IAP 2021: DJ History, Technique, and Technology

Independent Activities Period 2021

DJ: disk jockey
Selector, crate digger, musical host, turntablist

This series looks at the evolution of music, technologies, and practices of the modern dancefloor DJ. Join us every Friday afternoon for discothèque history and classic grooves!

Zoom link: https://mit.zoom.us/j/94475548614
Twitch link: https://www.twitch.tv/djphiliptan

Schedule
• Jan 8: Vinyl records / Soul & Reggae
• Jan 15: Sound systems / Disco & Hi-NRG
• Jan 22: Analog mixers / Hip-Hop & Breakbeats
• Jan 29: Digital audio / House & Techno

Each session will start with a talk on developments in the DJ’s tools and craft over five decades of dance music. This year, we will spend more time understanding the techniques DJs invented to weave different songs into a night of entertainment, with close-ups of the equipment while demonstrating live mixing and blends.

Then join us for an hour of listening to a music genre that fueled those changes, inspired creativity, and reimagined the dance floor.

You are welcome to join us for any part of the series. .

About the speaker: Philip Tan is a research scientist in CMS/W who started the MIT Dance Mix Coalition in 1998.