levels....that can take some effort and focus.

I actually keep the second cardio block for about a month, just so it can settle in...but I'm also only teaching 1-2 classes a week (out of 5).  Obviously, this whole discussion originated because 44 seems to many to be easy to pick up......leading to some boredom and frustration with having to do it so long without mixing in other releases.  Given the different levels of difficulty (as reported by people) among the various releases, perhaps the timeframe itself might be too rigid.  (Of course, I can't even get my objection to the slogan using the Spanish Inquisition acknowledged lol, so I'm not equipped or knowledgable enough to do anything but go with the timeframes.)  And hope in places that it's longer, that the instructors are able to keep the interest up for the so-called easier releases.

Lee i could not agree with you more mate. My members did like it but i could tell that they got it first time and i thought errrmmm...ok i got atleast four weeks with this before i can change. Ive said it before that there needs to be levels that we can add as 'options' over time if its going to sustain members in a class, that way no one gets bored. the last releases have been perfect but this was is one big YAWN!!!!!!!!!!!! I love the second block but the chorey in that is not enough, GIVE US ADD-ON OPTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lee have a look at 34 the chorey for 44 first block was just kinda taken from that almost but atleast you can add things like the body roll as you come forward.

Not sure why we bother as they have never bother posted on this forum!! If it stays this easy i will lose members for sure.

"Anyway, I read a post from Laura Wilson that I really enjoyed.  It mentioned finding the challenge of truly perfecting not only the the three levels of our teaching, but also the three levels of dancing that are mandatory in our program.  she also suggested focusing on differing objectives for each class.  (Depending on, and determined by the folks in your OWN PARTICULAR class.)  Perhaps these are things we can look forward to and focus on while we are learning (re-learning) new material."

iamcbcjammer

THANKS GIRL!!!  I've found that with work and passion for the music and the release as a whole, my people are still rockin' out to this one!  In fact we mixed it up for about three weeks and I was having all kinds of requests to go back to it!  No worrries for those who haven't enjoyed this release as much as others because 45 is on its way and it is very challenging!!!!!

Laura W

Les Mills National Trainer

Cheers stuart and all other jammers

I know what your sayin mate and u make a lot of sense. considering we were on module training together, we have both seen alot of different releases as have our participants. They are not silly, and just like u said mate they sampled the hip hop track and immediately thought of BJ34 block. My participants just felt that this release had taken a couple of days to put together which consisted of G looking over his previous dvd's!

They felt that the creativity of the moves were poor and that they didnt feel like the moves were very dancey. Like i say people are gonna stop coming if i dont change it soon. I have taken all the feedback from everyone on this forum on board so thank you for your comments people.

As for working different levels, setting objectives etc, i've tried them all, however, I just have to admit defeat on this one as no matter what I do they just don't like it.

Maybe G is a victim of his own success sometimes, he has set the standards so high so people expect no less each quarter.

I love his classes and what he does and I'm really proud to teach the program.

Roll on Jam 45, My participants are ready....already lol

We don't get to mix til 4 weeks out, so we'll see how it works out. Luckily my class is merely happy to move and have fun, and my partner and I are crazy enough that we can keep them very amused through the repetitiveness. Even so, I'm not sure how many ways I can say " And again!!! From the top!" with that second block. I'm gonna work getting them flying across the floor with the housetap but then it comes to a screeching halt with you-know-what
I'm looking forward to mixing in other blocks that are tougher so that they can better appreciate the mindlessness         (you know what I mean) of the 44 chorey.

Stuart I agree with ya. It would be nice to have the Jam higher-ups post on here; I feel really disconnected from what's on their minds. Rach does pop in from time to time but Combat is really her thing. I like heading over to the Combat forums just to see what she and Dan have to say.
 

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analyse capitalism choose revolution demand chocolate

shimarella:

Stuart I agree with ya. It would be nice to have the Jam higher-ups post on here; I feel really disconnected from what's on their minds. Rach does pop in from time to time but Combat is really her thing. I like heading over to the Combat forums just to see what she and Dan have to say.
 

Shim and Stuart...I very much agree....I  know Laura Wilson has been active and it helps to hear from someone who has a bit of an inside track, but when rach or dan post on the combat forum, it makes my day,and helps me feel connected to what is happening with the program...

 I am looking forward to Jam tonight...I am mixing the front half of 44 with the recovery and back half from 35..Hip Hop night...should be a riot!!

 k

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Always grace appetite with soul!!!

ok. I keep hearing about 35..... how might one go about ordering that one?

 and my thoughts on 44 to add to everyone else's:  i love it... It works well for us.... Jam is still a new program at our gym and it seems we always get new people in there every week so its a great release for them to start on.

BJ35 is cool, i'm gonna go back to that one tonight i think.

not sure how u can get hold of it legally!!!!

but u can if u know what im sayin lol

lol... yeah, i wanna check that one out..  hmmmmm....wonder why they wont sell it anymore... unless they are out of them?   

Guys, you know what? We have to teach every release for a full 2 months at our gym!! And I have 2 weeks to go... Me and a number of my members are so ready to mix!!

And I have to say, BJ 35 and 36 are looking mighty good to me!!

I usually start mixing it up after 3 weeks of the same release.  I also asked my class what release they want to do.