DJ Fundamentals

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 art form. This course covers all the technical skills necessary for anyone looking to begin DJing. Topics covered include the history of Disc Jockeys and two-turntable systems, DJ controllers, mixing fundamentals, Serato DJ Pro, and digital crate digging.

Professional DJs are often expected to provide services using industry-standard equipment, which the client commonly provides. Pioneer CDJs are mainstays in clubs, venues, and entertainment service providers worldwide. For this reason, we offer DJ classes in Los Angeles designed for aspiring DJs who want to arm themselves with versatile technical skill sets to prepare for any 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.

DJs express their creativity in subtle but effective ways. Sophisticated nuances in mixing styles, musical taste, and the ability to read a crowd give DJs their sonic signatures. DJing basics can help you kickstart your DJ career, but to fully express oneself creatively as a DJ, you must learn different mixing methods to find your own style. If you’re looking for DJ classes in Los Angeles, this course dives deep into beat matching, harmonic mixing, looping, remixing, tempo mixing, audio effects, scratching, and utilizing song structures.

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

Professional DJs are commonly 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 and distribution licenses, and synchronization licenses. Management, performance contracts, residencies, budgeting, streaming legalities, booking agents, and music copyrights are discussed, studied, and explored. Along with DJing basics, students in our DJ classes in Los Angeles will learn to make strategic business decisions and grow their DJ careers.

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 key distinguishing factor between the two DJs is how they present themselves. This course centers around creating and maintaining an image and brand that align with your values, aesthetics, taste, and creativity as a professional DJ.