Turns the Tables
Locations
Learn to DJ with a Real Pro!
LA County Library’s Turns the Tables series is a free 9 or 10-week DJ lab for beginners, age 15 to 21. Participants learn essential DJ skills and receive small business training from a professional instructor, utilizing STEAM and developing digital and musical literacies, in a safe, collaborative environment. A free community concert concludes the course; students showcase their skills and receive feedback from industry DJs.
Launched in Compton in February 2017, the award-winning program intended to counteract stigmas of violence and poverty faced by the community, offering young residents an opportunity to create art through music while increasing their job opportunities. Following this successful debut, the program expanded to South Whittier (September 2017), San Fernando (January 2018), East Los Angeles (May 2018), and Lancaster (August 2018). The series aims to inspire a future generation of creators, providing the skills necessary to launch successful careers.
Lancaster Turns The Tables
The fifth in the Library’s Turns the Tables DJ workshop series, Lancaster Turns the Tables was taught by professional DJ and Cal State LA professor Lynnée Denise. The free 9-week workshop started on August 24, 2018, and will end with a free community concert.
LA County Library will host a free live community concert on Saturday, October 20 at 2 pm at Lancaster Library with performances by talented student DJs who have completed the workshop.
East LA Turns The Tables
The fourth in the Library’s Turns the Tables DJ workshop series, East Los Angeles Turns the Tables was taught by DJ Moni Vargas, voted one of the best DJs in NYC. The free 9-week workshop started on May 4, 2018, and ended with a community free concert.
On Saturday, June 30, LA County Library hosted a free live community concert at the East Los Angeles Library with performances by talented student DJs who completed the workshop.
San Fernando Turns The Tables
The third in the Library’s Turns the Tables DJ workshop series, San Fernando Turns the Tables was taught by DJ Moni Vargas, voted one of the best DJs in NYC. The free 9-week workshop started on January 12, 2018, and ended with a community free concert.
On Saturday, March 10, LA County Library hosted a free live community concert at the San Fernando Library with performances by talented student DJs who had completed the workshop.
The concert featured artists and professional DJs as panelists: Lee Laamaj, DJ Warapo, and DJ Lynnée Denise.
South Whittier Turns the Tables
The second in the Library’s Turns the Tables DJ workshop series, South Whittier Turns the Tables was taught by professional DJ and Cal State LA professor DJ Lynnée Denise. The free 10-week workshop started on September 15, 2017, and ended with a community free concert.
On Saturday, Nov 18, LA County Library hosted a free live community concert at the South Whittier Library with performances by talented student DJs who had completed the 10-week South Whittier Turns the Tables Workshop.
The concert featured actress Melanie Eke as the Master of Ceremonies and three professional DJs as panelists: DJ Warapo, DJ Moni and Sha Sha Kimbo.
Compton Turns the Tables
Compton Turns the Tables was a free beginner’s DJ course for young adults age 15-21 held at the Compton Library in February 2017. It was the first of our “City Turns the Tables” DJ lab series.
Funded by an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant, the 10-week DJ course was taught by a professional DJ and Cal State LA professor Lynnée Denise. Students learned DJ skills, music history, and received business training.
The course concluded with a live community concert showcase celebrating student achievements, featuring celebrity panelists and performers. The concert provided an additional learning opportunity for the students—performing live in front of an audience, as much of the DJ experience has to do with reading the crowd—it was also an opportunity for students to receive valuable feedback from industry professionals.
Each student DJ’d a 10-minute set and then received feedback from the panelists—actress Dawn Lewis from “A Different World,” Tyler Perry’s music scorer, Elvin Ross, Rayan from boy band group Mindless Behavior, and actor Mandell Frazier from “If Loving You is Wrong.” All feedback was constructive and intended to help the students continue to build on their talents.
Between the student sets, the concert featured performances from local musical artists—pop sensation Kay Dee, rapper Lee Lamaj, R&B heartthrob Anthony Lewis, and hip-hop legend and actress, Yo-Yo. The Westbrooks Sisters from BET’s series #TheWestbrooks were also on site to wish the students success. Students, musical guests and celebrity panelists were all interviewed during a special pre-show red carpet by host Melanie Eke. The concert itself was hosted by KJLH 102.3 Radio DJ Lon McQ.
Compton Turns the Tables was supported in whole or in part by the US Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
