Structure for DJ Lessons.

[soundinmotiondj]

This sounds like good stuff to me although I'd put PA basic and getting music last or maybe not at all. I think most people already have music collections, although a brief blurb on getting extended versions for DJ'ing might be helpful. Also, I think knowing about a PA system is not something someone needs until well AFTER they've put in a lot of hours.

I did start the section on the PA system with "...IF they will have ANY responsibilities for setting up, or even turning on the sound system...." I am not sure why there is such resistance to future DJs understanding how to hook up and turn on their equipment.

This is from a larger class I teach for mobile DJs, who are setting up and tearing down PA systems at every gig. The OPs description of the on-base club leads me to think that at least some people in the class will need to setup/install a PA system in their particular club.

I did not once mention "volt meter," or "RMS," or "Ohm's Law," or "balanced -v- unbalanced," or "unity gain" in the description of topics to cover. I did mention reading the troubleshooting section of the manual for the gear. I also hinted at knowing the difference between RCA, mic, and speaker cables. Knowing how to attach a sound interface or CDJ or 1200 to a mixer is hardly out of scope for a first time DJ (e.g. "What is the difference between a 'Line' and 'Phono' input? Which one should be used for an iPhone?").

[Chubby Racer]

I did start the section on the PA system with "...IF they will have ANY responsibilities for setting up, or even turning on the sound system...." I am not sure why there is such resistance to future DJs understanding how to hook up and turn on their equipment.

This is from a larger class I teach for mobile DJs, who are setting up and tearing down PA systems at every gig. The OPs description of the on-base club leads me to think that at least some people in the class will need to setup/install a PA system in their particular club.

I did not once mention "volt meter," or "RMS," or "Ohm's Law," or "balanced -v- unbalanced," or "unity gain" in the description of topics to cover. I did mention reading the troubleshooting section of the manual for the gear. I also hinted at knowing the difference between RCA, mic, and speaker cables. Knowing how to attach a sound interface or CDJ or 1200 to a mixer is hardly out of scope for a first time DJ (e.g. "What is the difference between a 'Line' and 'Phono' input? Which one should be used for an iPhone?").

I guess I envisioned him teaching too a bunch of I-want-to-go-back-to-the-barracks-and-spin type guys instead of i-want-to-immediately-get-in-the-box-at-the-club-with-my-own-gear. Wedding/Mobile DJs seem to fall into a hole in between: bad ones can buy gear and go out and gig, but the good ones still need to put in the practice in the bedroom first where a knowledge of the difference between speakon and XLR is probably a waste of time when you're constrained to a 4 week class.

[DubluW]

I didn't consider the soundsystem/ PA setup side of things to much depth, but now i think about it, it's definitely worth going over in detail. If anything just hammer home the importance of headroom!

[Patch]

That should be WAY down the line, mate. You want to do all the fun stuff first, to keep them interested.

Once they've learned the basics, they've actually have the appetite to learn about stuff like PA systems/headroom, etc... But if you introduce subjects like that too early on, the guys will certainly be bored by it...

[atontheproton]

When it comes to teaching people. I don't do long sessions. 45 minutes at a time is lots. Focus on one thing each time.

I generally teach beatmatching & their way around the mixer first, then phrasing & counting. Once people have that down I have let them do a solid 30 minute jam and just throw them feedback after the fact of parts they can focus on.

The craft takes skill, nobody is going to be the best right away but if you focus on improvements everytime you get together & give them genuine feedback.. it will go a long way.

Everyone knows different things, it is alot easier on a person if they are playing music they are farmiliar with, so I always suggest that people bring their own music if they can.

Where I stand I have taught 4 people how to DJ and they now hold residency's and / or play out regularly.

[joetats]

I really like the starting with the PA gear, just because once you've trained them on that they can set up. Plus, that's a very straightforward thing that military folks will be able to pick up almost instantly. (plug this in here, not here, turn this on first or bad things happen, etc). This is also how I got into my 'crew' when I started, and was a good building block.

Once you have that, then you can move into music, and really use their own experiences as to what they like compared to what they don't like when they go out. I know for me, being someone that got into DJing before I started going to bars, I was very prejudiced to what I wanted at first, and couldn't figure out why others didn't like that.

If these guys are already going to bars, they have a good idea of what works, if only because if it works for them it's probably working for the rest of the crowd. They just have to be able to use that superb situational awareness they already have, but now just to read a crowd for their enjoyment.

Other than that, soundinmotiondj's response is probably more than I could have ever come up with, and seems perfect.

[soundinmotiondj]

Bump.

Any progress to report?

[DubluW]

I do indeed!

Unfortunately due to busybody politics on the base and a slight misdameanor our bar had, the space where i could do such lessons is currently off limits.

Im currently digging for some money from the station fund to get their bar squared away as it's poor condition and has no booth as such. I can transport my kit there each week, but their soundsystem is pretty poor. I'll definitely post an update when i get it all squared away!

[Patch]

slight misdameanor

Understatement?

[DubluW]

Understatement?

Something like that.....