Investigating the Value of DJ Performance for Contemporary Music Education and Sensorimotor Synchronisation (SMS) Abilities

Two studies were conducted to establish a more complete picture of the skills that might be accessed through learning to DJ and the potential value of those skills for music education. The first employed open-ended methods to explore perspectives on the value of DJing for music education. The second...

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Main Authors: Douglas MacCutcheon, Alinka E. Greasley, Mark T Elliott
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Huddersfield, Department of Music 2016-11-01
Series:Dancecult: Journal of Electronic Dance Music Culture
Subjects:
Online Access:https://dj.dancecult.net/index.php/dancecult/article/view/557
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author Douglas MacCutcheon
Alinka E. Greasley
Mark T Elliott
author_facet Douglas MacCutcheon
Alinka E. Greasley
Mark T Elliott
author_sort Douglas MacCutcheon
collection DOAJ
description Two studies were conducted to establish a more complete picture of the skills that might be accessed through learning to DJ and the potential value of those skills for music education. The first employed open-ended methods to explore perspectives on the value of DJing for music education. The second employed experimental methods to compare the ability of DJs to synchronise movement to auditory metronomes. Twenty-one participants (seven professionally trained musicians, seven informally trained DJs, seven non-musicians) took part in both studies. Qualitative data suggested that all participant groups felt DJs learn valuable musical skills such as rhythm perception, instrumental skills, knowledge of musical structure, performance skills, and a majority agreed that DJing had equal relevance with other musical forms e.g. classical music. Quantitative data showed that informally trained DJs produced more regular timing intervals under baseline and distracting conditions than the other experimental groups. The implications of the findings for the inclusion of DJing into formal music curricula are discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-84ce4b21ea834bdbbb82b580ad3e6f732023-01-02T09:47:08ZengUniversity of Huddersfield, Department of MusicDancecult: Journal of Electronic Dance Music Culture1947-54032016-11-01814672624Investigating the Value of DJ Performance for Contemporary Music Education and Sensorimotor Synchronisation (SMS) AbilitiesDouglas MacCutcheon0Alinka E. Greasley1Mark T Elliott2Högskolan i GävleUniversity of LeedsUniversity of WarwickTwo studies were conducted to establish a more complete picture of the skills that might be accessed through learning to DJ and the potential value of those skills for music education. The first employed open-ended methods to explore perspectives on the value of DJing for music education. The second employed experimental methods to compare the ability of DJs to synchronise movement to auditory metronomes. Twenty-one participants (seven professionally trained musicians, seven informally trained DJs, seven non-musicians) took part in both studies. Qualitative data suggested that all participant groups felt DJs learn valuable musical skills such as rhythm perception, instrumental skills, knowledge of musical structure, performance skills, and a majority agreed that DJing had equal relevance with other musical forms e.g. classical music. Quantitative data showed that informally trained DJs produced more regular timing intervals under baseline and distracting conditions than the other experimental groups. The implications of the findings for the inclusion of DJing into formal music curricula are discussed.https://dj.dancecult.net/index.php/dancecult/article/view/557DJingsensorimotor synchronization (SMS)informal learning
spellingShingle Douglas MacCutcheon
Alinka E. Greasley
Mark T Elliott
Investigating the Value of DJ Performance for Contemporary Music Education and Sensorimotor Synchronisation (SMS) Abilities
Dancecult: Journal of Electronic Dance Music Culture
DJing
sensorimotor synchronization (SMS)
informal learning
title Investigating the Value of DJ Performance for Contemporary Music Education and Sensorimotor Synchronisation (SMS) Abilities
title_full Investigating the Value of DJ Performance for Contemporary Music Education and Sensorimotor Synchronisation (SMS) Abilities
title_fullStr Investigating the Value of DJ Performance for Contemporary Music Education and Sensorimotor Synchronisation (SMS) Abilities
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the Value of DJ Performance for Contemporary Music Education and Sensorimotor Synchronisation (SMS) Abilities
title_short Investigating the Value of DJ Performance for Contemporary Music Education and Sensorimotor Synchronisation (SMS) Abilities
title_sort investigating the value of dj performance for contemporary music education and sensorimotor synchronisation sms abilities
topic DJing
sensorimotor synchronization (SMS)
informal learning
url https://dj.dancecult.net/index.php/dancecult/article/view/557
work_keys_str_mv AT douglasmaccutcheon investigatingthevalueofdjperformanceforcontemporarymusiceducationandsensorimotorsynchronisationsmsabilities
AT alinkaegreasley investigatingthevalueofdjperformanceforcontemporarymusiceducationandsensorimotorsynchronisationsmsabilities
AT marktelliott investigatingthevalueofdjperformanceforcontemporarymusiceducationandsensorimotorsynchronisationsmsabilities