France is putting a Formal Spin on being a DJ.

Most DJs who work at clubs and parties come up from the streets. But in France... they are classically trained at the Ecole des DJ. OK, these are club DJ's and not radio DJ's, but it's interesting to note that France is preserving the "scratch." So the French feel the whole idea of DJ'ing is an art form.






French Jam: A School in Lyon Puts Formal Spin on DJ's Role


BY JOHN W. MILLER


LYON, France—Here in the country that gave us Molière and Monet, government support of the arts dates back for centuries.

But now it's come to this: a college for disc jockeys.

The state-backed curriculum at the Ecole des DJ lasts 18 to 22 months and covers subjects such as copyright law, music appreciation and stage lighting—as well as more subtle DJ arts like record scratching.

It's not for deadbeats. During one recent class, teacher Olivier Colignon—who goes by the professional name DJ Getdown—blasted a student for his narrow repertoire. "You have no pop-rock on your computer?" he barked. "No Nirvana? ...

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