SUMMER TERM REGISTRATION AVAILABLE NOW
Summer Term courses are now open for registration in both New York and Los Angeles. Courses will once again feature celebrity DJ’s including Mr. Choc, GrandWizzard Theodore, Excess, Grandmaster Caz and more.

NEW YORK
Courses start on Saturday July 9th. Find out more>>
LOS ANGELES
Courses start on Saturday July 23rd. Find out more>>

Scratch – NYC Continues Workshop Series: Thursday, May 26th , 7-9pm
Scratch – NYC successfully launched its monthly workshop series in April. The event featured acclaimed DJ, producer and EMUOR label owner DJ Whatt providing a hands-on electronic music workshop. Based on the success of the event, Scratch is bringing him back for a workshop on Thursday, May 26th. Designed for beginner to advanced DJ's, the workshop will be focus on the skills and programming of electronic music. In addition to all students receiving hands on instruction, participants will receive a complimentary package of 5 EMUOR records as a takeaway. For more information or to sign up, please visit: www.scratch.com/classes/workshop.html

Scratch – LA Offers Scholarships
Each Term Scratch DJ Academy - LA offers three up-and-coming DJs a chance to learn to DJ for free, through the Scratch DJ Academy Scholarship Program. This past semester, Scratch - LA received over 20 submissions and awarded three DJCity.com Scholarships, each of which included gift cards to the premier online vinyl record store as well as a Scratch DJ Academy T-Shirt. Congratulations to Jake Muricia, Bobby Tejos and Gary Gordon!!!

The upcoming Term's scholarship includes the “Scratch DJ Starter Kit” – a record bag, t-shirt, (2) turntable needles, turntable slip-mats, and headphones. To submit an essay, please go to: www.scratch.com/la/contact/scholarship.html. The next deadline is June 20th.

Scratch Students Perform at Table 50
Two Scratch DJ Academy students will be performing at Table 50 on Friday, May 20th, 8-10pm. As part of the DJ 151 and DJ INT curriculum in New York, two students are selected each month to open at Table 50, one of the hottest clubs in New York City and recently ranked as the number one dance spot.

MR. CHOC

In addition to rocking the airwaves of Los Angeles' POWER106FM for the past 10 years, Mr. Choc has been reaching a nationwide audience through syndicated shows like the Fantastic Four (C-Minus, Rhettmatic, J-Rock and Mr. Choc). When in L.A., you can also find him rollin' with his Beat Junkies crew and at Scratch - LA as one of the head professors.

Scratch: How exactly did you get in DJ'ing/Production? When did you decide to become a DJ?

 
MR. CHOC:  Well actually, I started off as a b-boy, way back in the day, in the early 80s. I was always really into the music and actually got my first gig at my mom’s parties that she used to throw at the house. She had one of those old school 45 record players that would drop the records down, and after the last one played, I would have to go and flip the stack over… so I guess you could say that was my first experience DJ’ing!
I stared buying records in 1983, but finally started really DJ’ing in 1985 – that’s when I had finally worked enough hours at McDonald’s to buy my own set of turntables. As soon as I bought the turntables, I threw down the paper McDees hat, and became a DJ! At that time I was both DJ’ing and break dancing.
 
Scratch: Who was your main influence? What was your inspiration for becoming a DJ/producer?
 
MR. CHOC: The Local heroes: The Baker Boys, DJ Mastermind, and DJ Sparkle. I grew up listening to the KDAY mixmasters – Julio G, Tony G, Joe Cooley, and M-Walk. They were a huge influence on me. It was March 4th 1988 that the Baker Boys started their first show in Bakersfield, I will never forget that.
 
Scratch: What did you do to practice? What did you do to get better?
 
MR. CHOC: When I didn’t have equipment, I went to people’s houses. I was a total bugaboo. I’d knock on people’s doors and ask if the tables were free to spin or to make a mixtape, then I wouldn’t leave for hours. I still do that sometimes! (laughs)
 
Scratch: Having been in the DJ game for years, what would you tell people who are just getting into this art form?
 
MR. CHOC: Come to Scratch DJ Academy! Seriously, if you want to be a DJ, do it from the heart, and the money will come. Be passionate about it. PRACTICE! The glamour and glitz will follow, but first you have to be serious about your craft.
 
Scratch: Who have you enjoyed working with?
 
MR. CHOC: It has been my honor and pleasure to have worked the past ten years with Los Angeles’ Power 106 family. The ride continues. I love working with my Fantastic four, Beat Junkies family and most definitely my Scratch DJ Academy family.
 
Scratch: Has DJ’ing opened the door to some amazing opportunities for you?
 
MR. CHOC: Yes indeed I have met famous artists, gotten a lot of free stuff…the list goes on. Being on stage in front of hundreds of thousands of people is always an incredible opportunity. I hope to continue to do this DJ thing until they drag me off the tables.
 
Scratch: So what are you up to right now?
 
MR. CHOC: I am focused on holding down my position at Power 106 as the Mix Show Director, working alongside world class Power 106 mixers. The Fantasic Four Show keeps me busy on Friday nights, when I am not running around Los Angeles doing the club circuit, I have been traveling the world DJing which always keeps one busy.
 
Scratch: What kinds of projects do you see yourself getting involved with in the future?
 
MR. CHOC: Music production and beatmaking. I am currently working on syndicating “The Mr. Choc Show.” I have already done 2 years of syndicated radio, but this time around I want to do this for me – and by that I mean, not just for one radio station, but for radio stations all over the world.
 
Scratch: Do you have a website, where people can get more info about what you are doing?
 
MR. CHOC: Power106.FM, Scratch.com or beatjunkies.com
 
Scratch: What do you like best about Scratch DJ Academy?
 
MR. CHOC: Giving back. It is so fulfilling, after 20 years of DJ’ing, to teach someone from the ground up how to do what I do.

Scratch: What were some other DJing names you played around with before Mr. Choc?

MR. CHOC: Well, you have to understand something. Most of the DJs I know…they didn’t choose their names. I can get into my story and I got tons of names that I’ve been given - but that might have to be part II of the interview!!

Scratch: Is there anything else you want to add before we end this interview?

MR. CHOC: Oh, one last thing…my teaching partner, Professor HAPA is always right about everything in class.