How much do I practice?

Summary

In this Q&A video, DJ TLM shares insights into his journey of practicing DJ skills. He reflects on how he started by practicing 6-8 hours a day at home, honing techniques like mixing and scratching by ear. As he progressed, DJing at house parties and clubs became his primary form of practice, where he learned how to read crowds and handle live performances. Although he no longer practices at home, DJing live gives him continuous learning experiences. He emphasizes the importance of practicing new techniques and experimenting with effects, while also advising against practicing scratches in a club setting.

Takeaways

• 😀 DJ TLM used to practice 6-8 hours a day, working on mixing and scratching techniques.
• 🎧 Early practice involved recording mixes on tape, listening back, and evaluating the performance to improve.
• 📀 DJ TLM learned scratching by listening to hip-hop songs and trying to replicate the techniques by ear.
• 💪 The first stage of practice is all about working on skills and improving basic techniques at home.
• 👥 The next phase of practice involves performing in front of people, starting with house parties and birthdays.
• 🎉 At house parties, DJ TLM learned how to read the crowd and handle distractions while mixing.
• 🎶 Moving to clubs, DJ TLM gained real-world experience and further developed his ability to perform live.
• 🎤 DJ TLM no longer practices at home, using his gigs as his practice sessions instead.
• 🌟 Every gig provides a learning opportunity to gain experience, refine skills, and experiment with new techniques.
• 🚫 DJ TLM advises against experimenting with new scratching techniques during live performances; it’s best to practice them at home first.
• 📚 DJ TLM encourages DJs to always continue learning, refining, and experimenting, as there is always room for improvement.

Q & A

How much time did DJ TLM spend practicing his skills in the early days?

In the beginning, DJ TLM practiced for 6 to 8 hours a day, focusing on mixing and scratching techniques.

What did DJ TLM do during his practice sessions at home?

DJ TLM would record his mixes on a tape deck, listen back to evaluate his work, and then record another mix, repeating the process. He also practiced scratching by listening to hip-hop songs and trying to replicate the scratches.

How did DJ TLM learn scratching techniques before the era of tutorial videos?

DJ TLM learned scratching techniques by ear, listening to songs with scratching and trying to imitate the sounds without video tutorials.

What is the second phase of practicing skills according to DJ TLM?

The second phase involves practicing in front of people, such as at house parties or birthdays, to start learning crowd interaction and how to manage social distractions while DJing.

How did DJ TLM transition from practicing at home to performing in public?

DJ TLM transitioned by moving from home practice to playing at house parties, where he could interact with an audience, and then to performing in clubs to gain more experience.

Why can't DJ TLM practice how to play in a club at home?

DJ TLM believes you can't practice the nuances of playing in a club at home because at home you don't have an audience, and you can't simulate crowd reactions and social dynamics.

How does DJ TLM practice now that he doesn't practice at home anymore?

Now, DJ TLM practices during his gigs, as every performance provides new experiences and opportunities for improvement.

What does DJ TLM mean by saying that there’s always room for improvement?

DJ TLM means that despite years of experience, he continues to learn from other DJs, explore new techniques, and improve his skills, such as incorporating controllerism into his turntablism.

What advice does DJ TLM give regarding practicing scratching in clubs?

DJ TLM advises not to practice scratching in clubs because the crowd wants to dance, not hear someone experimenting with scratches. Practice should be done at home, and once mastered, the technique can be integrated into club performances.

What does DJ TLM hope for in terms of future practice?

DJ TLM wishes he had more time to practice new techniques, especially scratching, and to experiment with different aspects of DJing, such as adding effects or working with loops.