DJ Crash Courses London
Personalised 4-week intensive DJ courses designed to help you learn your desired skills in no time.
CUSTOM DJ COURSES DESIGNED FOR YOU
Our DJ crash courses are designed for people at varying stages in their DJ journey with specific goals and skills in mind that they'd like to learn.
Wherever you're at, we can create a series of tailored sessions to meet your specific needs and help you learn the relevant concepts and techniques for your level.
Our 4-week crash courses are ideal for:
Students looking to fast-track their learning and get better, quicker
Beginner DJs looking to learn the basics the right way
Intermediate DJs keen to further their learning and develop new skills
Bedroom DJs aiming to master pro DJ gear and prepare for gigs
Music fans and ravers inspired to learn how the pros do it after going to their favourite festivals or nightclubs
Key Benefits
PERSONALISED COURSES
Let us know your goals and what you want to learn, and we'll do our best to put together optimised sessions focusing on your specific requests, so you're not wasting hours sifting through irrelevant content.
INSTANT FEEDBACK
Something you can't get from watching a YouTube video. Receive constant direction while you practice, along with tips and tricks to improve your technique and develop your understanding of key concepts.
GAIN CONFIDENCE
It's hard to know if what you're doing is right when you're self-taught, and some of our students come to us simply looking for reassurance that they're not making any mistakes. Receiving confirmation that you're on the right track, along with guidance to make improvements, can give you the confidence boost to take the next steps, whether that's starting a radio show or playing your first club gigs.
MASTER PRO DJ GEAR
Club-standard DJ gear is crazy expensive, so most people aren't going to have the kit at home. But if you're wanting to step up and play gigs, it's important to know your way around the equipment, so you can deal with any situation and avoid surprises when playing your first gigs. With our courses, you can get familiar with pro equipment for a fraction of the cost.
DEVELOP YOUR OWN STYLE
It's important for DJs to stand out from the crowd, it's what sets you apart from everyone else and will help you to build your own unique following. So once you've nailed the basics, we can help you work on finding and defining your sound. Explore different mixing styles, refine your track selection, and infuse elements of your own style into your mixes.
FROM BASIC DJ SKILLS TO ADVANCED MIXING TECHNIQUES
What do you learn in London DJ courses? With our DJ crash courses, that's up to you!
Let us know any questions you have and what you'd like to achieve from the course, and we can customise the sessions to answer all your questions and help you get to the level you want to be.
Each session is flexible and can be as open or as structured as you like. Below are some examples of how our courses can be structured for different skill levels, but you're free to take the sessions in whatever direction you like. You might want to skim through a lot of areas in one session to grasp the basics, or spend a whole session just learning to mix on three decks. The choice is yours!
Beginner DJ
GET STARTED - LEARN THE BASICS
In a beginner DJ course, we’d generally avoid diving too deep into theory and more advanced techniques to avoid overwhelm, instead focusing on getting a good grasp of the essential concepts and reinforcing the muscle memory for processes you'll use in every transition.
Week 1
WHERE TO DOWNLOAD MUSIC
Discover free and paid options for downloading or streaming music such as Beatport, Soundcloud, or Tidal, so you can start building your DJ library
DJ SOFTWARE
Get familiar with the layout and features of Rekordbox, Virtual DJ, Traktor or Serato with tips on analysing your tracks for BPM and key info, and important settings to get you set up properly
EQUIPMENT
Get to know the core features of a club-standard setup or your own DJ controller, such as jog wheels, faders and EQs.
BEATMATCHING
Learn to beat match with headphones using the two main techniques of modern beatmatching - matching the tempo with the pitch fader, and pitch bending with the jog wheels to align tracks
Week 2
EXPORTING PLAYLISTS
Learn how to export your playlists from Rekordbox to a USB to use on CDJs
TRACK STRUCTURE
Learn about the building blocks of music - beats, bars and phrases - as well as the main sections they form in electronic music tracks
MIXING
Get started with basic transitions using the channel faders and EQs to blend tracks while keeping an eye on mix levels
PHRASING
Learn the most important concept in DJing and discover the best phrasing options to create seamless mixes
HARMONIC MIXING
Discover the camelot wheel and learn how the Traffic Light feature in Rekordbox and on CDJs can help you identify tracks that are harmonically matched, enabling you to mix in key and create flawless blends
Week 3
MIXING
Experiment with different types of transitions and develop a deeper understanding of when to bring in and fade out tracks with EQ and filtering tips for smoother transitions
LOOPING
Learn how to set auto and manual loops and the main reasons to use them, with tips on how to get clean loops with quantize, how to adjust loop length, and when to exit loops
FX
Learn how common effects such as filters, echo, and reverb work, as well as simple ways to apply Color FX and Beat FX to your mixes to improve your transitions
CUE POINTS
Learn how to set hot cues and memory cues to ensure your tracks are perfectly phrased every time so they always line up where you want them to. Use this knowledge to start building your first set for homework
Week 4
PREPARING DJ SETS
Review the set you started planning at home to check the placement of hot cues and ensure everything flows smoothly, receiving advice on any improvements that can be made along the way
RECORDING MIXES
Learn how to record mixes and upload them to Soundcloud, Mixcloud, or YouTube, as well as why they can be beneficial to analyse and improve your mixing
DJ PERFORMANCE
Practice your set and implement everything you've learnt so far in the course, with guidance to refine your technique. If you like, you can record the final practice session to listen back and see how far you've progressed!
