dj Drills - Modules

 How To Become a DJ

When you’re learning how to DJ, you’re actually learning to match your own musical expressions with the desires of an audience. It isn’t just matching beats, or scratching over songs. It’s about being observant, empathetic, and reactive.

Contrary to popular belief, Learning how to DJ is not an easy route to overnight success. This takes work, and hustle, time and practice. It’s not difficult to start. But it is difficult to stand out, and to be exceptional. DJ Drills is DJ lessons for all ages and skill levels, that can teach you how to become an exceptional DJ and prepare you for a career of fun and opportunity. Serving Tampa, Clearwater, and Saint Petersburg areas. Get your DJ instructions today by calling 727-678-9264. Perfect class for young kids that want to get started early with the art form of DJ'ing. Learn from a Professional DJ of over 25 years experience in the DJ world. 

 What do Dj's do?

There are many different kinds of DJs, and many different reasons for those DJs to exist. Let’s start with getting serious about YOU: What kind of DJ are you interested in becoming?

Each club has a different feel, reputation, and audience… which also means that clubs vary in what they expect from their musical selection. Typically, the job of the resident DJ at a night club is to maintain a moving dance floor. Often, club DJs will perform long blends (transitions) between songs, or some other trickery to keep people’s feet moving.

This DJ must know how to ramp the energy up and down, and  maintain a balance between an active dance floor, and a busy bar.

People go to see this DJ because of who they are, their reputation, and what people think they can do behind the decks. Their mixes are displays of raw skill, impressive tricks, and clever transitions.

The “exhibitionist” DJs fit here, such as turntablists (e.g. those who focus on cutting and scratching), “controllerists”, and other types of live performers.

These are the ones who perform at your wedding, set the tone for your corporate event, or provide a memorable prom party.

Often the entrepreneurial type, mobile DJs have a lot of things to keep track of. In some cases, they are solely responsible for the setup and teardown of equipment, planning the show, managing the crowd, and making any announcements.

This kind of DJ often needs to be comfortable with taking requests (and sometimes even entire playlists), speaking into a microphone, and investing in sound equipment.

The concept of the DJ owes it’s origins to radio.

The radio DJ’s job varies greatly, from the person who announces the weather between songs, to full-on music curation.

While many corporate radio DJs have lost control over the music, the art lives on in podcast format.

What is your goal as a DJ? 

Do you have stars in your eyes? Want to start a business? Starting your own podcast? Are you just doing this for fun?

There are a lot of reasons that you may wish to learn how to become a DJ. The most important thing is to be completely honest about what those reasons are.

And since we’re being completely honest… don’t count on success, if your sole purpose is to get rich and famous.

That’s not to say that you cannot make money, nor does it mean that you shouldn’t shoot for the stars.

Many people become DJs, but very few become superstars. You have to hustle, you have to love it, and you have to work on it even when it you don't have the time.

Standing out takes a lot of hard work, and a bit of luck.

Many people want to DJ because they love music and the idea of sharing it with a receptive audience. Many will attempt to use it as a tool to get laid. Some want it as a source of income.

Whatever the reason is, identify it so that you can act accordingly.

It’s not always sunshine and rainbows; there are some important considerations when deciding to actively pursue DJing as a “career”.

Are your kids and teens ready to drop the beat and take their love for music to the next level? This spring and summer is a great time to keep them stimulated and learning by letting them dive into the world of DJing with our  immersive program designed for young music enthusiasts who want to learn the art of mixing, scratching, and beat matching music like a pro!

Program Highlights: 🎧 Hands-on Training – Learn from professional DJs with years of experience in the industry. 🎚️ Mixing & Scratching – Master the techniques behind seamless transitions, beat matching, and turntablism. 💻 Digital DJing & Production – Explore cutting-edge DJ software, controllers, and digital music production tools. 🎵 Music Curation & Creativity – Develop a unique style and build an impressive music library. 🎤 Live Performance Skills – Gain confidence in front of an audience and learn the essentials of stage presence.

Who Can Join?
✔️ Kids & teens who love music and want to learn DJing
✔️ No prior experience required—just bring your passion and energy!
✔️ Equipment provided, or bring your own setup!

🎶 At the end of the program, participants will showcase their skills at a Live DJ Showcase, where family and friends can see them rock the decks and record the live mix. 

Give your child the gift of music and creativity this break! Limited spots available—sign up today!

Contact DJ Drills at 727-678-9264 for your spot in the class schedule

 There are a number of basic skills to consider when learning how to become a DJ: mixing, EQing, phrasing, beatmatching, and prep. We’re going to cover them briefly.

The purpose of beat-matching is to get two tracks playing at the same tempo (the speed at which the song is playing) and phase (the beats from both tracks playing in-time with each other).

Think about it like two cars driving next to each other on the highway.

• 🎵 Tempo is speed, such as 60 MPH.
• 🎤 Phrase is having the song tell a story like a paragraph of a book. 

Beat-matching is accomplished using a pitch fader to adjust tempo. You use a jog wheel, pitch-bend button, or the physical manipulation of a record to adjust phase.

Arguably, technology has made this skill obsolete. All the major DJ software and hardware packages, have built-in sync functionality. You’ll quickly find this to be a point of contention in the DJ community

So is it even necessary to learn how to beat-match, when there is such a thing as a sync button?

Perhaps not. But it’s a great idea anyway.

Firstly, it gives you the ability to beat-mix on anything. Turntables, for example, require you to do this manually.

More importantly, it helps to develop and tune your ears so that you know what to listen for. The practice of manual beat-matching results in a much more trained ear, and a more confident DJ.

You can always come back to this later, but I think learning to beat-match early is a great idea.

Contact DJ Drills at 727-678-9264 for your spot in the class schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

Nope! Our lessons cater to all skill levels, whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your technique. We'll guide you through everything—from understanding equipment to beatmatching, mixing, and performing live.

If you have a DJ controller, turntables, or a mixer, that’s great! But if not, no worries—our lessons include guidance on choosing the right gear, and we offer hands-on training with our equipment so you can learn before making a purchase.

It depends on your dedication and practice! Most students get comfortable with basic mixing techniques within a few weeks, while mastering advanced skills like scratching and seamless transitions can take a few months. Regular practice and live experience will speed up your progress!

Let me know if you want me to tweak these or add more! 🎧🔥

Contact DJ Drills at 727-678-9264 for your spot in the class schedule