Today we are celebrating School of Scratch Student Jairo aka DJ Jairox from Brazil , who has recently completed the 100 Days of Scratching challenge! ??❤️
Here is Jairo’s 100th day post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEIpgDAAgy7/
Huge congrats Jairo!
I asked Jairo some questions to help those of you who are considering doing the 100 Days of Scratching Project.
Interview
Welcome Jairo! Can you give us some background on your interest in music, DJing and scratching?
I’ve always had direct contact with music. Since childhood I used to play samba and already tried to play some percussion instruments. I can easily play instruments and create music. About djing and scratcing, it happened naturally, suddenly I found myself interested, I tried to know more about the culture, best known DJs and I was impressed in how we can express ourselves through Scratch! Then I saw myself making several drawings of Scratch on top of songs I already knew, but to “translate” from the mind to the hands requires a lot of training! That’s when I started practicing and researching for tutorials. The main goal is playing exactly what is in my mind. I’m still a long way from it, but I get there.
What made you decide to undertake the 100 Day Challenge?
Challenge my creativity, create more discipline and have focus on my ultimate goal.
What was your approach?
Thinking, writing, planning and acting. While listening to my playlists or DJs’ songs that I follow, there’s always some instrumental that catches my attention. That’s when I think of several notations of scratch on this beat, write down the notation and practice until I execute the movement I thought. When I practice I usually choose two techniques of Scratch per month and I use SOS’s gradual instrumental in 8th notes, 16th notes and in some cases 32nd notes, which would be almost two hours of training per day.
What is your recording and posting workflow like?
Normally I record with my iPhone, which has a very good camera, record the audio by Serato (AUX output from the mixer to the AUX from SL3) and edit my video in Adobe Premier.
My posts have at least 2 bars of Scratch or two stroke. But there were days I was more inspired and I did it for more 😀
What are your top tools / apps / software / equipment to capture and edit?
iPhone to record and Adobe Premiere to edit.
App: Air Transfer, to transfer the video from PC to my mobile.
What did you learn?
Not putting so much force on the disks; Adjusting the arm of the record to improve my movements; Positioning of the hand and cue point on the vinyl, adjustment of volumes between sample and instrumental. Try some effects on samples.
What were some of the highlights of the 100 Day Project for you?
Remarkable improvement in Scratch; Increased physical endurance (I had no idea how much Scratch would demand of my arms, shoulders and back hahaha); Increased my creativity flow.
What helped you on your way?
- Never write down one idea later, if it come to your mind get the paper and take the note, maybe it will not be relevant in the moment, but take the note! This will develop your creativity. When you don’t have a notebook, use the phone. A combination of musics. A mini routine. A scratch notation.
- Start from the beginning. Sometimes we put N obstacles and “IFS” in the path that we give up before trying. Start with what you know and with what you have in that moment will put you out of your comfort zone.
- Discipline is everything.
- Celebrate small achievements.
- Always remember your main objective. Doesn´t matter if you have the technique, the theory or the history if you don´t have purpose.
- Open the mind. Try new instrumentals, different rhythms and new samples for scratches, these are examples that helps a lot.
- Do not compare yourself, discover and believe in your own style. One of the main lessons.
- Support the culture of turntablism.
- Have mentors, learn from others.
- Training 15 minutes per day is better than nothing.
What didn’t work?
Keep up the daily rhythm.
What was the most challenging part and how did you deal with that?
Practice on exhausting days. But I always visualized my goal to stay focused.
What are your top tips for anyone who wants to undertake this challenge?
Start from the beginning, it was no different with the champions Djs, BABY SCRATCH was the school of all of them. Do what you can, with what you have and where you are at the moment! Ask yourself often what the purpose of this is.
If you were to do this challenge Again, what, if anything would you do differently?
I’d try a little more freestyle.
You are a School of Scratch student. What has your school and learning experience been like?
Incredible! The SOS teaching method helped me a lot. So much so that nowadays my plan is based on the school’s training spreadsheet. In addition I have applied the method of Deliberate Practice.
How do you approach ongoing learning and staying fresh?
Stimulating my creativity and practicing more freestyle.
Do you have any wisdom on learning that you can share with our students?
Don’t think too much, if you feel you should do the challenge, just do it.
What is next for you?
Practice until I reach my goal, participate in some national championships and explore more my music library.
Where can we find you online?
Instagram: @djjairoox
Twitch: @djjairoox
That’s a wrap!
Thanks Jairo! It was great to witness your progress over the 100 days, thank you for sharing with us!
Thank you for being part of our Supa Scratch Crew. Looking forward to seeing your continued progress.
About 100 Days of Scratching
100 Days of Scratching is a project I started and completed (see here) and have been encouraging my students to do the same – as a way to get in the habit of daily practice, documenting progress and connecting with others.
Jairo joins fellow School of Scratch Students aka the Supa Scratch Crew: Mike Marble, Ouille, D Supreme, Robert, Jenny Pocket, Eric Spindler, Roli Rho, Andrei, Jaden, Molino, Jamie, Jerry, Alina, Toby, Jay Rakim, Vanessa, Julian, Crystal, Smallimus, Allexia, Thomas, Ashley, Adam, Erick, Magnus, Roly G and Denise who have all completed the 100 Days of Scratching project. What an amazing crew of creators!
Wanna take part in the 100 Days of Scratching Project?
You can take part in the 100 Days of Scratching project and join our group of supportive DJs here:
Join the 100 Days of Scratching Challenge
If you are curious about learning with School of Scratch you can check it out here and sign up below to get 2 free lessons to get you started.
Happy Scratching! 😀
– Emma Short-E