Nathan Chen
- Thread starter matmuh
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Didn't know he was considering Mozart 4 years ago, but I did get the impression he was strong armed into doing MLD by his Mom and Lori.
Welcome back!
Dumb question, but if he usually relies on his choreographers to pick his music, does this mean for once his choreographers didn't come up with options he likes? I don't recall him ever asking for music suggestions from fans before, and since I don't remember anyone suggesting Mozart it means none of the suggestions really excited him, either?
I think he picked Land of All himself and brought it to MFD. Either way, whether he chooses to recycle Nemesis (or not) and picks Mozart (or not) after supposedly wanting to use it back in the previous Olympic season, it's clear he goes into the coming season on his own terms, trusting his team and trusting in himself, which is a good thing.
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- Joined
- Jan 28, 2013
My understanding is that music selection tends to be a collaborative process between skater, coach, and choreographer.
The choreographer, may have a range of options up for consideration, based on ideas in his/her mind about what music best suits a skaters particular strengths.
That's true too. Good points, thanks, everyone. Some skaters have multiple programs choreographed, in case there's a need to change course. So it makes sense for Nathan to have multiple options.
I want him to get his competition programs from Shae, but I miss the beautiful flow out his jumps had at 2019 Nationals, after he'd had his skating skills weeks with MFD. Can't he spend some weeks with MFD for skating skills, and still get both SP and FS from Shae?
Or is this out of the question this season, with MFD having so many ice dance teams to prepare for Olympics and various travel restrictions possibly coming into play? Apple1078 helpfully posted the July 5 guidelines above, but the situation can still change.
- Joined
- May 9, 2019
I know he had said Mozart was his favorite composer a couple of times before, but I wonder where his intention to use his music for the 17/18 season is mentioned.
I agree that choreographers and skaters usually collaborate on music selections, and maybe this time the choreographer just asked Nathan “who’s your favorite composer and would you like to skate to them”. Assume it’s Shae, she’s been pushing Nathan for diversified music choices that may not necessarily lie within his comfort zone for years, and perhaps for once she wants to use something that Nathan is connected to in the first place, considering it’s the Olympic season.Or maybe they read this thread.
I think it’s highly unlikely Nathan would go to Gadbois just to get skating skill lessons.
I agree that choreographers and skaters usually collaborate on music selections, and maybe this time the choreographer just asked Nathan “who’s your favorite composer and would you like to skate to them”. Assume it’s Shae, she’s been pushing Nathan for diversified music choices that may not necessarily lie within his comfort zone for years, and perhaps for once she wants to use something that Nathan is connected to in the first place, considering it’s the Olympic season.
I think it’s highly unlikely Nathan would go to Gadbois just to get skating skill lessons.
Oh I know others can teach skating skills too, but the notable improvement in his SS came after a couple of weeks with Gadbois, so...
Of course Shae can coach him on that. It's been said Nadia is in charge of SS for Raf's group (can't find source article tho). I would guess the Oly season is not the season he'd want to spend 2 weeks either quarantining or working nearly entirely on SS. *shrug*
Was it even clear, though, which choreographer was supposed to be coming up with options for Nathan? Didn't he say he wanted a program from MFD but didn't want to do choreography over zoom? I prefer his Glass FS from Shae to his programs from MFD (Land of All, Rocketman), but with all the uncertainties over travel, etc, I wonder if either MFD or Shae had him in mind over the past year as someone they need to pick music for?
It would be nice if he could have a program he loves that US fed and the powers that be wouldn't pan or want to tweak over and over. True, all programs are works in progress, but a lukewarm reception at the beginning of Oly season is something every skater wants to avoid--isn't that one reason why we're getting so many recycled programs? That and having fewer new things to master in an important season.
Still, if it is his last season, it's his last chance to compete his Mozart program. Curious about which Mozart pieces TSL and sources heard.
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- Jul 27, 2003
And remember Shae herself is also a former ice dancer so it's not like Nathan can't get insight on skating skills from her as well 
Regarding the flow out of jumps - I feel that has more to do with the jump technique itself rather than skating skills? His flow out of the jumps come and go all the time I feel, depending how well he lands them each time(he has a tendency to land forward), and it's probably something Raf should address, not MFD?
