French Students Classically Trained In the Art Of DJ'ing

At the Ecole des DJ in southern France, the classroom is a dance floor and fieldwork is done in clubs. Students -- and professors -- are hipsters, and they take their work seriously.

The DJ college, founded in 2001 by former real-estate salesman Pascal Tassy, is supported by the French government. In curriculum that lasts less than two years, students study copyright law, musical genres and record scratching. Competition to gain entry to the school is intense: 250 people apply for 45 spots.

The Wall Street Journal has more:

During their time at the school, students apprentice at dance clubs and earn modest pay that is partly borne by the government. Last November, the ministry of employment came up with an official DJ designation--"animateur musicale et scenique".

"This is a craft that was crying out for formal training," said Mr. Tassy, 47 years old. "We talked to nightclub owners and discovered there was a real need for DJs to be educated with more structure."

And so the school works diligently to educate France's next generation of DJ elite. Students are often must face scrutiny from knowledgeable professors.

Esteban Duret, 21, got an assignment to play a set of funk. He peered into his laptop, tweaked a few settings, and put on "Fascinated" by the 1980s electro-pop band Company B.

"Cut!" yelled [Professor Nico] Ortiz, 37. "We've got a serious issue here. Company B's 'Fascinated' has never been funk. If you get away with that at the exam, it'll be smoke and mirrors. Company B is New Wave, OK? Continue."

What do you think? Would you go -- or send your kid -- to DJ college?

Comments

[gomezrules]

03:17 PM on 04/14/2010

Oh geezz! Look out for pronouncements of a "DJ gap" here. With the ongoing dummying down of our education system at all levels, this will no doubt gain favor among the usual suspects here in this country. That "govt paid" provision has to appeal to the Nanny Staters here.

Again...Geeeeezzzz...

[Caroleeena]

03:35 PM on 04/14/2010

It's "dumbing down" dear, not "dummying down". Ironic, no?

I think this is a great idea. And the fact that France supports the arts is wonderful. I wish the US would do the same. It increases the quality of life for everyone.

[zeppelingirl89]

03:58 PM on 04/14/2010

Yeah, but "DJing" as an art is pretty speculative, and does represent a dumbing down of what is considered art. I'm not really buying it. It might be a lesser art but it's not the same thing as playing Chopin on the piano or even Yes music (musicians in that band were classically trained, and you can certainly tell)

[gomezrules]

12:17 PM on 04/15/2010

Sorry genius (snicker), it's "dummy", not dumb, always has been, always will be.

But please, move to France because of their (snicker again) 'superior DJ programs'. It can't be any worse of an expenditure of tax dollars than the typical govt program anywhere else!

[Tulka2]

02:08 PM on 04/14/2010

Just for the sake of perspective....? A student has been able to get a degree in surfing at the U. of California in San Jose for at least the last couple of decades.

[Steamboater]

03:01 PM on 04/14/2010

Every country has their own cultural priorities and if a college can help someone for a successful career in DJ'ing, that's a big deal for that student who has aspirations to DJ just as it is as much of a big deal for a student with aspirations to become a doctor or teacher. The french know a thing or two about art too, even if they think Jerry Lewis is a genius.

[Tulka2]

03:09 PM on 04/14/2010

I am okay with all of that. Without judgement....? Humans in the west do seem to be expanding the idea of childhood well into the late twenties. Did you see the article here on Huff Post today about the top paying degrees? That article is influencing my thinking on this article.

Forty years ago most Indians in India were graduating with degrees in philosophy. Now the majority of their degrees are in science. I don't have a point really. Just these facts in my head.

[PostModernGuy]

12:36 PM on 04/14/2010

First off, it's a two-year program. This might be somewhere between a minor and a certificate program in the US.

Most of you are most likely thinking of the 'house DJ' that basically spins records for the dance crowd. Okay, there's certainly some care put into selecting records that create a 'set', but I'll agree that it's not a two-year program.

This is really referring to the art of Turntablism - using the turntable as a musical instrument. Songs can be looped, mixed, transformed to the point of becoming unrecognizable. It's really an extension of live electronic music. And, yes, there are plenty of issues to discuss if you look at it this way! How is this related to electronic music history, for instance? (Cage, Stockhausen, etc.) How is it related to experimental music, conceptual art, etc? There are technical issues - relating to equipment, performance, etc.

There's the issue of notation - some methods have been proposed, while some performers would rather not use any notation. It's a debate, or at least a discussion, amongst DJs, composers, and educators.

These sort of courses have been taught in the US - in places like Berklee (in Boston). I'm not sure if they have a sequence of courses, as this article suggests.

[madinirose]

04:19 PM on 04/14/2010

Actually "house DJ" is harder than it looks. Especially when a house DJ adds effects to the music. It's definitely not as complex as Turntablism, but it's a skill and an art that takes time to learn.

