Most reputable DJ schools in North America?

[papo]

I thought the same thing until I visited their office for open house. Mind you, I also learned by just watching and trial/error ever since I was 13, so I kind of had the same thoughts as you. (I am 27 now).

Anyways, I went to this with an "open-mind" as I just wanted to check it out. The open-house went on for about an hour and a half.

They spoke about the different classes and what they had to offer, etc..

What I like most about this place, especially for people starting off, is that apart from the classes, you have unlimited access to their equipment and music (loads of vinyl). (Awesome for someone who do not have equipment and can test out different setups before making a purchase). Think of it as a gym membership. They allow you to use their facilities whenever you want (obviously as long as they open) giving you access to their equipment, their vinyl collection, and network with everyone that is there.

They even give you exposure, as they have the graduates perform a live set at a local bar or lounge with all the other "classmates". Something like your "Final Exam"....

For those who are serious about music and spend loads of money on equipment, I think the networking itself is worth it. Even for one semester, one class.

If you been doing it for a long time, it does seem kinda cool to possibly learn some new things thru the experience of guys like Shiftee and Endo and be able to pick their brains. Seems like a waist though, if all they're doing is teaching you basics...anyone could really do that. It's like paying Q-bert to teach you how to properly backspin

They have different courses depending on skill level. I think a lot of us here would be skilled enough to skip all of the beginner's courses. I'm interested in the 2nd scratch course, where do they do not go over basic mixing skills. They go right into more complex scratching that you can incorporate into your mixes and sets.

Note: This was my experience based on the Scratch Academy located in Miami, Fl.. Can't speak for any other ones, as I have never visited, but I would imagine they would offer pretty much the same thing.

[princesultan]

nice post papo. basically, they teach more than simply learning how to beatmatch.

[princesultan]

also papo, were you interested in learning as a scratch dj? or electronic music mixing? do you think scratch academy is leaning more towards 1 of those styles?

[papo]

I don't consider myself a scratch DJ as I mix to mostly EDM. However, I did go with interest on learning how to incorporate some scratching in my sets when I do play some Hip-Hop.

I know the scratch courses definitely lean towards the Hip-Hop scene. I don't really know enough to speak about the mixing courses.

[princesultan]

ok cool, thanks.

[djproben]

Anyone talking smack about Scratch Academy classes hasn't tried them. In general, nothing beats hands-on instruction from people who know what they're doing. I took classes at Scratch for a few years (in LA) and got something out of every class I took. Reasonably priced and really great (mostly) well-organized instruction from working professional DJs (most of whom are well-known, at least in LA, and I'm sure it is true in other cities). I wish they had more class options but the ones they have are pretty great.

[princesultan]

what type of classes did you take?

[djproben]

almost every class they had. I already had about ten years experience when I took the classes so I didn't bother with 101 but I took all the other mixing classes, the scratching and beat juggling classes, and the production class (at the time it was just one class, beatmaking, I think they have three now).

[princesultan]

almost every class they had. I already had about ten years experience when I took the classes so I didn't bother with 101 but I took all the other mixing classes, the scratching and beat juggling classes, and the production class (at the time it was just one class, beatmaking, I think they have three now).

so do they lean more heavily on hip-hop or electronic music?

[djproben]

definitely hip-hop, remember Scratch Academy was started by Jam Master Jay in NYC; that said though, everyone I worked with was extremely open-minded about music, and when I played electronic music as well as old funk, people really dug it. The mixing principles are mostly the same, and certainly it makes no difference for the scratching and beat juggling classes.