DJing: A Technical Introduction

This course is an introduction to the technical aspects of DJing. Students will learn about foundational mixing techniques including digital music organization, beatmatching, cueing, transitions, and set construction as they grow their own song libraries. Through hands-on workshops and collaborative practice sessions, we will develop the musical listening skills and technical fluency necessary to perform a live DJ set. Students will work individually and in small groups to curate playlists, practice mixing on professional DJ equipment, and learn how DJs construct musical narratives for dance audiences. We will also explore the psychology of the dance floor, including crowd dynamics, energy management, and performance strategies. We will end the course by planning a party with a DJ event. (Not open to students who have completed MUSC 1033.)



DJ Serena Kim was one of the first female club DJs in New York City in the 1990s. She has rocked the dance floor at legendary dance clubs and held a two-night residency at Veruka, where she DJed for the Yankee’s 1999 World Series celebration party. She has DJ’ed alongside Mark Ronson, Q-Tip, and Kool Herc. In addition, DJ Serena Kim served as features editor for Vibe magazine and has been a prolific music journalist with publication credits in nearly every hip-hop magazine, as well as the LA Times, the Washington Post, and many others.