Regarding the flow out of jumps - I feel that has more to do with the jump technique itself rather than skating skills? His flow out of the jumps come and go all the time I feel, depending how well he lands them each time(he has a tendency to land forward), and it's probably something Raf should address, not MFD?
I recall someone said that Nathan’s mom told them he wanted a classical/Mozart program before he was presented or convinced to do MLD. Obviously this is unverified information though!
Vera also works with their skaters on SS. From her bio: “Specializes in jumps, spins, choreography, and understanding edge control with skating skills.”
Instructors & Private Lessons - Figure Skating - Great Park Ice & FivePoint Arena
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- Joined
- Jan 18, 2021
I thought it was the other way around...MFD brought the suggestion to Nathan and he said he was okay with it?
Hello,
I hope it's okay if I introduce myself here. I've been lurking around this place for a while now and I was pretty content to just let things be, however, I'm anxiously awaiting Nathan's new programs so I thought it would be more interesting to be able to celebrate them and to cheer him on with other fans once they're revealed. I absolutely love Nathan's skating...although, I must admit that until more recently, I was very much just an on and off casual figure-skating viewer. Back then, I never really understood all the details behind the sport(aside from the basics of the judging system). I mostly just knew that I enjoyed watching the combination of artistry and amazing tricks that were being performed by the skaters. I also used to watch pretty much only the female skaters(Michelle Kwan, mostly, though I do recall seeing Kristi Yamaguchi on TV when I was a tiny, little girl). Of course, there was Tara Lipinski and Sasha Cohen, then I watched some Yuna Kim, and it wasn't until after Nathan Chen came along that I started watching the men's. I remember the excitement of the Olympics, then the disappointment in PyeongChang and watching him just miss the podium, but I was so, so proud of the way he skated his free. I liked cheering him on back then, but I was thinking that he needed a few more years to grow.
Well, being the casual viewer that I am, I went several years without paying too much attention to figure skating then, during the World Championship earlier this year, I happened upon Nathan's free skate(while looking up something completely unrelated)...and I was mind-blown, lol. I was, like, "Holy crap...that's Nathan freakin' Chen from PyeongChang! Where have I been all these years and what have I been missing out on???" So, naturally, I went back and watched everything Nathan Chen-related since 2018...and became even more amazed by the amount of growth he'd gone through. Aside from his obvious talent, my admiration for him sky-rocketed at the thought that he'd gotten so mentally tough since the traumatizing Olympics. This guy is so amazing. I really don't have words for him at times. Also, thanks in part to all the Nathan trashing that goes on mostly from the fanbase of a certain other skater, I got motivated to finally go do some reading up on figure skating and to finally start learning some of the intricacies behind the ISU judging system and more about figure skating in general. You guys will have to excuse me if I get a little confused at times with certain topics. Anyway, it's been fun for me the past several months. I even did some reading up on Philip Glass and have discovered how much I love his music. I think I've become a little obsessed, lol. Thanks a lot, Nathan! Another thing I want to express is appreciation for all the info and fan material you guys share up here in these threads: thank you!!!
I hope it's okay if I introduce myself here. I've been lurking around this place for a while now and I was pretty content to just let things be, however, I'm anxiously awaiting Nathan's new programs so I thought it would be more interesting to be able to celebrate them and to cheer him on with other fans once they're revealed. I absolutely love Nathan's skating...although, I must admit that until more recently, I was very much just an on and off casual figure-skating viewer. Back then, I never really understood all the details behind the sport(aside from the basics of the judging system). I mostly just knew that I enjoyed watching the combination of artistry and amazing tricks that were being performed by the skaters. I also used to watch pretty much only the female skaters(Michelle Kwan, mostly, though I do recall seeing Kristi Yamaguchi on TV when I was a tiny, little girl). Of course, there was Tara Lipinski and Sasha Cohen, then I watched some Yuna Kim, and it wasn't until after Nathan Chen came along that I started watching the men's. I remember the excitement of the Olympics, then the disappointment in PyeongChang and watching him just miss the podium, but I was so, so proud of the way he skated his free. I liked cheering him on back then, but I was thinking that he needed a few more years to grow.