Intermediate DJ
NEXT STEPS - EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE
In an intermediate DJ course, you can start to branch out and dive deeper into all areas of DJing, learning more of the technical side and the underlying reasons why certain techniques are used and how they work.
Week 1
ART OF CRATE DIGGING
Tips on how to use platforms like Spotify, Bandcamp, or Beatport to dig for bangers and hidden gems, exploring your musical tastes and refining your sound
LIBRARY MANAGEMENT
Start organising your music library and creating playlists for different genres and sub-genres, allowing you to easily find related tracks and create cohesive mixes
EQUIPMENT
Learn every feature and function on CDJs and DJM mixers, or your DJ controller, so you can make the most of the equipment
BEATMATCHING
Train your ears and learn the tricks to beatmatch when there's no beats to work with at the start of a track
Week 2
MANUAL GRID EDITING
Learn how to fix beat grids that have been analysed incorrectly in your DJ software, helping to avoid confusion when mixing
THE SYNC BUTTON
Learn how the sync button works, when to use it, and why you shouldn't rely on it to align your tracks
LOOPING
Learn how to store loops as loop hot cues and set active loops to automatically loop key sections of tracks so you never the miss the right moment
FX
Explore all of the Color FX and Beat FX on Pioneer DJM mixers, as well as Pad FX and Release FX if using a DJ controller, learning how each effect works and how to subtly apply them to your mixes
Week 3
FIND PERFECT TRACK COMBOS
Discover the main elements to look out for when trying to find tracks that will blend together and why they're so important if you want to create flawless mixes
TRACK SELECTION
Learn how to quickly test tracks together to speed up your workflow and develop your ear for track selection
SET PREPARATION
Use the concepts and techniques you've learnt in the session to start preparing a DJ mix and finish planning the set for homework, finding tracks in matching keys with similar vibes that pair well together
Week 4
CREATIVE MIXING
Start to get more creative with your mixing, implementing techniques such as call & response, cutting, and chopping, learning to emphasise specific elements or sections in tracks to create more impact in your mixes
DJ PERFORMANCE
Get tips on how to salvage mixes if you miss your cue points in a live mix, ensuring you can always keep your calm in the moment and continue mixing without any issues
RECORD YOUR DJ MIX
Record the set you started planning in the last session, implementing all the new techniques you learnt throughout the course, and creating a smooth and cohesive DJ mix you can upload to Soundcloud
ADVANCED DJ
GO PRO - Master the Decks
An advanced DJ course is all about preparing you to play live DJ gigs at clubs or bars, ensuring you're confident using industry-standard DJ equipment, pushing your skills to the next level, and focusing on infusing your style and artistic vision into your DJ sets.
Week 1
LIBRARY MANAGEMENT
Learn how to categorise your library using tags to quickly identify suitable tracks for specific situations, and store all your track combos using the Matching feature in Rekordbox
MASTER PRO DJ EQUIPMENT
Ensure you know what everything does on the equipment so you can handle any situation, with tips on the main things to check on the decks every time you step in the booth, and how to export your settings from Rekordbox to load on CDJs
BEATMATCHING
Learn the traditional method of beatmatching using only your ears and the pitch riding and pitch bending techniques
Week 2
MIXING DIFFERENT GENRES
Learn how to mix between different genres and create smooth BPM transitions to switch things up and keep your sets entertaining for your audience
INFUSE YOUR STYLE
Use DJ tools like edits, mashups and acapellas to create unique and interesting mixes, blending your influences from other genres into electronic music
THREE/FOUR DECK MIXING
Open up new possibilities and take your mixing to the next level, utilising three or four decks to create engaging mixes that cascade endlessly
Week 3
DOUBLE/TRIPLE DROPS
Expand on your three deck mixing, learning how to create and perform high impact double or triple drops to get dancefloors moving and pull big crowd reactions
MIXING AND TRACK SELECTION
Experiment with different mixing styles and learn how to use your track selection to sustain high energy mixes, balance energy levels, and create smooth journeys that ebb and flow
ADVANCED SET PREPARATION
Put what you've learnt so far to work, making a start on crafting a professional sounding 3-Deck DJ mix, with tips on how to prepare your playlists and USBs to take your set in multiple directions, based on reading the crowd's energy
Week 4
BACK-TO-BACK (B2B) DJING
Practice DJing B2B with your tutor, to improve your skills with mixing on the fly and being able to react spontaneously to someone else's music, keeping the set flowing naturally
DJ PERFORMANCE
Learn how to transition from the previous DJ in a club and how to handover to the next DJ, as well as getting tested on real-life scenarios so you can problem solve common issues DJs face in the booth at gigs
MIX FEEDBACK
Record the mix you started in the last session and receive detailed feedback on the strong points and any technical improvements that could be made
Course Details
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
Our DJ crash courses are generally for individuals, but if you have a friend or group of mates all keen to learn, we can run courses for groups of up to 4 people in 2-deck rooms, and up to 7 people in 3-deck rooms. Save over 60% for groups of 4 people.
