Topics:

• What a DJ actually does (phrasing, energy, track selection)

• Overview of Pioneer DJ ecosystem (controller vs CDJ setup)

• Signal flow: deck to mixer to speakers

• Controller vs club gear differences

• Headphones, cueing, and monitoring

Skills:

• Powering up a Pioneer setup

• Loading tracks on Deck 1 & 2

• Using headphones + cue buttons

Topics

• Rekordbox interface overview

• Track analysis (BPM, key, waveform)

• Beatgrids and why they matter

• Library organization (playlists, tags)

• Export mode vs Performance mode

Skills

• 2–3 minute long blends

• Mix tracks with subtle BPM differences

• Phrase-shift correction drills

Topics:

• BPM, bars, beats, and phrasing

• Song structure (intro, drop, breakdown, outro)

• Counting music (1-2-3-4)

• Waveform reading on Pioneer screens

Skills:

• Count phrases on CDJs/controllers

• Identify phrase changes using waveforms

• Drop tracks on phrase-correct points

Topics:

• Tempo faders on Pioneer gear

• Sync vs manual beatmatching

• Jog wheels: nudging vs bending

• Matching BPM by ear

Skills:

• Beatmatch using Sync

• Beatmatch without Sync

• Jog wheel correction drills

Topics:

• Channel faders vs crossfader

• EQ basics (low, mid, high)

• Avoiding clashing basslines

• Common Pioneer DJ mixing styles

Skills:

• Bass swaps

• EQ blending

• Long vs short transitions

Topics:

• Hot Cues (memory vs hot cues)

• Manual & auto loops

• Loop roll basics

• Using quantize properly

Skills:

• Set hot cues on drops and vocals

• Loop an outro to extend a mix

• Use loops to recover mistakes

Topics:

• Sound Color FX (filter, dub echo, noise)

• Beat FX basics (echo, reverb, delay)

• Timing FX to phrases

• Common FX mistakes

Skills:

• Filter transitions

• Echo-out mixing

• FX + EQ combinations

Topics:

• Reading a room (or imaginary one)

• Energy curves in DJ sets

• Track selection vs technical skills

• Genre-appropriate transitions

Skills:

• Plan a 30-minute set

• Practice opening, middle, and closing sections

Topics:

• Recording mixes in rekordbox

• Recovering from trainwrecks

• Club & booth etiquette

• Proper gain staging

• USB prep for CDJs

Skills:

• Record a full practice set

• Simulate error recovery (wrong track, off-beat)

Final Assessment:

• 30–60 minute DJ set

• Mixed live on Pioneer DJ equipment

• Clean transitions, phrasing, and track flow

Feedback Includes:

• Technical skills

• Music selection

• EQ & FX usage

• Overall confidence