How to Make a Custom Music Mix (for Cheer or Dance)

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Are you leading a cheer or dance team and wonder how those other teams get custom music mixes? It takes a little practice, but you can learn to do it easily. Once you get the hang of it, you can create simple pieces or get creative and make layered pieces for routines. We'll show you how.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid418835-v4-728px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":347,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":549,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Download a music editing program. There are some great ones out there.
    • Audacity is one that runs on Mac, PC, and Linux, and other operating systems—and it's free!
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid418835-v4-728px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Let your team members help pick the songs.
    • Look for songs that have a similar beat or feel, or look for songs that are timed to the tempo of your routines.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/99\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/aid418835-v4-728px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    At the same time, create a new blank sound document.
    • Find the pieces in each song that you want to use.
    • Cut each piece, in order and place into the empty sound file.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid418835-v4-728px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can buy CDs or download thousands of sound effects to add flavor to your cheer routine. Cut these and overlay them in various places of your music.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-5.jpg\/aid418835-v4-728px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Make sure the finished music meets your requirements. Listen through your mix with your teammates, and see what they think. After you do a couple of these, it'll be second nature!
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c2\/Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/aid418835-v4-728px-Make-a-Custom-Music-Mix-%28for-Cheer-or-Dance%29-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Burn to a CD . Congratulations, you just made a great mix, and now it's time to use it. Make copies for your friends, pass them out, and get your team on the floor!
    7. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do you make a good mix of songs?
    Emilia Richeson-Valiente
    Certified Dance-Aerobics Instructor
    Emilia Richeson-Valiente is an AFAA Certified Dance-Aerobics Instructor and the founder of Pony Sweat Aerobics. Located in Los Angeles, CA, Pony Sweat started in 2014 as a way to share joyful, non-competitive dance with others. Emilia has since brought Pony Sweat events to cities throughout the country like New York City, San Francisco, Boston, and more. She has performed at events ranging from neighborhood punk shows to Coachella Music Festival, and has choreographed dance aerobics routines for the music videos of Alice Bag, Hayley Williams, Gal Pals, Shark Toys, and Wallows. Emilia received a BFA in Acting from Emerson College.
    Emilia Richeson-Valiente
    Certified Dance-Aerobics Instructor
    Expert Answer
    Start with a warm-up song that has a slower BPM and a feeling of excitement and anticipation. You want people to recognize the beat and get on the floor to dance. Once their bodies have warmed up a bit on the dance floor, their inhibitions are down, and they're feeling more confident, transition to songs with bigger energy where people can really have big expressions of feeling.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0
  • Question
    Can I do voiceovers as well?
    Community Answer
    I would put voiceovers ONLY in the beginning of the mix. Just record yourself by hitting the "R" on your computer keyboard. I'd also recommend adding some echo to it and removing background noise.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 12
  • Question
    How to choreograph a dance?
    Community Answer
    Choreographing a dance isn't that hard if you think of what your body would naturally do after a certain move. Find a song that opens your mind more to different moves. Get a song with a good beat in the back. Know all the dancers' best abilities and apply them. Creating a dance is a lot of back and forth. Don't get flustered.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 8
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Show More Tips
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Be careful of downloading free music online. It may be illegal and certainly can lead to computer viruses.
        Thanks
        Helpful 19 Not Helpful 2
      • Don't try your skills for the first time with an important competition routine. Practice a while first!
        Thanks
        Helpful 15 Not Helpful 4
      • Be sure to make back-up copies of your custom mixes. You might want parts of those in future routines.
        Thanks
        Helpful 10 Not Helpful 6
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Computer
      • Internet Access
      • Music (either on the computer or on CD's)
      • Music editing software (some can be downloaded for free)
      • CD's to burn the finished music on.
      • Sound effects (Optional).

      You Might Also Like

      What Equalizer Settings Are Best for Bass? (And Other Equalizer Settings Explained)
      How to
      Fix an Airpods Microphone
      How to
      Copy Music from Your iPod to Your Computer
      How to
      Reduce Static Noise in a Microphone
      How to
      Use a Mixer
      How to
      Hook up an Equalizer
      All You Need to Know to Use a Headset Mic on a PC or Mac with One Jack
      How to
      Increase Bass on a Windows PC or Mac Computer
      How to
      Set the Default Audio Track in VLC
      How to
      Tell if Beats Are Fake
      3 Easy Ways to Connect a Soundbar to a Windows Computer
      How to
      Play a CD on a Desktop Computer
      How to
      Troubleshoot an Amp
      2 Simple Ways to Make Your Microphone Better
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about dancing, check out our in-depth interview with Emilia Richeson-Valiente .

      References

      1. Audacity
      2. Sony Creative

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 436,476 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Jovante Johnson

        May 11, 2016

        "The step by step is awesome. I have read through it and can't wait to apply it when I get home. I'm ready ..." more
      Share your story

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement