Austin, Texas–Beginning September 8, Austin’s MediaTech Institute, housed at the historic Arlyn Recording Studios, will offer 16 hour classes designed to teach and polish turntablism. Similar to the other vocational recording arts classes at the MediaTech Institute on mixing, mastering, songwriting, producing, audio engineering or live performance, it too is taught with the latest turntable, mixing boards, pod jacks, P.A.s and speaker rap instrument technology available.

“This is not a DJ class where people just play records. These turntablists are increasingly collaborating with other musicians, and the genre will continue to evolve at a rapid pace,” states Rob Fedson, MediaTech Institute Director.

A few terms that describe the art may be:

Baby: Simple movements of the record back and forth

Forward: The sound is played for a short duration, cut off, then rewound to beginning of sound.

Rub: The forward strokes and/or the backstrokes are slowed, as if decelerating.

Stab (Chop): Similar to a forward, but pushed forward and then cut off during rewind.

Chirp: During the forward stroke, the sound is gradually cut off while approaching the end of the stroke. As the backward stroke is initiated, the sound is turned back on.

Scribble: A very fast vibrating sound, done by holding the record idle and tensing the arm muscles, causing the record to move back and forth very quickly across a small point.

Tear: A three-step sound, performed with a forward stroke push and then rewinding the sound in two consecutive drags backwards.

Turntablism has advantages over the studio-tradition in hip-hop. The computer-music programs and synthesisers don’t allow their user to have a physical, tactile relationship with the music they create; there is no sense of rapport between the player and their instrument. Turntablism is obviously tactile since the turntablist literally plays the technology by using his fingers to scratch and manipulate the record.

For more information on MediaTech Institute go to www.mediatechinstitute.com or call 512.447.2002