Objective: Understand the history and fundamentals of vinyl DJing, and learn how to set up your turntables and equipment properly.

• The History of Vinyl DJing: An overview of the origins of vinyl DJing and its role in the evolution of modern DJ culture.
• Equipment Overview: Introduction to turntables, mixers, cartridges, and needles.
• Setting Up Your Turntables: Proper setup for vinyl, balancing tonearms, adjusting tracking force, and setting anti-skate.
• Understanding the Mixer: Basic features of a DJ mixer (crossfader, EQ, gain, effects) and how to use them with vinyl.
• Connecting Your Gear: How to connect your turntables, mixer, and sound system correctly to avoid distortion and technical issues.

Objective: Learn how to choose the right vinyl records for your sets and maintain your vinyl and equipment for optimal performance.

• Choosing Vinyl Records: Tips on building a diverse and interesting vinyl collection with various genres, tempos, and vibes.
• Understanding Vinyl Pressings: Differences between 33 RPM, 45 RPM, and 78 RPM records; identifying different types of vinyl pressings.
• Vinyl Maintenance: How to clean and care for your vinyl records to prevent wear and damage.
• Turntable Care: Maintaining your turntables, tonearm, and needle for longevity and optimal sound quality.
• Organizing Your Vinyl: How to organize your collection to quickly find tracks during a set.

Objective: Learn the foundational skill of beatmatching, a key technique for seamless vinyl mixing.

• Understanding BPM: How to determine the beats per minute (BPM) of a track and match tempos for smooth transitions.
• Manual Beatmatching: Learn to match the tempo of two tracks by ear using pitch control and the platter.
• Cueing & Mixing Techniques: How to use headphones to cue up tracks, adjust pitch, and find the right moments to mix.
• Beatmatching Drills: Practice beatmatching with different genres of vinyl to sharpen your timing and rhythm.
• Basic Transitions: Learn how to transition between two vinyl tracks using volume faders, EQ adjustments, and crossfading.

Objective: Master the art of mixing two vinyl records seamlessly for a professional DJ performance.

• EQing for Smooth Mixes: How to use EQ (bass, mid, treble) to avoid clashing frequencies and create smooth transitions.
• Using the Crossfader: Learn how to use the crossfader effectively for smooth transitions between tracks.
• Phasing & Panning: Understanding how phasing works with vinyl and using panning to create balance between tracks.
• Creative Transitions: Learn techniques like drops, filters, and fades to create dynamic transitions that add excitement to your set.
• Mixing in Key: Introduction to harmonic mixing and how to match the key of tracks for smoother, more musical transitions.

Objective: Get introduced to the art of scratching and basic turntablism techniques to add creativity to your mixes.

• The Fundamentals of Scratching: Learn basic scratch techniques such as the baby scratch, forward scratch, and transform scratch.
• Using the Crossfader for Scratching: How to use the crossfader to manipulate the sound while scratching.
• Chopping & Cutting: Learn how to chop beats and sample sections of a track for more dynamic mixes.
• Turntablism Tricks: Introduction to advanced turntablism tricks like flares, crabs, and hydroplanes (advanced students).
• Scratch Patterns: How to practice and incorporate scratching into your live sets without disrupting the flow of the music.

Objective: Learn how to read the crowd and build a vinyl set that creates the perfect atmosphere in any venue.

• Building a Tracklist: How to plan your set, choose tracks, and organize your vinyl records based on energy levels.
• Reading the Crowd: Understanding crowd energy and adjusting your selections in real-time to keep the dancefloor moving.
• Flowing Between Genres: How to smoothly transition between different genres and tempos to keep the vibe fresh.
• Building a Set for a Specific Event: Tailoring your set to the vibe of different events, whether it’s a club night, party, or private event.
• Audience Interaction: Tips for engaging with the crowd through your performance and creating memorable moments.

Objective: Elevate your mixing skills with advanced techniques and creative ways to manipulate vinyl records live.

• Advanced Beatmatching Techniques: Learn to blend tracks with different BPMs and incorporate variations in tempo.
• Live Remixing with Vinyl: Using looping, backspins, and other turntablism tricks to remix tracks on the fly.
• Layering Sounds: How to layer multiple tracks, acapellas, or effects using vinyl records for more dynamic performances.
• Live Edits: Creating live edits by manipulating tracks (stopping, restarting, re-looping) for creative sets.
• Using Effects: How to incorporate external effects (delay, reverb, flanger) into your vinyl mixes for added depth.

Objective: Gain the confidence and knowledge to perform live, troubleshoot technical issues, and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

• Live Performance Preparation: How to prepare your vinyl, organize your set, and get ready for a flawless performance.
• Dealing with Technical Issues: How to troubleshoot turntable and mixer problems on the fly (e.g., skipping records, distortion, equipment failure).
• Stage Presence & Audience Engagement: Tips for connecting with your audience, maintaining energy, and reading the vibe of the room.
• Recording Your Set: How to record your vinyl DJ sets and create mixes for future promotion.
• Promoting Yourself as a Vinyl DJ: How to use social media, online platforms, and networking to grow your DJ brand and get gigs.

Students should have a basic ability to create music productions, including a working knowledge of musical terms and concepts.

Hardware Requirements. / Optional

• Direct Drive Turntables (We Have In-House Equipment For Students To Use)
• DJ Mixer (We Have In-House Equipment For Students To Use)
• Headphones
• Vinyl Records (4 Piece Minimum) Must have Instrumental, Acapella, & Original Song On Vinyl