DJ SHORT COURSE w/ Nick Toth
10 weeks / 9 sessions / 2 hours each / 1 Graduation
Week 1:
• Introduction - course overview - learning outcomes / dream & aspirations
• Brief history of DJing & electronic music – from reggae to hip hop, house, EDM, trap & drill
• Equipment overview – from turntables to CDJs & controllers – different software options
• P.A. set up – signal flow – jargon – troubleshooting
• Intro to your equipment – basic features of DJ controller – loading tracks
• Intro to Serato DJ – file types & management – sourcing your music
• Cueing a track – how to locate the first ‘cue point’ – practice time & questions
Week 2:
By week 2 all students must bring with them:
A laptop w Serato DJ Lite installed (https://serato.com/dj/lite/downloads).
A DJ controller compatible with Serato DJ Lite (e.g. Pioneer DDJ Rev1) not Rekordbox or Traktor etc.
A pair of DJ headphones.
Week 2 cont:
• Basic beat matching techniques – cue points – jog wheel – learning to listen
• How to correct out of sync tracks – how to read waves forms
• Beat matching with 2 copies of the same instrumental – practice time
• Your first beat mix transition – using volume faders / monitors / headphones
• Serato DJ – file management on your HD – importing & analyzing files
Week 3:
• Setting BpM – beat matching using pitch tempo slider
• Jog wheel modes & techniques – practise time & feedback
• Intro to music structure – beats/bars/intro/outro – different genres of music
• Serato DJ – setting hot cue points – how to use the performance pads
Week 4:
• Beat mix transitions using intro & outro markers – practise time & feeback
• Finetune your beat matching/mixing/cueing – troubleshooting
• Sourcing your music – file types (MP3/WAV/AAC/etc) – sample/bit rate – dos & don’ts
• Planning a set – concept – dynamics
• Serato DJ – organizing your music – crates/sub-crates/track info
Week 5:
• Enhancing your performance with EQ mixing/bass transitions
• Serato DJ – how/when to use internal mode – FX basics
• Start building your set – practise time & feedback
Week 6
• Working with different genres of music / different styles of Djing
• Intro to scratching & other turntable techniques
• Build your 20min set – practise time & feedback
Week 7
• Review your recorded set & give feedback
• Serato DJ – advanced features – ‘setup’ tab – FX
• Music industry intro – roles (artist/manager/agent/booker/etc) – professional conduct
• Business admin basics – invoicing – tax
• Rehearse your 20min set – practise time & feedback
Week 8
• Review your recorded set & give feedback
• Copyright basics – composition vs master rights – licenses (APRA)
• How to create your own live remix/mash-up
• Marketing for DJs – ‘you are your brand’ – free/paid platforms – social media
• Prep for week 9 – performance tips & hacks
• One on one practical – 20min set run through – fine tuning
• Homework: rehearse your set & record/film yourself
Week 9
• Prep for graduation– performance tips & hacks
• One on one practical – 20min set run through – fine tuning
• Homework: rehearse your set & record/film yourself
Week 10
• LIVE Performance at external venue (Your Time To Shine)
