Answers (10)
1
Wow, I would love to work someplace that pays me for my prep time! I always thought it was my own responsibility to come up with class plans/choreography, just as it is my own responsibility to attend continuing education, etc. to maintain my certification.
That being said, I agree with Joanne and Karin that it does take a significant amount of prep, especially for a new instructor, to develop their classes. I had group fitness experience prior to obtaining my Zumba license, so my prep time initially was about 4 hours for the very first class I taught (learning the music and choreographing steps or learning choreography), and has since decreased to about 30 minutes a week for each class format I currently teach.
Sarah's last paragraph sums it up well; as instructors, we don't need to reinvent the wheel for every class - our students want some consistency in order to not have to be mentally thrown for a loop and can just focus on the workout itself. For my Zumba classes, I keep most of the same routines for weeks, just mix in a new song or two every few classes and/or play with the lineup of songs to keep it fresh. 6-8 hours every week is absolutely excessive. If you provided 1 hour a week for prep time, that is wonderful! Do your other group fitness instructors receive the same benefit? Especially those who may teach more than one format or who have multiple certifications and experience?
That being said, I agree with Joanne and Karin that it does take a significant amount of prep, especially for a new instructor, to develop their classes. I had group fitness experience prior to obtaining my Zumba license, so my prep time initially was about 4 hours for the very first class I taught (learning the music and choreographing steps or learning choreography), and has since decreased to about 30 minutes a week for each class format I currently teach.
Sarah's last paragraph sums it up well; as instructors, we don't need to reinvent the wheel for every class - our students want some consistency in order to not have to be mentally thrown for a loop and can just focus on the workout itself. For my Zumba classes, I keep most of the same routines for weeks, just mix in a new song or two every few classes and/or play with the lineup of songs to keep it fresh. 6-8 hours every week is absolutely excessive. If you provided 1 hour a week for prep time, that is wonderful! Do your other group fitness instructors receive the same benefit? Especially those who may teach more than one format or who have multiple certifications and experience?
1
I have never worked for (or heard of) a club paying for planning time (for group exercise OR personal training). And although that'd be GREAT, I think it's unrealistic to expect to get paid for that. The time spent planning is not verifiable, either!
I agree with the above threads that newly certified Zumba instructors lacking additional group exercise certification are generally not as able to quickly prepare and plan for a safe, effective workout. I also agree that Zumba certification should be an *additional* certification to a nationally accredited group exercise certification - there's much more to teaching group ex than knowing how to dance, or box, or lift weights...(basic anatomy/physiology, safety & modifications for participants for starters!). I hold both types of certifications (ACE Group Ex, ACE Personal Trainer, & Zumba), and often wonder about the quality/safety of classes led by instructors with only Zumba training. In fact, during my Zumba certification, the components of teaching group exercise (beyond the Zumba moves & breaking down music/rhythms, etc) was barely covered.
I would love to see Zumba require Group Exercise certification as part of their process for Zumba certification. In absence of that, it's up to fitness facilities to ensure the safety and effectiveness of their classes by hiring nationally certified group exercise instructors.
Lastly, if your new instructor is/becomes a 'ZIN' member, he/she will receive professional choreography (& music) to use - this cuts down on planning time tremendously! The choreography is excellent and there are no worries about copyright infringement.
Good luck with your new instructor!
I agree with the above threads that newly certified Zumba instructors lacking additional group exercise certification are generally not as able to quickly prepare and plan for a safe, effective workout. I also agree that Zumba certification should be an *additional* certification to a nationally accredited group exercise certification - there's much more to teaching group ex than knowing how to dance, or box, or lift weights...(basic anatomy/physiology, safety & modifications for participants for starters!). I hold both types of certifications (ACE Group Ex, ACE Personal Trainer, & Zumba), and often wonder about the quality/safety of classes led by instructors with only Zumba training. In fact, during my Zumba certification, the components of teaching group exercise (beyond the Zumba moves & breaking down music/rhythms, etc) was barely covered.
I would love to see Zumba require Group Exercise certification as part of their process for Zumba certification. In absence of that, it's up to fitness facilities to ensure the safety and effectiveness of their classes by hiring nationally certified group exercise instructors.
Lastly, if your new instructor is/becomes a 'ZIN' member, he/she will receive professional choreography (& music) to use - this cuts down on planning time tremendously! The choreography is excellent and there are no worries about copyright infringement.
Good luck with your new instructor!
0
Zumba does require a lot of work. The instructor must know the music well, the instructor has to learn the choreography (that is if he/she decides to use the pre-choreographed routines) and if he/she doesn't he/she is choreographing his/her own routines.
