In our industry, one of the longest-running debates revolves around the value of accredited qualifications versus pre-choreographed, licence-fee fitness programmes. At first glance, both appear to serve the same purpose, providing instructors with a pathway into group exercise. But dig deeper and the differences are huge. They may overlap audiences, but do they deliver the same long-term value?

One is about entertainment, simplicity, and a plug-and-play formula. The other is about true education, foundation, and creating skilled professionals with the freedom to build businesses.

And that’s why the Level 2 Exercise to Music (ETM) qualification will always stand head and shoulders above licence-based pre-choreographed models

Pre-Choreographed = Fun, Fast, But Limited

There’s no denying the attraction of pre-choreographed fitness models. They are fun, accessible, and easy to deliver. Instructors pay a licence fee, receive pre-packaged music and routines, and deliver them almost exactly as prescribed. It’s theatre meets exercise, great for those who want to entertain, to be part of the model without worrying about programming, and to join a community where the “hard work” has already been done for them.

For many participants, this is exactly what they want: something enjoyable, predictable, and instantly engaging. Pre-choreographed formats provide confidence and structure to new instructors who may not yet feel ready to design their own classes.

But the truth is, pre-choreographed models are not a career foundation, they are a product. And like all products, they tie you into a system, dictate your creativity, and ultimately limit your growth.

Level 2 Exercise to Music = The True Foundation

Now contrast this with Level 2 Exercise to Music, the original entry point for group exercise instructors in the UK and beyond. This qualification doesn’t just show you how to deliver choreography; it teaches you why movement works, how to structure a session, and how to apply music intelligently to exercise.

Instead of delivering someone else’s choreography, you’re learning to:

  • Design your own classes from scratch.
  • Understand anatomy and physiology so that you can programme safe and effective workouts.
  • Cue, coach, and motivate participants across a wide range of fitness levels.
  • Adapt to different audiences, whether you’re teaching beginners, older adults, or experienced fitness enthusiasts.
  • Use music creatively to craft experiences, rather than being locked into a single style.

This isn’t about short-term entertainment. It’s about developing the skillset and confidence to stand in front of any group, in any space, and deliver a class that works. That’s why ETM has launched thousands of careers, while licence-based programmes tend to keep instructors as deliverers of content rather than creators of it.

Two Models, Two Journeys

Here’s the critical point, pre-choreographed models and Level 2 ETM are not competing products they should serve serve two entirely different audiences.

  • The pre-choreographed audience wants fun, community, and entertainment. They want to switch off and follow along. For instructors, it’s often a side-hustle or hobby enjoyable, but not necessarily something that builds independence or a sustainable career.
  • The ETM audience is different. These are the people who want to invest in themselves, learn the craft, and lay the foundation for a serious future in fitness. For them, group exercise is not just a hobby it’s a business, a brand, and a profession.

Both are valid choices. But only one unlocks freedom and growth.

Why Level 2 ETM Wins Every Time

When you take the long view, Level 2 Exercise to Music is unbeatable. Here’s why:

  1. Ownership of your work With ETM, you aren’t paying monthly licence fees for someone else’s choreography. You own your classes, your routines, your brand.
  2. Transferable skills ETM equips you with knowledge and tools that apply across every style of group fitness, from aerobics to dance, conditioning to circuits, Pilates to Yoga.
  3. Professional credibility As a regulated qualification, ETM demonstrates to employers, insurers, and clients that you have the knowledge to deliver safe, effective, and adaptable sessions.
  4. Unlimited creativity You decide the music, the moves, the atmosphere. You’re not stuck to a script, you’re free to innovate and respond to trends.
  5. A business foundation ETM graduates have the ability to run their own classes, brand their own programmes, and build independent businesses without the constraints of licence fees or corporate structures.

This is what makes ETM the true powerhouse. It doesn’t just teach you to deliver a workout. It gives you the blueprint for a career.

The Hard Truth

If your goal is simply to deliver a great night out, connect with people, and keep it light, then pre-choreographed programmes will always have their place. They do their job well, and for many instructors and participants, they’re a great fit. They make instructing easy.

But if you want to build a career, launch your own classes, and have complete creative control over your future, then there’s no comparison. Level 2 Exercise to Music is the foundation that everything else is built on.

Pre-choreographed models might feel like the fast track, but they’re really a loop that keeps you in place. Level 2 ETM is the launch pad that allows you to grow, evolve, and carve out your own success in the fitness industry.

For anyone serious about group exercise, the choice is clear Level 2 ETM isn’t just training. It’s the difference between being a performer and being a professional.

Jayne Nicholls

Jayne Nicholls, multi award winning owner and director of GXT.