Contemporary Music Making and Learning DJing in New York

DJing isn’t just about mixing tracks; it’s a social process, an urban history and a radical form of community learning in the heart of New York’s club scene. DJing in New York offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how underground electronic dance music DJs in New York learn their craft, build careers and navigate the ever-shifting world of nightlife. Through immersive research, Eva J. Egolf reveals how DJing is more than a technical skill – it’s a deeply social process, rooted in friendships, enculturation and access to professional networks. From honing beatmatching techniques to navigating the politics of club culture, these DJs rely on community as much as individual talent. Situating DJ learning within broader conversations on race, gender and LGBTQ+ identities, this book expands our understanding of popular music education and the role of electronic music in shaping urban cultural history. It will be an illuminating resource for music educators, scholars of EDM and club culture and those fascinated by the intersection of music, identity and underground nightlife. Eva J. Egolf earned a Ph.D. in music education from New York University. She lives in the Bronx and teaches elementary school band in New Rochelle, New York, USA. DJing in New York depicts the initial learning processes of a group of underground electronic dance music club DJs in New York and follows them throughout a portion of their career to gain insights as to what and how these popular musicians learn, develop careers and thrive. What unfolds is a story of a social process of musical learning in which DJs develop strong networks of friendship to initially learn their craft and later on to navigate the perils of nightlife and build careers. This type of situated learning is dependent upon friendships and is intrinsically linked to the dynamic context of an underground clubbing scene in New York. Enculturation in this nightlife scene, access to professional performers and strong friendships distinguish these musical learners among popular musicians. Because these features add a new dimension of understanding to the learning practices of popular musicians, this book is of primary interest to music educators, particularly those interested in popular music education and community music. It is also relevant to individuals interested in popular music studies, especially scholars of electronic dance music culture.

Pagina's: 262, Hardcover, Intellect Books