DJ lessons?

topic posted Thu, April 10, 2008 - 4:53 PM by  vlad
Hey guys,
I have a silly question: do you know a place or a person to take DJ lessons from in the Bay Area? I know most of the theory behind mixing and have my own equipment, I just need somebody to guid me through. I prefer psy trance and tech house, if it matters. Thanks!
posted by:
vlad
SF Bay Area
  • Re: DJ lessons?

    Thu, April 10, 2008 - 5:04 PM
    see if the scratch academy has classes in mixing. or you might even ask at a dj shop--some provide mixing classes as a sideline to selling records/gear.
  • Re: DJ lessons?

    Mon, May 19, 2008 - 1:30 PM
    My advice: Don't waste your money on lessons. Go buy or rent a DVD called "Intellect" put together by Barclay Crenshaw aka Claude Vonstroke. One disc is interviews with DJs about dance music culture, the other is a basic DJing tutorial by Nigel Richards. I found it helpful when I was starting out to help fill in a few techniques I hadn't quite grasped. I'm sure there are many other instructional DVDs on the subject. Even stuff on YouTube probably.

    But the truth is: You either already "know" how to do it, or you don't. If you haven't gone to enough parties and watched enough DJs to already know how to beatmatch n' mix, then consider that it might not be for you.
    • Re: DJ lessons?

      Mon, May 19, 2008 - 3:16 PM
      sorry, i gotta disagree...

      ...as a veteran dj of almost 20 years i would be impressed if someone could suss out on their own how to dj merely from watching others. not saying that it can't be done (it can) but that's not the norm.
      • Re: DJ lessons?

        Tue, May 20, 2008 - 4:17 PM
        Well, to clarify: All I'm saying is by the time one gets to the point when they want to DJ themselves, it's the norm that they've been to a good number of parties and saw enough DJs in action to understand how it works. I'm not saying it's so easy that anyone can just watch someone and be able to do it. It's a question of attention and interest. You either "get it" or you don't. If one "gets it" they should be able to pick up the rest by reading books and/or watching tutorials.

        I'm not against anyone taking lessons. I was trying to get across that he doesn't need to wait for someone to show him how, just to get started. Especially if he already has all the gear!

        Go and get some music and get to it son.

        How's that saying go? "The magic was inside you all along" ;-)
        • Re: DJ lessons?

          Yesterday, 9:57 AM
          i started in production and moved to dj-ing... backwards huh?

          but i was able to very quickly teach myself... probably cuz i already understood the fundamentals

          david