Academy of DJs

Tommy V. _{on Yelp}

Jan 17th, 2022

Such a great school that teaches the fundamentals of DJing! I got to meet with the founder of this school, his name is David or D.ho and he's such a humble guy with many years of experience as a DJ. 10/10 would recommend this school for anyone that wants to learn the art of DJing!

Kai D. _{on Yelp}

Jun 25th, 2019

I just completed my private lessons with Jasper. He was amazing! Super patience, practical, and undoubtedly passionate . He shared great teaching methods and analogies that helped me grasp concepts quicker. Here at Academy, they not only teach you the basis of DJing, but also the history as well. They really take time to teach you all the techniques and basis you need to know about the art.I would highly recommend this class to anyone aspiring to be a DJ or even to one who wants to brush up their skills!

Monique P. _{on Yelp}

Jan 30th, 2020

Where do I even begin?! THANK YOU MIKE! Like most people, I work a 9-5 boring office job where I stare at a computer screen all day and dream about being a DJ. I'd spend a lot of my free time looking up how-to YouTube videos and articles and go to guitar center to play around with the controllers. But I knew I wouldn't get the in-depth knowledge/teaching if I never went in person. Knowing that, I knew I would need to enroll in some class/school. Fast forward to a couple years later of putting it off, I realized I should do this before I looked back and regretted my entire life. Anyway, I researched a number of places in OC for weeks (a bit much maybe but this meant a lot for me) and found Academy of DJs, and wow, I'm so happy I did. After going on their site, I decided private lessons worked best for me (you get 4 private lessons, each lesson is 2 hours- which is plenty) but you can also sign up for a 15 week season class. I reached out via their contact page and their response time was super quick. It was easy and painless SO WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG?! I went back and forth with Jasper through email where he asked what type of music I liked, if I had any experience, and what my availabilities were so they could work around MY schedule- it was clear that pairing me with an instructor who'd be a good fit was priority. Couple emails later, he told me my instructor would be Mike (aka Mike Checkk aka DJ Mike Checkk aka the best instructor ever.. no joke, no smoke). I gave Jasper my number and in no time Mike reached out to me and we set-up a date for my first private lesson. The first time I walked into the place, the music was BUMPING. I walked in through the curtains and saw Mike spinning with a couple of other students around him watching. I was so effing excited and stifled my smile so I didn't come off as creepy as I felt. We went right into it and his teaching method was PERFECT- visual, auditory and kinesthetic teaching. I definitely got my money's and time's worth. We went over the basics from beat matching (counting beats aloud together), beat jumping, wordplay, looping, mixing different genres, learning the ins and outs of the DJ software, equipment recommendation, setting up equipment, what to bring to/expect at different types of DJ gigs, how to market yourself through various social media platforms, etc. He let me borrow his controller after our FIRST lesson so I could practice at home and see how I liked it! I mean, who does that?! He also made sure to let me know I could shoot him a text anytime I had a question. He helped me out SO much. Now I'm a proud owner of a brand-new beautiful pioneer controller and flight case. I'm practicing at home applying everything I learned, feeling eager, excited and confident all thanks to Mike. Thanks a million Mike, and thank you Academy of DJs

Chloe S. _{on Yelp}

Nov 11th, 2019

Academy of DJs changes lives. Whether you have zero experience or 10 years, there is something for everyone to gain! The instructors are passionate, skilled, and patient; all of which are projected onto the students and makes for an amazing experience. I was fortunate enough to be apart of season 8. After 15 weeks, not only did I learn the necessary tools to turn my dream of djing into reality, but I also gained resources, access to a community of dedicated and creative djs, friends, a mentor (shoutout Mikecheckk!) and the opportunity to perform in front of a crowd of 500+ people. If you don't have the time to dedicate to 15 weeks (HIGHLY recommend, though), there's also the option of taking private lessons, one-on-one, with one of the fabulous instructors. Either experience won't disappoint! COME ONE, COME ALL. I wish I could give more than 5 stars. I'm forever grateful!

Way L. _{on Yelp}

Sep 2nd, 2019

If I could give these guys more than 5 stars I would! Before joining their seasonal program, I had only the basic knowledge of DJing without much knowledge on how to navigate the industry or develop a unique marketable skillset. After going through the program, I feel so much more confident in my skills as a DJ! The instructors don't just teach basic DJ skills--they teach you how to use all kinds different equipment, how to mix music from various genres, how to prep for mobile/club/etc gigs, how to communicate/network in the DJ scene, and the list goes on. I even saw some private lessons witnessed how in-depth each teacher goes with their clients! I really can't say enough about how amazing these guys are. If you want to be a successful DJ, this place is your best bet!