Here is what I believe:
Many Zumba instructors do not have a group fitness certification. Many of the have only the Zumba license. As a consequence of this, I am moved to asked, what are the credentials of the instructor your hired? Is his/her only credential the Zumba license? Is he/she a new instructor with little experience? If that is the case, then it will take time for the individual to prepare their class. Are we talking about an experienced instructor? The skill set of an experienced instructor is different?
As a business owner, you should be the one determining what you will pay for and what you won't pay for in terms of the amount of time it takes to prepare for any class. Eight hours is excessive.
Here is what I believe:
Many Zumba instructors do not have a group fitness certification. Many of the have only the Zumba license. As a consequence of this, I am moved to asked, what are the credentials of the instructor your hired? Is his/her only credential the Zumba license? Is he/she a new instructor with little experience? If that is the case, then it will take time for the individual to prepare their class. Are we talking about an experienced instructor? The skill set of an experienced instructor is different?
As a business owner, you should be the one determining what you will pay for and what you won't pay for in terms of the amount of time it takes to prepare for any class. Eight hours is excessive.
0
I certainly agree that it takes quite a bit of time initially to prepare for classes, Zumba or otherwise. But as the instructor creates a greater arsenal of 'modules', i. e. music and choreography combinations, I would expect that the preparation time decreases. Eventually it can get to the point that an instructor only needs to determine the sequence of tracks to be played, and that determines the choreography. This is certainly what I observe with the Zumba instructors at the club where I teach.
8 hours of preparation to teach two classes seems way too much.
8 hours of preparation to teach two classes seems way too much.
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I agree with Joanne's answer about a group fitness cert. I only hire Zumba instructors who also have a primary group fitness certification. A one-day training to get the "license" is not enough.
I pay my instructors for up to three hours each semester (I oversee a university recreation program) of practice time. This is a chance for them to watch fitness DVDs (provided by us) to get new ideas, practice choreography, etc. All instructors are also expected to do the required amount of continuing education to keep their certifications current, and that is another venue for new ideas/choreography.
6-8 hours per week is way too much time for preparation, especially since she can teach the same songs/dances in multiple classes. Perhaps offer to pay her for one hour per week of prep time.
I pay my instructors for up to three hours each semester (I oversee a university recreation program) of practice time. This is a chance for them to watch fitness DVDs (provided by us) to get new ideas, practice choreography, etc. All instructors are also expected to do the required amount of continuing education to keep their certifications current, and that is another venue for new ideas/choreography.
6-8 hours per week is way too much time for preparation, especially since she can teach the same songs/dances in multiple classes. Perhaps offer to pay her for one hour per week of prep time.
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By the way.....
How is it that one can get the Zumba license in 8 hours or so and that the same instructor can't put together a class in less than eight hours. Seems a little odd to me.
How is it that one can get the Zumba license in 8 hours or so and that the same instructor can't put together a class in less than eight hours. Seems a little odd to me.
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I am guessing she is really inexperienced. i have been teaching 22 yrs. i also teach zumba. i might have spent 8 hrs planning my original class but i tend to shuffle my playlist and choreograph fairly guickly. I have never charged anyone for preptime. by the way zumba is a licence not a certification. Lynn Wihksne
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I also have never heard of anyplace that pays you for your prep time. No mater what format you teach. I also agree with the Group Fitness Cert. All the work we as instructors put into each class is out of our dedication, practice, practice, practice, and learning for ourself, yes, there is many things to do to prep for a class, but each instructor puts in different amount of time, depending on format, amount of new material, etc. if every facility paid for prep time, they would go out of business.
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I don't agree with Joanna and Sarah.. I am a zumba instructor who is certified only as zumba instructor and I absolutely don't need to have a group fitness certificate to teach. Zumba need preparation but I never heard of any club paying for pep time.
I am employed as zumba instructor by a fitness club and it is up to me to make sure I am prepared for my students and deliver fun and active class.
I am employed as zumba instructor by a fitness club and it is up to me to make sure I am prepared for my students and deliver fun and active class.
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If she is new, then it is possible she can be spending that kind of time, I would pick my songs, order them into a playlist, memorize the music by listening 20 times+ then I sit for a full 6-8 hours putting the moves to the songs. I think maybe 4 hours a week is more reasonable, but if she is new cut her some slack. As she gets more experience the time get cut down substantially. If I can't get a song done quickly after memorizing the music, then I toss it and move onto another. I teach 9-12 classes a week myself and have 2-3 playlists so I don't get bored and the student never get bored.
