The first time I went to a real club, I fell in love with the way the DJ could bend the music to his will. He mixed songs to make new ones and mash ups, stretching a 4 minute song to last 10 because he had two copies and the crowd was into it. I knew I had to learn how to do what he did. I wanted to be a DJ in the worst way.
I just couldn’t figure out how. Every time I asked a DJ if they could help me, I’d get the brush off answer, “you know, it’s just about mixing the beats,” well yeah, no kidding, but how? Later I learned there is a secret club of DJ’s, and sometimes they don’t want to let you in because, well, there are only so many gigs to go around, right?
Wrong. Then I found Spun Academy. About a year of classes later and I can match beats and mix records in my spare bedroom with the best of them. And I’ve even played out a few times; I have a demo, and about 200 records. (You use records, cool! Here is my entire vinyl collection…)
Spun Academy is a local nonprofit music school that teaches classes like DJ Mixing (think smooth, barely noticeable music transitions) and DJ Scratching (wicka, wikca, scratch!), along with Music Production, Music Business and Intelligent Lighting.
Their philosophy about creating more good DJ’s is that a high tide raises all boats. Better, more skilled talent means more interest in good music, and more work for everyone.
And they’re taking students for January 2009 classes. And they have more opportunities to spin records than they had DJ’s to fill them. So hurry up. Learn. Get out there. Hello, you can even get a cool DJ name!
Open house/Registration is this Thursday, Friday, December 19 at 6:00 p.m., at the Spun Academy studio, on the MAX line across from PGE Park, 824 SW 18th Ave., 2nd Floor, Portland. If you miss Thursday Friday because there is seven feet of show and all life has stopped, tours are held every Wednesday and Friday between 5 and 7 p.m.
*Sorry, kids, for getting the day wrong. The cold has frozen my brain and halted my ability to read a calendar.
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This looks awesome. Thanks for sharing! They seem to be very secretive about pricing on the website. Do you have that information?
Thank you! Tuition varies from student to student. We have multiple paths that students can choose depending on skill level, interest, and commitment level. We are so confident in our programs that we give tuition options to students to fit their comfort level.
All of your questions can be answered by attending a tour.
Tours are held every Wednesday and Friday between 5pm and 7pm.
http://www.spunacademy.com
@Brandon you’re so confident in your programs that you won’t state how much they cost?
@Aaron –
http://www.portlandmercury.com/columns/letters-to-the-editor/Content?oid=37384
“Open house/Registration is this Thursday, December 19 at 6:00 p.m., at the Spun Academy studio, on the MAX line across from PGE Park, 824 SW 18th Ave., 2nd Floor, Portland. If you miss Thursday because there is seven feet of show and all life has stopped, tours are held every Wednesday and Friday between 5 and 7 p.m.”
FYI
Orientation is Friday, December 19th at 6:00pm.
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