How much time is reasonable to plan a Zumba class? PLEASE GIVE INSIGHTS
I have one Zumba instructor who teaches two 1 hour classes per week. In addition to those hours we pay her for teaching, she puts down 6 – 8 hours per week for planning/prepping for those classes and for learning new songs and material. I am happy to pay my instrcutors for planning within reason – I do not teach Zumba or any choreographed classes myself, so I am not sure what is a reasonable time to expect for learning new songs/choreography etc. Any insights into what might be fair would be great! 8 hours seems like a lot to me…
It took me about 10 hours to plan my first playlist, which included selecting 15 songs and learning the choreography or making up my own. That was 5 years ago, and I had 19 years of fitness experience when I started. However, planning a class that has specific format guidelines takes time.
Now I just replace one or two songs at a time, and it takes me about 30 minutes to pick and prepare song.
As an owner, I would not pay for an instructor to prepare for class.
In all the years I taught group I charged for the class only, never occurred to me to charge for any extra time.
Talk with her and work something out, besides Zumba has a huge network, I’m sure they can assist her or possibly she can become certified in a group exercise accredited organization.
I am a Licensed Zumba basic, Zumba Basic 2, Zumba Toning and Aqua Zumba instructor, and yes if you are new it does take time to learn your choreography, pick the songs and put them in order. I think the first time you teach is the hardest; you have to make sure your cues are on point so your students can follow. Honestly, I have had instructors who had group Fitness certificate and also taught other cardio classes, and from my experience they were boring. But when you are in a class where the instructor is passionate about it and you can burn between 500- 800 cal (depending how hard you push yourself), and it doesn’t feel like a work out. People will not care if you have a group fitness certificate. But to the answer I don’t charge for prep time and I don’t expect it. I love what I do and I do it on my time. I think it is nice of you to do what you do and she should be very grateful, but on a side note I think she is taking total advantage of you. Best of luck! Linda
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.
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.