How to Choose Waltz Music

Choosing the right music can be quite difficult, whether it is for dance choreography, a party or for just listening pleasure. You must pick the right tempo and the right feel for your music. Although many forms of the waltz exist, only one will do for your particular tastes. Follow these steps to choose waltz music to suit your tastes and needs, and eliminate the endless hours of music sampling.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Determine what you are choosing your waltz music for. Ask yourself if people will be actually dancing the waltz, or if you simply want it for ambiance music, for example.

2. Choose what tempo of waltz you will need: a slow waltz, a medium tempo or a fast waltz. Make sure the music you are sampling is indeed a waltz by checking the tempo. Waltzes are performed in 3/4 time, which means 3 beats per measure.

3. Count with the music and determine if it is proper waltz tempo (1-2-3, 1-2-3). This can be considerably faster than you might want to count, but it's important that this 3-beat structure is present. Decide whether you want your waltz to be in a major (happy key) or a minor (sad key).

4. Ask yourself whether you want a more traditional or classical sounding waltz or if you are willing to experiment with a more contemporary version of the waltz. Get the advice of someone you trust to help you choose the right music. Sometimes after hearing many different songs, they begin to run together.

5. Play the song you've chosen in the area or venue at which it will be played. Follow your instincts; dance the waltz with someone to see if the song feels right while dancing, or walk about the party venue or wherever it will be played and feel how natural it feels to listen to that particular music.

Resources

• Here's a listing of waltz music staples.
• You can shop for waltz music at this website.