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Teaching the kids.

c0r Summary: If you were going to try and give an 8th grader a solid education in the fundamentals of DJ'ing, how would you do it?

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So I'm taking on a bit of a project right now - the cliffs notes version of it is that a very close friend of our family is going through a messy divorce, and the only child caught in the middle of it (a best friend of my youngest sister) really just needs some distractions, so we're trying to provide them.

He's 13, and very, very interested in DJ'ing and electronic music. He's got a good head on his shoulders as far as being a kid who already knows the difference between Chicago House and Detroit Techno, and really has taken an interest in learning to DJ. He also has what I think is impeccable taste for a young guy - all the more reason to try to get him started.

Normally, I'm not a huge fan of trying to teach like this - it's just difficult for me to convey what to do in terms simple enough for others to learn, but because this kid really does seem enthralled with EDM and DJ'ing, and because I'd like to do my part to help him stay positive through all this, I really want to try and do what I can to show him the ropes.

So basically I need some advice from you all - how would you go about teaching a 13 year old the basics? Obviously beatmatching is one of the first steps - but I really don't know what the best way to approach this all will be, and I figure if I at least got you all talking about it with me, we might be able to sort some decent ideas out.

Cheers.

take him to a good record store and let him go crazy

quote:

Originally posted by nefardec take him to a good record store and let him go crazy

This is not so much a possibility where I'm from

You'd probably approach it different ways depending on if he has any kind of musical background or not.

My younger brother plays saxophone, sang in choir, and has a good musical foundation. He already has a good ear and understands timing/phrasing/etc. I'd probably be able to teach him much more quickly than one of my buddies who have no clue and just wanna be teh sweet DJ.

I'd get strait to the point... show him your setup, play some jams, teach him a thing or 2, and then let him loose on it. I'm sure he'll love it enough to buy a setup of his own, and then he's home free.

quote:

Originally posted by epdarks I'd get strait to the point... show him your setup, play some jams, teach him a thing or 2, and then let him loose on it. I'm sure he'll love it enough to buy a setup of his own, and then he's home free.

A 13 year old with parents in the middle of a divorce likely doesn't have the resources to get a proper DJ setup.

As such, perhaps consider Traktor as an alternative (if he already has a computer), or just do the "Big Brother" thing and let him keep playing on your equipment for a long time.

quote:

Originally posted by david.michael You'd probably approach it different ways depending on if he has any kind of musical background or not. My younger brother plays saxophone, sang in choir, and has a good musical foundation. He already has a good ear and understands timing/phrasing/etc. I'd probably be able to teach him much more quickly than one of my buddies who have no clue and just wanna be teh sweet DJ.

Yeah - I am really unsure of his musical background, so I guess that'd be a good conversation to have. The nice thing is I *think* he's still completely oblivious to the notion of a "Superstar DJ" - he really only cares about the music, and has only been exposed to kind of lower end/local DJ's, so I really do not think his interest has anything to do with much beyond just loving all sorts of electronic music.

Part of why I'm willing to do this is just because I think he's got real potential to do well at it - he digs for music harder than a lot of working DJ's I know, all without the added baggage of thinking "Would I play this?", as he's only digging for his own enjoyment.

If I can help one kid grow up without having total fucking shit for taste in music, I'll be really, really proud.

quote:

Originally posted by david.michael A 13 year old with parents in the middle of a divorce likely doesn't have the resources to get a proper DJ setup. As such, perhaps consider Traktor as an alternative (if he already has a computer), or just do the "Big Brother" thing and let him keep playing on your equipment for a long time.

Actually, as odd as this may sound, if he got into it I don't think it would take long for his father to get him a setup of his own. His dad is fairly well to do, and really a great father who encourages his kid to pursue whatever it is that will make him happy. I think if he saw that his kid was committed to playing (i.e. I definitely plan on just letting him use my decks whenever while this all gets sorted out), it wouldn't take much for him to get his own little initial setup.

Lol...are u serious? Maybe u should get him involved in another hobby, like rock climbing, or something related to where u live. At 13, I would not be pushing a young boy into the DJ world. With his background, he needs a more positive environment.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT Actually, as odd as this may sound, if he got into it I don't think it would take long for his father to get him a setup of his own. His dad is fairly well to do, and really a great father who encourages his kid to pursue whatever it is that will make him happy. I think if he saw that his kid was committed to playing (i.e. I definitely plan on just letting him use my decks whenever while this all gets sorted out), it wouldn't take much for him to get his own little initial setup.

Bonus.

There's not one way to do this ofcourse. If I were you I would just start listening to tracks with him and find out together what tracks he likes and are fun to begin with (e.g. simple beat/bass structures for beatmatching). And then just go and play. Let him see what the mixer does, how pitching works, what cueing is and how it works and why. And also for the beatmatching part, ofcourse show with two faders open how tracks are aligned so that he can hear the difference between trainwrecking and getting tracks to play the same tempo.

