If you were 13, what would you learn to be a dj?

I say virtual dj is probably the best way to go, It was the first program i bought, I learned how to use it in about 10 minutes its simple cheap and fun to play with and you can do pretty much everything you can do with traktor just simplified and there are certain parameters the program sticks to to make a good sound where as traktor is a bit more expressive.
Ableton is a more complicated software which gives the user more freedom of expression, and construction of digital compositions,
If you wanna impress them going the dj mashing up tunes and different styles of music
if you wanna insipre them go with production and digital composition.

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Originally Posted by biosyn

....MHO it would be more productive to teach them the basics of production and navigating around a DAW....

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+1

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If you want to enthuse your class, then above all the lessons should be fun. Shouldn't be hard as music IS fun. Don't bog them down with MIDI or technical stuff, this is a taster course yes?
Skills that can help the kids with a career in music can be taught later. What you need to do is to inspire them to pursue music.

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Originally Posted by HerbStrike

I say virtual dj is probably the best way to go

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+1
Being 14, I started with Virtual DJ two years a go and found it quite easy. But how will you have them all playing at the same time?? And you cant really have headphones to cue, because they'd all need soundcards.

Thanks for all the help guys,

I'm probably going to start out with the free version of the DAW from mutools.com, then get into some of the basics of djing with some for real equipment, and then show the kids mixxx. Aside from not wanting to drop $4000 for the licenses to outfit our computer lab with virtual dj and ableton, hopefully, the kids can use the open source programs at home if they really get into it.

You could start with basics and introduce them to waveforms, EQ, etc with free versions of Audacity.