A Semi Professional Presentation of DJing

So aside from DJing, in my professional life, I'm applying to dental school. Dental schools are interested in activities that involve manual dexterity, for pretty obvious reasons. UCLA's secondary application asked a question not specifically about DJing or even manual dexterity. However, I felt that mentioning DJing was applicable here. Read my response below:

Q. Describe your special skills, interests, hobbies, or athletic participation that you would like the Committee to consider.

A. Since I was 9 years old, Disc Jockeying has been one of my serious interests, and will always remain a major part of my identity. My eldest brother handed down the pro-audio equipment that I still own today, and over the years I’ve collected thousands of vinyl albums and singles of many music genres. Listening to music is my main form of stress relief, and playing it for other people allows me to express myself and provide others with enjoyment. Throughout my career I’ve performed at several events and popular nightclubs in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Southern California.

More recently I’ve dedicated my time to learning and practicing a specific DJ art form known as turntablism. A turntablist is defined as “One who uses the phonograph turntable as a component to make music as well as an instrument to literally play music”. In addition to simply playing and blending records like a regular DJ, a turntablist manipulates the record manually to create new beats and distinct sounds. One example of turntablism known as scratching produces different sounds depending on the rhythm and pattern of the DJ’s hand motions. Scratching has become very popular in modern hip-hop, pop, and rock music. In general, turntablism requires extremely precise hand movements, quick motor skills, and creativity that take years to develop. This aspect of Disc Jockeying has increased my level of appreciation for music and the component beats and sounds that music is made of. In the past I’ve won several local turntable competitions on the East Coast, and have performed at college campuses including St. Johns University, Rutgers University, and Harvard University