London Sound Academy

I have always had an interest in music (basically I should have been Fearne Cotton- she wouldn’t have stood a chance if I hadn’t have dropped out of college). I wanted to be a radio presenter but had no idea how to get into the industry so I decided, at the age of 16, that I was better than something as pointless as ‘education’ and got myself a job in our local call center, smugly earning £800 a month while my friends were still stuck in school. Suckers.

My ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ mentality never got me anywhere because I didn’t actually know anybody, nor have I ever actively sought media/music opportunities. Ten years have passed whilst I have sat back and waited for my big break to come my way, but I am still no closer to becoming a radio presenter, nor am I working in media or music.

With 3 years left in my 20’s, and my fresh YOLO attitude, I decided it was time to get my arse into gear and do something about my lifelong ambition, rather than spend the rest of my life regretting not even trying. In search of somewhere to learn how to DJ, I came across The London Sound Academy, who stood out with their 1-2-1 tutorials.

With studios in Camden and Hoxton, LSA offer flexible DJ courses (as well as courses in music production) that are available between 8am and 10pm, 7 days a week. There are 3 modules of the DJ course; Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. Each module is 8 hours and you can split the time as you wish. Upon completion of the Advanced module, graduates receive exclusive LSA certification; DJ gigs at Ministry of Sound, Egg LDN and Ibiza; as well as 10% off DJ equipment.

My tutor is called Buster (there are 8 tutors in total) and he is just wonderful. He is so professional and patient (!). Not only has buster taught me how to beat match, mix songs and even create my very own mini mash up, he has helped me set up the software on my laptop and shown me the best places to get music (and what formats). He is a natural teacher and explains things in a way to really make you understand and now I listen to music completely differently. If I go to a ‘gig’ I can hear/understand what the DJ is doing, and now that I am the proud owner of my very own decks (which I am still figuring out how to use) I am having fun at home trying to do my own thing. By no means have I reached ‘DJ’ status but it is SO MUCH FUN to practice. I’m sure my neighbor agrees too.

Now that I am learning how to do what I originally thought I was ‘born to do’, I am over the moon. I am no longer jealous of Fearne Cotton, and I will not look back in 10 years thinking “I’ve always wanted to know how to DJ” because by then… I’ll be superstar status.

If you have a dream it is never too late to chase it. And if you have an interest in learning how to DJ then get down to the London Sound Academy. They’re awesome.

http://www.londonsoundacademy.co.uk

(Still awaiting DJ name suggestions…)