Wednesday, March 19, 2008

THE DJ BALANCE LIFETIME SCHOLARSHIP

Category: Music  
Dj- Toshbiko (Seeking Knowledge From The Cradle 2 The Grave) is my Dj name or Tosh if you like. There would be no Dj Toshbiko if it was not for certain people who have been there believing in my dream.
One such person was someone I never met; I didn’t know how this one man would help me reach some major high points in my journey to become a professional Dj. His name was Dj Balance (Daniel Lara) he was a student @ the Scratch Dj Academy in Los Angeles. I’m told by those who knew him well; we both shared a deep passion for the skills of the Dj, as a way to express our love for music, and to share it with others. We both saw the Scratch Dj Academy as a very special place to be apart of. I never got a chance to meet him, shake his hand or talk about our favorite music together. In November 2006 he passed away, he left a special mark in the heart of staff members and students.
In his memory, the Scratch Dj Academy created the
DJ BALANCE- LIFETIME SCHOLARSHIP.
With this scholarship a student’s tuition with the academy will be lower then one could imagine. Including having the support of the academy your entire life as you gain the skills necessary to be able to become the best Dj possible. It’s with honor to be able to say I’m the first and only recipient of this very special scholarship. I was awarded this scholarship on Sun-Feb-18-2007 @ the Scratch Dj Academy Graduation, after performing my first mix ever, representing the Dj 151 class.
This scholarship has changed my life, because of it I was able to become a, Scratch Dj Academy teacher assistant, staff member, 2 graduation performances, accepted into the TRAIN WRECK DJ CREW, perform @ Club Tantra in Los Angeles for the Karma/remembering J-Dilla event and attend the 3 day One Stop Shop Producer’s Conference in Phoenix Arizona.
He has reminded me to never take these moments for granted, to appreciate the Dj’s that have come before me, to share the art form to student’s just like you.

Dj. Toshbiko (SKFTC2TG) Thank you so much Balance, every time I step up to the turntables, put on my headphones I hope I’m making you proud. Forever-Dj- Balance- (Daniel Lara) - R.I.P.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
ONE STOP SHOP-PRODUCER’S CONFERENCE,MARCH 8-9, 2008 PHONIX, ARIZONA

When I went on this voyage to be a Dj I had no idea that it would be so mind altering? The first time I stepped on to the grounds of the Scratch Dj Academy I opened the door to my destiny.

 

 After being given the Dj Balance Lifetime Scholarship ((R.I.P. DJ BALANCE)), becoming a member of the

TRAIN WRECK DJ CREW, J-DILLA EVENT TANTRA CLUB and staff at the SCRATCH DJ ACADEMY, I was on cloud 9 and feeling anything is possible. I got an opportunity to go to Phoenix, Arizona and witness the powerful event known as the One Stop Shop Producer’s Conference to watch and hear, feel upcoming producers’ slam down music like warriors.

 

The place was loaded down with legendary soldiers in the game of producing music, legends of sound. 3 days in Arizona to rub shoulders with up and coming producers and masters in the game of music. I was stunned and knew for me this was huge, larger then my mind could rap around. I wasn’t going to spin music but it felt like going on tour for the first time. It was the One Stop Shop an event from Sha Money XL founder of Money Management Group.

The creative concept to put upcoming producers in the same room as Swift Beats, Dj Premier, Don Cannon  

((CANNON! CANNON! CANNON!)) 9^TH Wonder and A.R. reps like the powerful Wendy Day. These legends in the music game have come together to school the next generation of music makers. Corporation was there like Microsoft, Xbox, Zune, to expand you’re market and get to connect you’re music to people around the world.   Educational panels on subject matter like publishing, technology in music the internet and what to do and not do as a producer.   

 

To put in my mind what my main focus is as a Dj.

With all the music that’s surrounding me I have come to the realization that as a Dj it’s my job to not just spin what people know, but to break new records and new sounds to the public. The first step is to master the art of spinning records, and then use those skills to be able to create my own music. I can taste my own creativity on the tip of my tongue, beats, music flowing through my heart. The power of all these people in one room with a shot to share their music to a mass group of people business card’s passed from one person to another; listen to my demo was the theme.

