Learn to be a DJ is a brief but highly informative guide that details and demonstrates everything from setting up your DJ console to launching your DJ career and establishing yourself as an entertainer. Much of the detailed diagrams throughout this book illustrate most of the text and special emphasis is placed on the fundamentals such as beat counting, timing, song structure, sound quality etc. to complex techniques such as advanced mixing and scratching. The video included with this book demonstrates some of the key areas of mixing and basic scratching. There are also clips of world famous DJ’s – on turntable science and scratching techniques that will help you understand and embrace the art form of turntablism.

For those of you who perhaps want to turn pro, there is some sage advice on selecting the right DJ equipment, acquiring good habits and understanding the vagaries or unpredictable nature of the night club and music business.

Short quotes, anecdotes, and photos of the greats such as Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Grand Wizard Theodor and Afrika Bambaataa, are also featured. A short history of how the DJ industry took root in Sri Lanka and how turntablism began in the South Bronx of New York as way back as the early seventies may interest you.

The book is available at the Odel book store and at the Academy, and is priced at Rs.750