Women's turntablism workshops

Join the RRC for an immersive experience designed for music enthusiasts and

aspiring DJs who want to dive deep into the art of vinyl mixing and Turntablism.

These hands-on 2-hr workshops will provide you with the essential skills needed to

perform seamless & creative transitions on two turntables, allowing you to elevate

your DJing game.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or have some experience, RRC's workshops are

tailored to meet your needs.

Who Should Attend?

These workshops are perfect for any music lover identifying as female, transgender,

non-binary, or in the LGTBQ+ community whom are interested in learning about

DJing with vinyl—whether you’re a musician looking to expand your skill set or a

music lover eager to explore the world of DJ and Vinyl culture.

What is covered in the series?

1. Vinyl Mixing & Beat Matching

2. Scratch Lvl 1 (Beginner)

3. Beat Juggling & Trick Mixing

4. Scratch Lvl 2 (Advanced)

UPCOMING WOMEN'S TURNTABLISM WORKSHOPS & JAMS 2025

[COMMUNITY JAM SESSIONS]

Crates & Mates (monthly Thursdays) - commencing Thursday 13th February, Harry's HipHop Shop VIC (6-8pm).

[WAX CONTROL - SCRATCH & BEAT JUGGLING MASTERCLASS]

MUDRAT FREE ALL AGES AFTERNOON SHOW

Kicking off with a Turntablist showcase performance, this masterclass provides attendees the chance to catch fundamental Turntablist skills in action and decipher them step-by-step through demonstrations of techniques used. 

Details:  Wednesday 9th April, 2:30pm-4:30pm | The Retreat Hotel, Brunswick VIC 

FREE ENTRY. ALL AGES. Equipment provided.

[WORKSHOPS ROUND 2, 2025]

Workshop 1 - Sunday 16th March (Vinyl Mixing & Beat Matching), 12pm-2pm

Workshop 2 - Sunday 30th March (Scratch Level 1), 12pm-2pm

Workshop 3 - Sunday 13th April (Beat Juggling, Trick Mixing), 12pm-2pm

Workshop 4 - Sunday 27th April (Scratch, Level 2), 12pm-2pm

FUNDAMENTALS: A TURNTABLIST'S TECHNIQUE

an Introduction to Turntablism and the four main fundamentals of the art form; Mixing, Scratching, Beat Juggling, and Trick Mixing. 

This workshop will cover the content of RRC’s Women’s Turntablism Workshops (1-4) in a short 3-hr session as a way to introduce the techniques & fundamental skills that lay the foundations of the art form of Turntablism.  

Fundamentals is split into 2 sessions, with a 30-minute break for attendees between.

A; Equipment, Vinyl Mixing/Beat Matching, Scratch [Lvl 1]

B; Beat Juggling, and Trick Mixing. Scratch [Lvl 2].

Practice

- each attendee is provided the opportunity to practice hands-on the explained & demonstrated techniques before the session moves forward.

Conclusion & Q&A Session

- Recap of key points covered in the workshop

- Open-floor for questions from participants

- Resources for further learning (books, online tutorials)

THE ART OF RHYTHM: VINYL MIXING & BEAT MATCHING

A short, jam-packed introduction to the Art of Turntablism, including equipment

set-up and troubleshooting, Music Theory basics, and the fundamentals of beat

matching & mixing on Vinyl.

Introduction to Vinyl DJing

- An overview of vinyl culture and its significance in DJing

- Brief history of vinyl records and turntable

- Importance of learning to mix by ear

Equipment Setup

- Essential gear: Turntables, mixer, headphones

- Proper setup: Leveling turntables, balancing tonearms, checking needles

- Understanding the mixer: Inputs, outputs, and headphone connections

Troubleshooting: Handling common technical difficulties with equipment

Understanding Music Theory Basics

- Introduction to beats per minute (BPM) and tempo

- Structure of songs: Bars, beats, and phrasing

- Identifying key elements in tracks (bass drum, snare)

Beatmatching Fundamentals

- Definition of beatmatching and its importance in mixing

- Selecting tracks with similar BPM for practice

- Techniques for identifying beats: Counting and tapping rhythms

Cueing Techniques

- Cueing a track using headphones

- Finding the right starting point in a track

Step-by-Step Beatmatching Process

- Selecting two compatible tracks.

- Cueing the first track and starting playback.

- Cueing the second track while monitoring through headphones.

