Courses

DJ PERFORMANCE: Professional DJs often have to perform long sets in dramatically different environments. Festivals, clubs, private parties, corporate events and livestreams all have unique demands and expectations surrounding them. Because of this, the modern DJ has to be prepared to provide their experience properly in different settings. This course covers DJ preparedness, performance etiquette, long performances, mix pacing, streaming setups, recording, creating and editing mixes and releasing mixes.

DJ MUSIC BUSINESS: Professional DJs are commonly also brand owners, business owners and music publishers. This course illustrates the foundation of a DJ’s corporate structure. DJs are often responsible for business transactions such as contracts, publishing licenses, streaming/distribution and synchronization licenses. Management, performance contracts, residencies, budgeting, streaming legalities, booking agents and music copyrights are discussed, studied and explored. Students will learn to make strategic business decisions and grow their DJ career.

DJ BRANDING: DJs are the tastemakers and crowd shakers who directly engage with the fan bases of many artists. Most successful DJs take their brand and image into significant consideration. One of the key distinguishing factors between two DJs is the way they present themselves. This course centers around creating and maintaining an image and brand that aligns values, aesthetics, taste and creativity as a professional DJ.

DJ ESSENTIALS: Contemporary DJing is a craft that involves integrating technology, musicality, and taste. Becoming a professional DJ begins with the fundamentals of digital digging, music organization, mixing, equipment, and the history of DJing as an artform. This course is for anyone looking to begin DJing and will cover all the technical skills necessary to do so. Topics covered include the history of Disc Jockeys and two-turntable systems, DJ controllers, mixing fundamentals, Serato DJ Pro and digital crate digging.

CDJs AND MIXERS: Professional DJs are often expected to provide services using industry standard equipment, which is commonly provided by the client. Pioneer CDJs are mainstays in clubs, venues and entertainment service providers around the world. This course is designed for aspiring DJs who would like to arm themselves with versatile technical skill sets to be prepared for any type of gig. Specific topics include DJ hardware configuration, Rekordbox, playlist preparation, hot cues, BPM and grid adjustment, performing from USB flash drives, sorting tracks, beat sync, master tempo and looping using Pioneer CDJ-3000s and Pioneer DJM-750MK2 DJ Mixers.

ART OF MIXING: DJs express their creativity in subtle but effective ways. Subtle nuances in mixing styles, musical taste and the ability to read a crowd are what give DJs their sonic signatures. In order to fully express oneself creatively as a DJ, it is necessary to learn different methods of mixing to truly find your own style. This course dives deep into beat matching, harmonic mixing, looping, remixing, tempo mixing, audio effects, scratching and utilizing song structures.