And be sure to stay away from the jesus pose But hey, if he's already into it and I know you are then just go with it. If he has talent he'll be mixing right away

quote:

Originally posted by KiNeTiC ENeRgY Lol...are u serious? Maybe u should get him involved in another hobby, like rock climbing, or something related to where u live. At 13, I would not be pushing a young boy into the DJ world. With his background, he needs a more positive environment.

DJing is not inherently negative. I find it QUITE positive and therapeutic, myself.

Considering the attitude the kid already has towards it, I think it's a great idea.

quote:

Originally posted by KiNeTiC ENeRgY Lol...are u serious? Maybe u should get him involved in another hobby, like rock climbing, or something related to where u live. At 13, I would not be pushing a young boy into the DJ world. With his background, he needs a more positive environment.

What world am I pushing him into? I'm helping him get into something he was already in to - I'd really like to know why you think I shouldn't be?



There are douchebag rock climbers out there too you know.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT What world am I pushing him into? I'm helping him get into something he was already in to - I'd really like to know why you think I shouldn't be?

This has failure and drug addiction all over it, for starters. Don't believe me, I don't really care and don't need your shit =)

quote:

Originally posted by KiNeTiC ENeRgY This has failure and drug addiction all over it, for starters. Don't believe me, I don't really care and don't need your shit =)

What the hell?



So basically you're being an asshole just for the sake of being an asshole?

Nice one, I hope you're entertained.

quote:

Originally posted by KiNeTiC ENeRgY This has failure and drug addiction all over it, for starters. Don't believe me, I don't really care and don't need your shit =)

Yeah, teach a kid to play guitar and he'll blow his brains out like Kurt Cobain too.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT What the hell? So basically you're being an asshole just for the sake of being an asshole? Nice one, I hope you're entertained.

Not really entertained, or trying to be an ass. if u see it that way well that's your issue. I would not steer any young kids in my family into this world. You should know better, but maybe not. Don't be so defensive either, it's my opinion on an open board.

Hobby, yes, career path, no.

quote:

Originally posted by epdarks Hobby, yes, career path, no.

By the time he is even able to decide on this as a career path, he's a big enough boy to make his own decisions and Uncle Robby isn't going to cram any meth down his lungs.

quote:

Originally posted by KiNeTiC ENeRgY Not really entertained, or trying to be an ass. if u see it that way well that's your issue. I would not steer any young kids in my family into this world. You should know better, but maybe not. Don't be so defensive either, it's my opinion on an open board.

Your opinion is seriously fucked if you think encouraging someone to get into DJ'ing at a young age means steering them into anything other than learning how to DJ.

You're basically saying that getting someone into DJ'ing is going to ruin their lives for absolutely no reason what-so-ever, which really leads me to believe your participation in this thread serves no purpose other than to be a dickhead troll.

It isn't about being defensive, it's calling it like I see it. You have raised absolutely no good reason to support your vehement opposition to teaching kids how to DJ.

Edit: And just to clear up any confusion - I never had any intention of telling this kid he could make a career out of DJ'ing. I can't imagine why anyone would think I would.

Go for it i say!

Agree with teaching him from tracktor/virtual dj .. Would be a great way to visually learn the very basics about how music works. Show him the difference between 120-125 songs and 130-135 songs and explain how it just dosent work to mix fast songs/slower songs etc..

Introduce him to the setup, explain the functions of it all.. CUEing is the main lesson here.. Put two of the same tracks on and let him go for awhile.. jump in every once in a bit to help out.. Go from there..

I think its a great thing your doing, Wish anyone was able to visually teach me howto DJ but all i got was a few pointers over IM and a few links for DJ applications.. Was an absolute trainwreck.. Kept trying to mix trance with happy hardcore ??? Where the fuck were you 6 yrs ago huh!?

Jesus Christ, I'm nearly 32 and I don't know the difference between Chicago House and Detroit Techno!

I like the idea of something like Virtual DJ for starters. It gives a good visual representation of what is going on in a particular track, and it would give him the option of focusing on things like phrasing and EQing since it would auto beat match (should he so choose).

Now, with that said, there is NO substitute for standing behind some actual kit and hammering out tunes. I know I wore out Virtual DJ before I got my turntables, and even though it was fun it's a poor substitute for tactile sensation.

With so much going on in the digital world these days, I can't help but wonder if a laptop + midi controller is the way to go for someone just starting out. Ultra portable and virtually unlimited access to tunes. I'm replacing the bulk of my vinyl with mp3s now, and I can see this is probably the route I should have gone.

Thanks loads for the suggestions guys! I actually think a combination of Traktor/Decks might work best, and have been meaning to invest in Scratch for a while, so maybe I'll do that soon.

That way, I figure I can ignore the "sync" function all together, and explain pitch and beatmatching with the waveform display as a visual aid.

If his beats slip put his hand to the stove.


It works so well.

I hear molly is a great teacher

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