In the hugely competitive club music industry, the number of talented artists battling for a small number of DJ slots is constantly rising. Therefore any edge that gives you an advantage over a fellow aspiring DJ can be crucial. This perhaps explains why so many people are turning to professionally taught DJ courses to reach that next level.
With so many DJ courses available and the impending investment of a large chunk of your bank balance, choosing where to go can be a daunting task though.
Firstly you need to ask yourself what level you are starting from and for how long would you like to study?
If you have never touched a set of decks before then it makes sense to seek out a beginners course but if you already know how to beat-match you may feel ready to move onto more complex techniques such as scratching and using more than two decks. Your best bet if you are on a tight budget, in terms of money or time, may be a crash course over a week or weekend. But a longer course would arguably give you better overall value as you have time to practice, let the new techniques sink in and have access to a professional tutor to answer any questions that crop up during that time.
Secondly, what location suits you?
Perhaps you would like to take the opportunity to venture to pastures new or even study abroad. Or if you are unable to move within commuting distance of a DJ school, it is worth checking out one of the many online courses available.
Don’t rush in to it!
Now is the time to scour the internet and conduct some in-depth research on your potential destinations. If available, request to be sent the prospectus as these may contain some additional information to the website.
Find out who the tutors are and research their credentials; for instance if you are interested in DJing Hip Hop then you will gain more from a tutor with experience in that genre. Taking a DJ course also represents a fantastic opportunity to start generating some industry contacts through your tutors, so take into account who they have worked with in the past and if they still have links within the scene that you want to break into.
Feedback from actual students who have attended the institution is often the best indicator of the experience to expect. The web is a brimming resource of this sort of discussion, so find some relevant forums and search ‘DJ courses’ within them. If you can’t find what you are looking for be proactive and post the question yourself; invariably people are happy to pass on their knowledge and advice. For additional information on selecting a school visit DJ courses.
Once you have narrowed your options down, pay them a visit for a look round, most colleges provide regular guest tours on which you can see the facilities first hand. It’s a chance to get a feel for the general atmosphere of the place, find out how up to date the equipment is and ask any other burning questions that you may have.
If you follow the guidelines in this article on finding a DJ course and combine it with hard work and determination, then opportunities to play out in bars and clubs will soon fall your way and your DJ career will get the kick-start it needs.
