5 Powerful Lessons from Rob Swift’s Turntablism Classes

DJ Rob Swift, an American DJ turntablist legend, has posted several helpful turntablism DJ videos on his Facebook page. The videos come from a series of his own classes where he teaches DJs of all ages, skill levels, and genres. His unique videos, rather than just demonstrating it for the camera, usually feature one or more students being walked through the exercises. For a fun Friday article, here’s 5 helpful lessons for turntablists from Rob Swift!

Perseverance

“The most valuable lesson DJing has ever taught me is the importance of perseverance. Incidentally, I’ve LEARNED this lesson through TEACHING my students. I’ve found that introducing a new technique is like encountering a new obstacle in their journey to become true DJs. They conquer one skill only to move on to the next, and It’s when they confront that insurmountable task of mine that we find out whether they have the perseverance to conquer the challenges that come with learning this art.

If you’re goal is to become a DJ, above all else, you must have the patience and fortitude to persevere through your missteps. Do that and the gods of CREATIVITY will always reward you!”

Let Your Instincts Flow

“People think that creativity is birthed out of what your mind conceives and that’s not true. Creativity is instinctive. It’s your instincts that inspire all the creative ideas you have. Your brain just thinks of the mechanical way to give birth to what your instincts are inspiring you to do.

So get out of your brain because none of this shit really happens, the creative part of it, unless your instincts are flowing. Let your instincts flow. The minute you start thinking about what you’re doing it becomes cumbersome to your instincts…Don’t think Just Move… Your thoughts will always get in the way of your movements… Let yourself move and feel what happens”

Scratch Synchronicity

“At 16 years old, Myles is currently my youngest student. He’s an aspiring EDM DJ. Early on in our training I suggested he ought to learn how to Scratch. He resisted the idea at first because “EDM DJs don’t scratch”. After 4 lessons, I suggested we break up the monotony of mixing and just scratch a little for fun. […]

Myles is already beginning to learn and appreciate the value of understanding “Scratch Synchronicity”. As a DJ there will be occasions when you’ll find yourself in a jam session with multiple DJs, and in the context of an ensemble you must be mindful of how your scratch execution is making everyone else sound. Are your scratch patterns making the person(s) your scratching with sound better or worse? Once you’ve made that assessment, have the presence of mind to adjust your scratches accordingly.”

3 Cardinal Rules of Scratching

1. When in doubt, do not use the mixer’s crossfader.
2. Articulate your scratches in your own unique way.
3. Sometimes it’s the notes you don’t play. In other words, less is more.

Uncovering Patterns through Mindset

“Every “Beat Juggle” pattern you can possibly coax out of two turntables exists already. Sounds bugged, I know, but it’s true. The catch is, you determine the discovery of these patterns by the ways in which you move. Your turntables respond to your hand motion and your hand motion influences the sound being produced by the speed and accuracy with which you maneuver on your turntables. We’re talkin’ basic “cause and effect”.

And so the next time you step in front of your set to practice your “Juggles” rest assured that song you chose to work with, contains in it a plethora of “Beat Juggle” patterns. Patterns that reveal themselves according to the creative mindset you reside in while you practice.”

Regardless of what style of DJ you might personally have, Rob’s helpful insights that he shares with his students are worth sharing and are applicable to almost all styles of DJing. As DJ Rob Swift would say himself #WeTalkinBoutPractice!