Given the underlying beat, phrasing and atmosphere have now been covered in previous blogs, the important aspect to grasp playing for jumps and travel exercises is Impulse.
While a clear downbeat needs to be played, very often it`s the upbeats that are the impulse for jumps. Syncopated upbeats work well though not played in a heavy manner.
It is very important when playing for jumps not to watch or listen to the thuds of the dancers ( sorry, did I say `thuds`.. I meant sounds..) otherwise keeping the tempo will be a struggle. I keep the meter buzzing in my head and in my body while playing, if I`m still having difficulty holding on to the beat then I sing to myself (occasionally to the entire class).
Travelling exercises (dancers moving across the floor) need to have a driving feel, not racing car style, just confident and motivating. As in jumps, do not play in a heavy manner but rather in a percussive style with clear uncomplicated rhythms (what ever the instrument of choice). I do fall into the trap myself sometimes and forget that it`s not a percussion solo with unnecessary complex patterns. Getting a nice-`groove`(dance-feel) to the music makes all the difference. Do watch the dancers in travel exercises and check that they are not `chasing the beat` or falling behind the music, keep a nice steady driving groove with nothing too decorative in the melody.
paul pavey 
Hi, Paul!
Why is usually dificult to get the right relation between dancing and music (in the diferent styles and levels…) when we are talking about jumping ?. Very often i’ve seen discutions and dificulties and always in jumps.
Have you ever tried jumping as a musicien and see what’s happening with your body ?
Vi
well yes Vi, I have tried jumping…not a pretty sight but never -the-less jump I did! I would say that this particular type of exercise has a comfortable tempo in varying degrees depending upon individual needs, so catching a tempo perfect for everyone in class is very difficult for both the teacher and accompanist.
In an ideal world, we can achieve the musicality together with the physicality.
not only in an ideal word…. when in a real world, musicality and physicality go together, you can feel it easily in your body and then you fly!