Well, being the casual viewer that I am, I went several years without paying too much attention to figure skating then, during the World Championship earlier this year, I happened upon Nathan's free skate(while looking up something completely unrelated)...and I was mind-blown, lol. I was, like, "Holy crap...that's Nathan freakin' Chen from PyeongChang! Where have I been all these years and what have I been missing out on???" So, naturally, I went back and watched everything Nathan Chen-related since 2018...and became even more amazed by the amount of growth he'd gone through. Aside from his obvious talent, my admiration for him sky-rocketed at the thought that he'd gotten so mentally tough since the traumatizing Olympics. This guy is so amazing. I really don't have words for him at times. Also, thanks in part to all the Nathan trashing that goes on mostly from the fanbase of a certain other skater, I got motivated to finally go do some reading up on figure skating and to finally start learning some of the intricacies behind the ISU judging system and more about figure skating in general. You guys will have to excuse me if I get a little confused at times with certain topics. Anyway, it's been fun for me the past several months. I even did some reading up on Philip Glass and have discovered how much I love his music. I think I've become a little obsessed, lol. Thanks a lot, Nathan! Another thing I want to express is appreciation for all the info and fan material you guys share up here in these threads: thank you!!!
- Joined
- May 9, 2019
Thanks for the info! I recall Nathan had been saying that classical works were his comfort zone up to the 18/19 season, so I won’t be surprised if he pitched the idea. Wondering how he would approach classical music now after his foray into more contemporary/pop genres.
Shae is likely to provide program-specific skating skill advice, whereas Team Raf is responsible for the more fundamental aspects of skating.
Nathan was talked into MLD by Lori. It was discussed in February 2018 in this FF
Here are what the Mozart sources are from
Here are what the Mozart sources are from
according to Nathan's mom, he likes Mozart and was talked into Mao's last Dancer. like he was talked into Chattanooga Choo Choo/MJ. don't know about who chose Nemesis for him though (I think it is 100% Shae's suggestion including "no good") I think last season's 2 programs are chosen by Zueva catering to his ballet background as well.
I think Nathan may have some facial expression potential (like he showed in Choo Choo and last dancer), but I kinda think Nathan will feel embarrassed to do a "high drama facial expression" like Misha Ge.
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While I agree that skating skills and flow out of jumps is more a TeamRaf thing, but if my memory is not fading me, I remember back in early 2018, Ic3rabbit mentioned that she had seen Nathan received edge training from Shae Lynn. This article from 2017 seemed to confirm what she had said.
I also remembered both Evan and Vincent, the latter I am not that sure, said in interviews that Lori would asked them to hold the landing positions little bit longer. So I do think choreographers have influences on how jumps are done to enhance the programs.
My impression is Shae-Lynn has much more influence on Nathan than we probably know. There is on going communications between them about possible music choices, recommendations, even costume choices which we never expect. To me, Nathan is in good hands with Raf and Shae-Lynn, so I wouldn’t worry too much if we are going to have two amazing programs
Nathan Chen seeks to win his second Grand Prix at Skate America this weekend – Figure Skaters Online
I also remembered both Evan and Vincent, the latter I am not that sure, said in interviews that Lori would asked them to hold the landing positions little bit longer. So I do think choreographers have influences on how jumps are done to enhance the programs.
My impression is Shae-Lynn has much more influence on Nathan than we probably know. There is on going communications between them about possible music choices, recommendations, even costume choices which we never expect. To me, Nathan is in good hands with Raf and Shae-Lynn, so I wouldn’t worry too much if we are going to have two amazing programs
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- Joined
- May 9, 2019
Yes, it was from a Japanese Q&A and sheetz translated it:
In an interview during The Ice 2018 Nathan said that he came up with the music. Unfortunately the old link is no longer working.
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