Pretty much every time I open my phone, I’m hit with a video of someone showing off some flashy DJ tricks. I scroll for a bit more, see some more cool eye-catching DJ videos, but then I stop and think. ‘How much of this is actually going in?’ ‘What am I actually learning here?’
It’s a deeply frustrating feeling when despite putting in the hours of practice and seemingly doing the right things and watching the right videos, you’re not getting that much better at DJing.
In today’s super online, social media-focused world, there’s so much DJ content out there of varying quality and educational value. However, there’s a big problem with this endless scroll of DJ vids. It’s too much of a scattergun random approach to really help you make serious progress with your DJing. Here’s why…
Why Random Learning Doesn’t Stick
Let’s get something out of the way: platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram Reels are packed with amazing DJ content. You can learn transitions, tricks, gear tips, all for free.
If you don’t believe us, go and check out our Youtube, Instagram or TikTok (and maybe drop us a follow while you’re there…)
We put a big focus on sites like these as we absolutely love how accessible they make learning – anyone can find these short vids, follow along and learn a bitesize nugget of information. It’s great to have this sort of content, especially as a supplement to a more structured approach.
Our library of free videos on YouTube covers all sorts of info from lessons to gear reviews, but it’s no replacement for proper, structured learning.
But there’s a catch with this style of learning. It’s super easy to just get stuck in an endless loop of watching clip after clip, swiping through random 15 seconds videos just letting it all soak in. However, there’s no structure to this sort of learning. Nothing is building on what’s come before.
The issue is that these sorts of platforms are always going to push and promote the stuff that’s the most fun, flashy and engaging rather than things that are necessarily going to be the most useful and educational.
That means you might end up watching pretty complex transition techniques before you’ve properly mastered more fundamental things like phrasing and beatmatching. Or you’ll end up trying to learn some fancy tricks without first getting to grips with the musical ideas behind it.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re not making the progress you’d like, this might be the real reason why.
Learning without a plan
Think back to when you were in school. Did the teacher just flick through the maths textbook to a random page and decide that today you’ll be learning about calculus (before you’d even touched on more basic things like fractions).
You’d feel pretty lost, and there’s no way you’d be able to make real progress in your learning. And yet, when it comes to learning something like DJing, this is exactly how it works most of the time.
It’s no surprise, then, that so many DJS end up feeling stuck. It’s easy to pick up habits that seem useful on the surface but don’t actually move you forward. Online content is often designed just to make us feel productive, but, without a plan, most DJs end up skipping key skills and never really mastering the building blocks they need.
We’ve seen a lot of DJs get really frustrated at the fact that they’re not really maing much progress in their skills. Even though they might be putting the time in and practicing often, things just aren’t quite clicking. It can be especially disheartening watching your friends or favourite DJs pull off great mixes while you’re still struggling with your core skills.
This isn’t even just an issue for beginners. Lots of intermediate DJs learn some basic skills, a few transitions and then wonder ‘what’s next?’ Without the clear structure of what they should learn after ther basics, they begin to plateau.
That’s why having structure is so essential. It helps you build skills in the right order, stop wasting time, and actually see real progress with every session. Instead of just guessing what to work on next or doom-scrolling through tip videos, you’ve got a clear plan to follow.
The Secret to Real Progress: Structured Learning
If you want to improve quickly and properly as a DJ, it’s not just about how much time you put in, it’s about what you practise and when. Having a plan in place helps you learn the right things in the right order, so you’re not just repeating the same basic skills or skipping ahead too soon. You remember more, develop faster, and build real confidence behind the decks.
That’s why we created the Crossfader Learning Journey.
It’s a step-by-step path designed to help DJs hit their goals, whether you’re just starting out or you want to level up your skills. All our courses are laid out in a clear, logical order, with easy-to-follow lessons that build on each other in the best possible way.
We’ve developed this approach from years of teaching DJs at every level, and seeing what actually works when it comes to learning and making progress.
Here’s how it works:
- You take a short quiz
- We map out your DJ journey
- You follow a tailored learning path, with lessons that actually build your skills
If you’re feeling stuck or like you’re not making the progress you thought you would, we’re here to help. You can join Crossfader for free today and take our quiz to discover the best way for you to level up your DJ skills.
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