Six-week online course in DJing launched by Guildhall School of Music & Drama

A six-week online course in DJing has been launched by Guildhall School of Music & Drama. 

The programme is led by London-based drum & bass stalwart DJ Sweetpea, and is open to anyone aged 18 and over who wants to learn how to identify tempos, time signatures, and the art of a great blend. No prior skills are required, and female-identifying candidates are encouraged to apply. Technical setup and three-channel mixing will also be on the syllabus. 

“Whether you’ve just bought some decks or are thinking about it, this course could be for you. Over the six-week period, I’ll be teaching you not only how to set up and play your equipment but also about the history of DJing and how it’s come to be a multibillion-pound industry,” said DJ Sweetpea. 

“Touching on music theory, we’re going to dissect a track to its core components and look at how we can use music as a catalyst for the mood of our audience, bringing energy to our sets,” she continued. “This course will be entry-level, so I’m looking forward to meeting some new artists who are thinking about getting involved. Music technology and DJing is so accessible these days you don’t need to spend lots on equipment. We will also look at where to buy or get your hands on apps to mix.”

You can learn more and apply for the course here. 

The course is among a number of new offerings at the institution, which also include six weeks of online learning in Film Composition for intermediate skill levels, Jazz History 1942-1959, and an Introduction to the Music Business. The Guildhall School of Music and Drama is a conservatoire located in London, with a history dating to 1880.

In 2019, several UK exam boards decided to allow high school music students to play turntables, CDJs, controllers and laptops instead of traditional instruments in their music courses. The same year, Youth Music began lobbying to have electronic music replace classical in school settings.