by Jeremy Moore
The Truman Middle College alternative high school launched its DJ Academy for teens to experiment with creating music, now running Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Fridays from noon to 2:30 p.m., in room 2420 of the Main Building.
Started this summer by Principal Gershon Jackson, the academy creates a space for students to rejuvenate: “I want to give students a place where they can do something they enjoy after a long day.”
The room is outfitted with state-of-the-art synthesizers for creating unique soundscapes, touch-sensitive turntables that respond to the slightest movements and hi-fi speakers capable of reproducing the faintest whisper or deepest bass drop a student can make.
One student participant Mia spoke about the impact of this program: “The DJ Academy is a gift and has changed my life… I was shy at first but didn’t give up; I was able to find myself.”
In an email interview, Professor of Sociology Madeline Troche-Rodriguez, PhD, highlighted the benefits of programs like the DJ Academy: It gives students a platform to “speak candidly about the challenges they face and their aspirations.”
She said this program promotes a sense of belonging for people who need one: “Music is medicine, one that heals the soul and unites those from marginalized and minoritized communities.”
DJ instructor Joseph Alexander fosters an energizing oasis at the Academy to build student motivation and nurture an esprit de corps: “You learn something new every day,” he tells eager students.
Principal Jackson is gearing up for a post-Thanksgiving expansion to meet the overflowing waitlist of students who want to become superstar DJs.
The UPTOWN EXCHANGE 