Where to take DJ lessons in Toronto

The ability to master a turntable can be a powerful tool. You can change the mood of a room, coax people out of their seats, and even get away with terrible, reflective hair like Pauly D. Of course, it's not as simple as just dragging the needle over some vinyl. To make it to the top Toronto clubs (if that is, in fact, your goal) you'll need to master the subtleties of programming, scratching, and transition. That's where Toronto DJ schools come in. Instructors at these schools lead group or private lessons, letting you test out the turntables without making a serious financial commitment. Here are some options for learning to DJ in Toronto.

Scratch Lab, 1170 Sheppard Ave West
Scratch Lab is perhaps the best-known DJ school in Toronto. It was opened in 2004 and offers both private and group instruction using a curriculum approved by the Ontario Board of Education. Its mantra, in a nutshell, is to change the way we view turntables, plugging them as a musical instrument, not simply a piece of audio equipment. So watch out, Royal Conservatory! Classes are offered at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, and start at $499 per semester.

Off Centre DJ, 1049 Gerrard St. East
Off Centre DJ School is a downtown option for DJ lessons, offering a variety of programs and camps to learn to mix, blend, and scratch. Off Centre instructors include Erik "Steptone" Laar, one half of Toronto turntable band iNSiDEaMiND, and Cheldon "Pro-Ef" Paterson, who is also well known on the Toronto turntable scene. If you're keen on some intensive instruction, you can opt for Off Centre's Weekend DJ Workshop ($195), which offers six hours of instruction over a weekend, or enroll in a six-week program ($270), offered at a variety of skill levels.

Noize Faktory, 46 Thirtieth Street
The deliberate delinquent spelling means it must be good, right? Noize Faktory in Etobicoke offers a DJ Arts Workshop specializing in Vinyl Mixing and Traktor Timecode Vinyl Systems. The tutoring is one-on-one using equipment at its location, and costs $400 for 12 hours of instruction. More advanced DJs can pick from Noize Faktory's à la carte menu of specialized classes. Er--classez.

Mod Music Academy
Though the Mod Music Academy is currently in transition and its Eglinton East office closed, it is still acting as a "music directory," connecting instructors and students in Toronto. Among Mod's offering are DJ lessons, available at three levels as part of a 12- or 16-week program. Mod will connect you to one of its teachers, who can offer lessons at their studios or in your home. The cost for 12, 30-minute lessons start at $360.

WestsideWax DJ School, 1480A Dupont Street
WestsideWax DJ School offers classes for both kids and adults, specializing in Techno, Electro and House music. All the equipment is there at its Dupont and Lansdowne studio, so you just need to show up. WestsideWax holds two-day summer sessions just for kids aged 12-18 for $75/session.

Photo by siRRonWong on Flickr.