 

Quote Sha Money "You’re network determines you’re net worth"  

 

 

One minute I’m talking to Victor Wong founder & chairman President of Artist Relations for Open labs. Then the next thing you know I got his business cards in one hand and vodka tonic in another.

 

 So that is the major goal, to make those connections, to establish those relationships, to open doors for my self and others that have been by my side and have invested in me to be the best Dj/Turntablist I can be.

It’s my responsibility to heal my past, so the future is bright and filled with music. The 3 buses and 2 trains it takes to get to L.A. Scratch Dj Academy is worth it. The carrying my records from backyard gigs or to a club in L.A. is worth it, the New Years Eve party ended up getting $50.00 is worth it.

Staying up until 6: am just to put sets together, is worth it, being recognized for the moves I have made and underestimated in some cases is worth it  

It’s my dream it will not be put in box and locked away. I will not always be on the outside looking in, I will makes moves, smash down obstacles in my way and continue to do what I’ve always done, put my heart and soul on the line, but to do it with grace, honor, and respect.     

 

 The producer’s battles were on point, inspiring to watch some one stand in front of a mass crowd and play the music they have created, or to see the people’s reactions to the music they like as they nod their heads, or don’t react at all, beat vs. beat, mass rejection for some mass love for others, the gladiators of sound; I’m watching music get denied for lack of energy being told by the masses nice try but back to the studio you go.

 

 The amount of bravery and determination of these artists spreads around the room like fire in the woods, to stand in front of your peers and try to hype up the crowd, to get them to feel the music you have created. You can walk away a loser or a winner, the point is you have to stand up for what you want.

 

 Win or lose there must be courage to try in the first place. There were times I felt like a small fish in a big pond. I didn’t have anything to offer at this point but I will. I made connections to be able to further my career. It will not happened over night and I’m not so simple minded to think it will not take more dues to pay to get there, for that I say, so be it!

 

Thanks Phoenix, My hotel room was great. The people I traveled with I consider family and brothers of sound, and hope to make them mass proud one day with the music I have created. A personal thanks to Scratch Dj Academy for putting me in a position to watch what it takes to make my dreams come true. Got to practice, the tables are waiting, the music is here, and my time will come!

 

DJ TOSHBIKO

SEEKING KNOWELDGE FROM THE CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE

((TRAIN WRECK DJ CREW- SCRATCH DJ ACADEMY STAFF))

 

 

  

 

ONE STOP SHOP-

PRODUCER’S CONFERENCE

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

 

MASS PROPS TO - SHA MONEY --DJ PREMIER –

SWIFT BEATS- DON CANNON ((CANNON! CANNON! CANNON!))

WENDY DAY-SCRAM JONES - Statik Selektah -   

DJ HAPA- PAUL-

 

Friday, August 10, 2007

Los Angeles Business Journal-By ANNE RILEY-KATZ-

Scratch Academy spins out turntable maestros

Posted date: 4/30/2007
Ph.D.-Jays

Scratch Academy spins out turntable maestros

By ANNE RILEY-KATZ
Los Angeles Business Journal

Student bodies don’t get more diverse than the one at Scratch DJ Academy in West Los Angeles.

On a given night, you can find 12-year-olds and senior citizens, accountants and janitors, all rubbing elbows in class. They are aspiring disc jockeys, learning the fine art of working a turntable from local radio fixture DJ Hapa, whose real name is Brandon Perdue. He runs the academy that he opened in 2004 out of his Rehab Records warehouse space.

"It’s really a music appreciation class, as much as a DJ-ing class," Perdue said. "People just open their eyes, or ears, to a new way of listening to it."

Regardless of the students’ motivation, things are spinning quickly at the academy. It has turned out about 2,500 graduates to date and now has six classes in the course catalog, including an introduction to mixing, advanced scratching, beat juggling and beat-making on a computer.

Perdue opened Rehab Records in 2001 in conjunction with online vinyl record sales operation, DJcity.com, that Perdue and two college buddies started while studying at UCLA. The business grew to the point where the trio shipped more than 100 orders a day, so they moved into the warehouse.

