DJ basics - learn how to DJ (5-week course)

Eligible: Residents of London aged 19+

Want to understand the basics of DJing? This hands-on 5-week DJ workshop is your perfect starting point! Designed for complete beginners and those with a little curiosity, you'll gain the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to confidently mix and blend tracks, understand essential DJ equipment, and develop an ear for music selection.

What You'll Learn & Achieve: Your 5-Week Journey

Overall Course Goal: Participants will gain foundational knowledge and practical skills in DJing, enabling them to confidently mix and blend tracks, understand basic DJ equipment, and develop a basic understanding of music selection. This course aims to improve skills for progressing to further learning and/or improve skills for work, while also potentially increasing confidence and improving mental health and well-being.

Week 1: Introduction to DJing & Equipment

• Get hands-on with essential DJ equipment & software
• Learn to connect and set up a basic DJ system.
• Outcome: You'll build confidence handling equipment and understanding core audio principles, laying a solid groundwork for your DJ journey.

Week 2: Essential Mixing Techniques

• Introduction to Rekordbox software
• Manually adjust track pitches to synchronize tempos (BPM).
• Understand and practice basic mixing techniques
• Using filter and effects with music tracks
• Outcome: You'll confidently perform basic transitions, a core skill transferable to various creative and performance settings.

Week 3: Beatmatching Basics

• Dive into the crucial skill of beatmatching: defining it and understanding its importance.
• Identify optimal transition points in tracks.
• Visually identify beat patterns and downbeats.
• Learn to perform smooth transitions between two tracks using the crossfader and volume faders
• Outcome: You'll understand the art of manually beatmatching, a fundamental skill for seamless mixing.

Week 4: Music Structure, Phrasing & Selection

• Identify musical phrases (e.g., 8, 16, 32 bars) and their importance in mixing.
• Understand basic track structure (intro, verse, chorus, etc.).
• Begin to explore how music selection impacts a DJ set.
• Start experimenting with mixing different genres.
• Incorporating headphones to cue music
• Outcome: You'll deepen your understanding of music theory in DJing, boosting your confidence in selecting and mixing music.

Week 5: Practical Application, Knowledge Demonstration & Certificate Ceremony

• Practical Application: Work through various mixing scenarios, showcasing your mastery of beatmatching, mixing techniques, and music phrasing in a supportive, hands-on environment. This is a guided practice, not a performance!
• Knowledge Demonstration: A short, informal Q&A session to reinforce key concepts.
• Certificate Ceremony: Celebrate your achievements and receive your certificate of completion
• Outcome: You'll demonstrate practical mixing skills and DJing knowledge, reinforcing learning, building confidence, and fostering a sense of accomplishment.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• The course will be presented in five 2-hour sessions and will take place in Brompton Library.
• You can sign up to the whole course only. Please book only if you can attend all five sessions.

• Confirm Your Spot: All participants who book on Eventbrite will receive an enrolment form from the tutor. YOU MUST RETURN THE FILLED ENROLMENT FORM from tutor TO CONFIRM YOUR PLACE. This is time sensitive.
• Course Structure: This course consists of five 2-hour sessions.
• Equipment: Classes are run using industry standard software, and an entry-level controller in order for participants to purchase and practice too, if they wish
• Eligibility: This course is for Full UK /Residents of London aged 19+ (priority will be given to RBKC residents).
• Frequency: You are eligible for only ONE of these courses free per academic year (01Aug-31Jul).
• Full Course Commitment: You must sign up for the entire course only. Please book only if you can commit to attending all five sessions.
• Limited Spaces: We have only 12 fully subsidized spaces available for this course, so book early to secure your spot!

DATES:

Thursday 07 August - 5pm to 7pm

Thursday 14 August - 5pm to 7pm

Thursday 21 August - 5pm to 7pm

Thursday 28 August - 5pm to 7pm

Thursday 04 September - 5pm to 7pm

Contact libraries@rbkc.gov.uk if you have any queries about booking.

ABOUT THE TUTOR:

Your instructor, DJ Tendai, also known as Petite Deejay, is a vibrant South London-based DJ with Zimbabwean roots, specializing initially in Amapiano, Afro, Soulful, Vocal, Deep, and South African House Music, and now spanning Soul, RnB, Hip Hop, EDM, JB (skate music), UK Jungle, Soca, Bashment + more. As an International Skate DJ and previous resident DJ for South Africa Tourism UK and Flippers (Dr Dre, Liberty Ross + Jimmy Irvine roller rink in Shephards bush), she's celebrated for her engaging and energetic sets, performed at top venues and brands including SkateLoveBarcelona, Soul Sessions, The Hilton Park Lane, Zimfest Festival + more. Her "Soul Seductive Session" mixes have been hosted on shows worldwide, and her passion for Afro House was featured by the BBC World News (TV).

Beyond the decks, Tendai runs DJ classes under @InspiringDJs offering 1:1 and group tuition on Vinyl, CDJs, and Controllers (connecting to laptops/usbs), and proudly welcomes individuals on the spectrum, including those with Autism, ADHD, and Dyslexia. Demonstrating her commitment to student success, those who show enthusiasm and progress are invited to DJ at networking events and cover real bookings, with students having already performed at venues like BPP Law School, Gherkin Towers, London Southbank and more. She mentors aspiring and established DJs in both technique and branding, helping them secure bookings, residencies worldwide.

Ready to start your DJ journey?

Book now and let's get you going!

This course is designed for absolute beginners, and it's a medium-sized group setting, so please limit your expectations for individualized attention to reflect this.