Besides, a large number of DJs end up producing their own music, so I'm almost certain that if this school hasn't already expanded their offerings into this area, they will.

[PostModernGuy]

09:00 AM on 04/15/2010

I'm sure! There's a lot to even just beat-matching.

Look, most of these comments are at best a bit of snobbery - DJs don't 'read' music, and, heaven forfend "they're not white!". You know, you could say the same thing about Louis Armstrong! Whether or not hip-hop/turntablism will develop into an art form like jazz remains to be seen.

Here's another hint at how 'conservative' some schools can be: Julliard only recently created a guitar program. I'm not talking about electric guitar, I'm talking acoustic 'classical' guitar playing music like DeFalla or Villa Lobos. Gee, you think it has to do with the fact that most major guitar composers are from Spain or South America?

[Buzzard1022]

12:03 PM on 04/14/2010

Why do you need a class? Buy a record player, play someone elses music, pretend being a DJ means you have talent. Repeat steps 1-3.

[madinirose]

04:24 PM on 04/14/2010

It's really, really, really not easy.

[Naswipp Mixfeen]

06:29 PM on 04/14/2010

Apparently you have NOOOOOOO idea what it is to be a real DJ.

[Adrian Rowe]

11:24 AM on 04/14/2010

As someone who DJs a bit I can tell you the reality of this. You spend a lot of money to take this course, you gain an extensive knowledge of various genres of music. Graduate, start playing in the club, and then get nothing but Lady Gaga requests and a club owner that wants nothing but Top 40 music. Then you spend the rest of your career slowly becoming bitter over how no one like real music anymore.

[TheGigaShadow]

12:18 PM on 04/14/2010

Yep that sounds like the typical DJ attitude. Here's something that a lot DJs seem to forget...

When people hit the clubs with their friends, 99.9% of the time it's because they want to have a few drinks, have a good time, and dance a little to the songs they know and like. They are not there to see the DJ perform his "set" . They don't care how well the songs are mixed together or how well you match your beats. Unless you're Tiesto or Paul van Dyk (or someone else of that caliber) they don't much care who's playing the songs, just what songs are being played. When they ask for a request they expect to hear it. Most DJs view the request as a criminal offense ("how dare you ask for so common" a song or "I just played that two hours ago" are common reactions) but requests should be expected. You're up there playing other people's songs. You're not a rock star people intentionally came to see. You just happened to be there when they showed up and as far as they are concerned you're just the guy who plays the CDs.

[SiO2]

12:42 PM on 04/14/2010

I disagree. I've been to many clubs where house music is played and advertised, and people will still try and request music. These clubs are packed, too.

[Adrian Rowe]

12:49 PM on 04/14/2010

It's a common problem I'll admit it, I'm not going to deny it. The average DJ is an avid music lover and hates pandering to the lowest common denominator. It started when radio moved away from having DJs who played records that they loved to their audience to having playlisted tracks controlled by the labels pusing then onto the public. It's why no one who claims to be a music fan respects the Grammys anymore.

And I can't really blame people though, I like music better when I know the song well. I've been lucky enough to play music that I like and that the people I'm playing to like. A good DJ should know how to juxtapose their records in a way that is appropriate for the crowd at hand. I will say that playing only vinyl has helped because the phrase "I have it but I don't have it with me, sorry." has come in handy on the ocassion.

But I don't care how many times you request it. Black Eyed Peas' I've Got a Feeling is awful.

[ladyiva]

11:04 AM on 04/14/2010

More proof that Hip Hop is taking over the world! It's not a movement but a way of life.

www.rhymesandpolitics.com

[TheGigaShadow]

12:00 PM on 04/14/2010

Don't count on it. At best, it's a sub-culture. Nothing more.

[Naswipp Mixfeen]

06:44 PM on 04/14/2010

Subculture as you call it has touched more than any other form of music. "Check the Soundscan".......Hate it if you must.

[SiO2]

12:40 PM on 04/14/2010

This is definitely not hip-hop. Are you kidding me? Americans are completely ignorant as to how big electronic music is around the world.

[DavePotts]

02:11 PM on 04/14/2010

correction... SOME Americans. WMC and DEMF are here after all.

[Tulka2]

02:12 PM on 04/14/2010

There is something to what you say. It was an American cultural troupe to hate disco just as electronic trance dance music is now snubbed. Is it racism? When it was popular to hate disco, it was associated with Latin dancers.

[SiO2]

10:43 AM on 04/14/2010

Haha, this is AWESOME!

[SwimmingBird]

10:42 AM on 04/14/2010

This is actually pretty necessary as most DJs are awful. Formal training and designations will provide a measure of quality control which is sorely lacking amongst club DJs. I hope this happens in the US as there's certainly a need for it.

One thing: why is this story news? The school opened its doors in 2001... oh wait, it's just something ripped from WSJ.

[lawrencemuh]

09:42 AM on 04/14/2010

WHY?