Hal Leonard ‘Start to DJ’ Program Brings More Students into Music

Hal Leonard, the legacy publisher of instrument methods and gear distributor, has produced the first cohesive DJ learning program that includes brand-name gear, proven instruction, and complete support for teachers.

The classroom course offers three instruction levels with components sold through retailers. It uses mixed media, including books, audio, and video, and it provides a teacher’s guide and a student physical workbook to provide an engaging experience to get students making and mixing beats quickly. The program can provide DJ gear as a lab station bundle, or product can be ordered separately. Industry-leading gear and software options include products by Pioneer DJ, Serato, Samson, Mackie, and Gibraltar.

The course management is developed and executed by Hapa Perdue, a 25-year veteran of performance and teaching. Known as DJ Hapa, he has built online DJ education with elementary, middle, high school and college programs. He is the author of First 50 DJ Techniques which serves as the cornerstone for the classroom method.

“I have dedicated my life to inspire and entertain,” Hapa says. “It all culminated in this classroom course, and I have seen it work. This will reach a new generation of future musicians. I am here to partner with teachers to help empower young people to have a deeper relationship with music.”

“Start to DJ is a gateway to music and Hal Leonard is in a unique position to bring a complete program to retailers who can reach the school market,” says Brad Smith, VP of MI Products Distribution. “Using the exciting world of DJ’ing with access to the right gear and content, we can reach new students. DJ’ing can teach basic music composition by understanding song structure, beats-per-minute, tempo, arrangements, melody, and rhythm. We are so excited to work with the right retailers and make this a huge new revenue and recruitment opportunity.”

DJ Hapa will be introducing the program at the NAMM Show Idea Center at 3-3:30pm on Friday, January 26 as part of his “New Opportunities in the DJ and EDM Market” presentation.

Interested retailers can contact the Hal Leonard E-Z Order Line at 1-800-554-0626 or sales@halleonard.com to source all the components and marketing materials to support a classroom or after-school DJ program.