COURSE DURATION
Our DJ crash courses consist of four sessions of 2 or 3 hours each.
You'll have 8 hours of total learning time with the 2-hour option, while the 3-hour option allows you to dive a bit deeper with 12 hours of total learning time.
COURSE LOCATION
We run our DJ courses at convenient locations across London using the fully-equipped studios at Pirate in Earlsfield, Notting Hill, Camden, Dalston, Hackney, and Greenwich.
If you'd prefer to learn on your own equipment, we also offer DJ courses at your home for locations within London TfL Zones 1-3, anywhere from Brixton to Shoreditch, Wimbledon to Tottenham.
TIMES AVAILABLE
We offer evening and weekend DJ courses with flexible booking to easily fit around your schedule.
Mon-Fri | 6pm-11pm
Sat-Sun | 10am-11pm
DJ EQUIPMENT
Sessions at pirate studios use club-standard Pioneer DJ setups with DJM-900 NXS2 mixers and CDJ-2000 NXS2 decks in 2-deck rooms, or the latest CDJ-3000s in 3-deck rooms.
We also offer DJ controller courses for sessions at your home using your own equipment. Please note, you must have your own equipment for DJ courses at your home, as we do not bring our own.
WHAT TO BRING
We’ve got everything you need for sessions at pirate, but feel free to bring headphones and a USB with some tunes if you’d like to use your own music.
For home courses, you’ll need a laptop and a DJ controller with DJ software, or a standalone DJ system with a USB. You’ll also need headphones, speakers, and digital music files or a subscription to a compatible streaming service.
Pricing
4-Week
Home
DJ Courses
from
£285
4-Week
Pirate Studios
DJ Courses
from
£343
PIRATE STUDIOS DISCOUNTS
Save 15% on studio hire for 3 hours
£20 free studio credit *
Student Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes! No prior experience is required to get started. In fact, this is often the best way to start as complete beginners won’t have potentially learnt incorrect habits.
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I primarily work with beginner or intermediate DJs as these people stand to benefit the most from lessons and have a lot to learn when starting out. I feel as though a lot of your growth once you pass these levels will come from experience, experimentation, and developing your own sound and style of mixing. While you can receive some guidance for this, it is quite personal and not necessarily something that can be taught, but rather discovered by the individual.
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Having your own DJ equipment helps, but is not essential to get started. You can start learning the basic concepts of DJing with online lessons, or get hands-on with the club-standard equipment at Pirate Studios if you don’t have your own yet.
Please note: You will need your own DJ equipment for home lessons as we do not bring our equipment to lessons.
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I primarily work with Pioneer DJ controllers, or Pioneer CDJs and DJM mixers at Pirate Studios. However, if you have your own equipment at home, we can work with all the major brands, including Pioneer DJ, Denon DJ, Native Instruments, Numark and Hercules DJ.
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I primarily work with Rekordbox. However, we can also work with the other major brands, including Virtual DJ, Traktor and Serato if you’re using one of these.
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I specialise in mixing Drum & Bass and generally work with electronic music genres, including House, Techno, Trance, Garage and Dubstep.
While I can still teach the basic concepts of DJing for more commercial genres such as Hip-Hop and Pop, these aren’t genres I regularly work with or mix myself. Depending on your needs, you may wish to find someone else specialising in these genres if they are what you’d like to mix.
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* The pirate studios referral code is currently only available to new students who haven’t previously created an account and booked a session at pirate studios.
Use referral code ‘ALEC256563’ when creating an account at Pirate.com to receive £20 of free studio credit. You’ll receive the credit in your account after booking and attending your first session.
Students must create an account and book the studio themselves to use the referral code.
You can find a video on how to create an account and book a studio here.
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You’re free to purchase lessons with whichever tutor you like, based on who you feel aligns with your needs. Feel free to check out each tutor’s profile for more info.
Please note: Our course option is currently only available with Alec. However, all tutors should be able to cover the same or similar areas over multiple lessons.
Tutors
Alec
Founder / DJ Tutor
Ashley
DJ Tutor