Once they got into the 2,500-square-foot space on Cotner Avenue, Perdue and his pals realized that they had the potential to go beyond a record sales operation and affiliated themselves with a DJ school in New York.

"We wanted to actually interact with people, with other DJs in the community," Perdue said. "Despite its size, the DJ-ing world is very niche, very tight knit."

They trolled junkyards to remodel the space by hand and give it an urban flavor that fits the name Rehab, an acronym for Real Experiences in Hip-hop and Beats. And the first semester the school opened there were 68 students who signed up – not quite the 120 students per session Scratch has now, but a fast start.

The classes may come relatively cheap at $300 a semester, but the goods a DJ needs to get the job do not. A basic setup of two turntables, a mixer, and speakers runs $1,600, and that’s before building a significant record collection to use in the pursuit of mix mastery. Some of the 18 staff members and instructors are paid out of enrollment fees (some of the staff is volunteer, though). The business clears $350,000 a year and awards scholarships to eligible students.

"I had been searching for the place like Neo looking for the Matrix," said Tosh Biko, a Scratch student who works side jobs to afford classes and commutes to the school each week via bus and train from his Orange County apartment. "I had always been looking for my instrument. It wasn’t drums and wasn’t guitar – it’s the turntables and records. This is serious if you are an artist; you love it with a passion."

Aside from spinning gigs at regular shows and at special engagements internationally, Hapa is also currently the resident DJ on the KTLA (Channel 5) "Morning Show" in Los Angeles.

"All of our professors are working DJs," he said. "If you take piano lessons you probably won’t be taking them from Elton John, but here you are learning from big names."

Each student must have a DJ name upon enrollment, and staff rarely knows any student’s formal name. One student, a freelance writer whom Perdue describes as "well over 50" – a testament to the age diversity welcomed at the institution – chose the moniker DJ Icy Hot.


http://labusinessjournal.com/article.asp?aid=65273097.2918314.1467076.6957148.5792184.074

Scratch - LA Spring Semester Showcase Saturday, April 30th 1-4pm Please join us as we showcase the DJ skills of Scratch - LA's current students & professors. Spring Semester I students will showcase what they've learned, while professors and celebrity guest DJs will perform live! The Spring Semester Showcase will also serve as an Open House for new students and their friends. Come through for FREE DJ tutorials! Please RSVP: info-la@scratch.com

SCRATCH DJ ACADEMY® OPEN HOUSE, JANUARY 8TH, 2005 Scratch DJ Academy– Los Angeles will host an OPEN HOUSE on Saturday January 8th from 3-7pm to preview the classes thru free DJ lessons. The family-oriented OPEN HOUSE will also celebrate the opening of its doors for classes which begin on Saturday January 15th, 2005. Scratch DJ Academy is the first ever DJ Academy to feature copy written curriculum and hands-on turntable training from celebrity DJ's; Los Angeles is its first location outside of New York City. The OPEN HOUSE will include a jam-packed schedule of events including: . Light Refreshments. Drinks provided by Vitamin Water and 32 Below Vodka The Los Angeles location’s first semester will feature the same ground breaking curriculum, lesson plans, instructional LP’s, professional teachers and class offerings made famous at the New York City headquarters. Scratch DJ Academy – LA will be opening inside of the premier record store, Rehab Records, located at 2324 Cotner Street, West Los Angeles. The classes will feature celebrity DJ’s such as Mr. Choc (Power 106 and Rawkus Records recording artist), Jahi Sundance, DJ Tony Naranjo and others. Students will be taught on eight DJ set ups featuring sixteen turntables. Classes will be part lecture and part lab. “We plan to educate beginners and professional DJ’s through a curriculum that treats the turntable as an instrument and the DJ as a musician, allowing students of all ages and backgrounds to bring their own creativity to the art form,” added Hapa, Academy Director for the Los Angeles location. About Scratch In early 2002, Rob Principe, the late Jam Master Jay from Run DMC (Jason Mizell) and Reg E. Gaines (author, Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk) created the Scratch DJ Academy® to educate amateur DJ's and enthusiasts by providing them with the necessary equipment and instruction to learn this popular art form. For more information, log on to www.scratch.com or contact Candice Clarke at 310-312-6599.