- Adjusting pitch control to match tempos.

- Aligning beats using visual cues (if applicable) or by ear.

Mixing Techniques

- 3 essential transition styles: Intro and Outro mixing, Cut Mixing, Blend mixing

- Timing your transitions for maximum impact (using song structure)

- Creative mixing ideas: Adding effects and layering sounds

Practice

-  each attendee will practice hands-on the explained & demonstrated techniques before the session moves forward.

Conclusion & Q&A Session

TB:

- Provide recap of key points covered in the workshop

- Hold open-floor for questions from participants

-Provide resources for further learning (books, online tutorials)

CONTROL THE ITCH: SCRATCH LVL 1 (BEGINNER)

A comprehensive 2-hour session introducing the fundamentals of ‘scratching’,

traditionally a term coined to describe different DJ techniques used to manipulate a

record to create percussive or rhythmic sounds, often referred to as ‘turntablism’ or ‘wax

manipulation’.

Level 1 Scratch (demonstrations & practice)

- Baby (open fader)

- Scribble (open fader)

- Tear (open fader) (forward, backward).

Level 1 Scratch Pt. 2 - Incorporating the cross-fader

- Stab (Quick)

- Chirp

- Transform

- Slice

‘Speaking’ a basic scratch ‘sentence’

How to create a pattern or sentence of musicality with scratch using the above

techniques

TTM

Turntablist Transcription Method

FEEL THE GROOVE, FIT THE POCKET: BEAT JUGGLING & TRICK MIXING

An immersive and inclusive workshop designed for both aspiring and experienced

DJs who want to elevate their turntablism skills through beat juggling and trick

mixing. This hands-on session is focused on the essential techniques, creative

strategies and performance tips & tricks needed to master the art of manipulating

beats and creating unique and diverse soundscapes.

Introduction to Beat Juggling

Understand the fundamentals of beat juggling, including how to mark your

records effectively and loop (repeat) sections of a track using two copies of

the same record, or two different pressings.

*Tips and tricks: Following the record/watching the clock, sticker points/digital

cues (DVS), record control & manipulation - ‘grip light; but firm’, training your

Muscle Memory (Myelin)

Basic Techniques

Learn essential techniques such as 2-bar and 1-bar backspins, tapping records to

slow them down, record speed & direction, and correct phasing when including the

use of scratching, beat juggling or trick mixing

Advanced Patterns

Explore more complex juggle patterns like chasing (the record), strobing, and learning how to combine these techniques with scratch for dynamic performances.

Trick Mixing Fundamentals

Learn how to incorporate trick mixing into your sets by using effects creatively,

layering sounds, and crafting unique and creative transitions. 

Practice Strategies

‘Carousel’ (Beat Juggle Relay) & collaborative juggling exercise

THE LANGUAGE OF SCRATCH: SCRATCH LVL 2 (INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED)

Expand your scratch vocabulary and flare with these intermediate-advanced

cut techniques., and combine the newfound knowledge of scratch to create fluent 'sentences'.

Level 2 Scratch (demonstrations & practice)

- Transform (3-click & 4-click, forward & back)

- Flare

- Orbit

- Crab

- Twiddle

Practice

- Class ‘Q&A’ scratch session

- Class ‘round-table’ 4-bar scratch cypher

PLUS

- Tips for turntablism training & health, exercises for maintaining muscle strength

& tendon stability

- Tools for continuous Improvement

 The regular workshop series (1-4) runs over the course of 8 weeks with a workshop every two weeks. Timeframes are to allow time for training turntablists to absorb & process information & properly practice routines provided in each workshop. Workshop schedules are released 3 weeks prior to commencement.

The RRC Turntablism Workshop Series is run at various independent locations such as hired community spaces around Melbourne city and interstate venues, and often these fees are non -refundable. Due to this, each workshop is to be pre-paid in full at time of booking. It is the workshop attendee’s responsibility to attend to each session, as bookings are non-refundable.

Limited Capacity (10), due to current limitations with equipment. Currently the sessions run with one to two setups and rotated for practice rounds between students.

Each workshop is $80 for the 2-hour session. Attendees are required to pay in advance of the series of sessions to secure a space in each. 

Restless Records Crew provides Turntables, Mixers, Slipmats, Records and Headphones for use during the sessions. Workshop attendees are requested to bring a notebook & pen, or preferred way of taking notes.