Instructor Playlist
AI-enabled fitness playlists
2025
Fitness instructors play a powerful but often overlooked role in helping people stay active- especially in the U.S., where group fitness classes are one of the most effective ways Americans get regular exercise. Yet the job comes with big demands and little support: instructors spend unpaid time getting certified, training, and prepping for each class. One of the biggest time drains? Making music playlists that match the energy and flow of a workout.
Existing tools
Crafting fitness playlists is a complex juggling act, especially for varied intensity classes like yoga or spin. Instructors constantly switch between BPM counters, class formats, music streaming services like Spotify, and even web apps, making soundtrack curation a cumbersome endeavor.
How might we streamline playlist curation for instructors while maintaining their personal touch?
Primary Features:
• Control over the playlist duration and individual song length
• Precise selection of each song's tempo (BPM)
• Preferences such as genre, artist, year, and mood
Lo-fi prototype
With a solid understanding of the class preparation workflow for fitness instructors, it became clear that a web application would be the most accessible tool for playlist creation. I began translating initial sketches into low fidelity UI in Figma. This helped visualize how components might fit together and catch any missing pieces or redundancies early on.
Testing with React + Spotify API
Recognizing that over 90% of instructors use Spotify for its consistency and versatility, and many leverage SortMyMusic.com for BPM filtering, I chose Spotify's API for music access. To understand its constraints, I built a quick front-end prototype using React, Node, and Express.
You can try it yourself here: (Please note, it requires a Spotify Premium account for OAuth 2.0 authentication.)
Failing fast
I discovered that several critical endpoints, including those for genre and BPM information, had been deprecated. This change significantly impacted my application, as these were key ingredients for its functionality. Only pre-existing applications, like SortMyMusic, retained limited access. Consequently, I had to pivot my design approach.
Hi-fi prototype
I faced a choice: await Spotify's API updates or find alternative music datasets. Instead, I shifted my focus to designing a more current playlist creation solution, incorporating AI to enhance the user experience.
Connect your account
With your authorized Spotify Premium account, you can access millions of songs.
Generate the perfect playlist
Provide your class details- including type, duration, and other song specifications- and the LLM will build a tailored song collection.
Add and remove songs
Filter, rearrange, add, and remove songs to your heart's content until the playlist feels just right.
Shuffle all songs
Not quite loving your current selection, or need some fresh inspiration? Shuffle all songs and InstructorPlaylist can generate a new, random set that still matches your prompt.
Modify your prompt
Continue the conversation with the LLM anytime to tweak your song parameters and re-generate playlist options.