Ashley aka Ashman DJ

I am Ashley aka Ashman DJ… I am a Dance Music Dj/Producer and Tutor of Dj’ing & Controllerism at artpeggios in London. 

My instrument: Turntables / CDJs / Native Instruments – Traktor S2 (Controller)

The class I teach is a weekly Dj class using the industry leading Traktor dj software and Traktor Kontrol S2 hardware by Native Instruments. More info about the class: http://www.artpeggios.com/programme-and-fees/music-tuition/dj-and-electronic-music

My website: http://www.ashmandj.com 

Vision of your relation with Artpeggios as a teacher:

I have been dj’ing for over 10 years now and my journey has taken me through music production, live performance, radio presenting/hosting and now teaching: which I really enjoy. I was introduced to artpeggios by a good friend of mine who is also a teacher here. I have taken part in events which Artpeggios has held such as their Student Concert and I am dedicated to working towards constantly improving the dj course for all students.

How do you see your teaching methods evolving and the way you pass on to your students your knowledge?

I believe my teaching methods will naturally evolve and develop over time as I gain more students and these new groups are both diverse in terms of their musical preferences and background. Also as my students become more knowledgeable and skilled in what they are doing they will require more deeper insight and instruction into all the finer points of mixing/dj’ing. The great thing about teaching a course like the DJ Class is that the subject matter is alot wider than people think and it has alot of historical and cultural context which comes with it also, so there is always something new to learn and discover… and of course coupled with the fact that the music scene is always changing as time moves on and new superstar dj’s and artists arise, this makes it a really exciting and informative programme to be involved in! Also, as new technology is made available it will definitely change the way dj’ing using controllers is taught.

What is your aim as a teacher?

My aim as a teacher is always to ensure that my lesson is productive and that my students come away from the class having learned new skills; gained some valuable knowledge about their specialist area of interest; experimented with and expanded their creative abilities; collaborated, communicated and worked well with each other and last but by no means least: had FUN!!! 🙂

Why Artpeggios?

Artpeggios is cool, colourful, vibrant, creative and full of energy. The students and teachers are all passionate about what they do and are able to reach their full creative potential through expert guidance & tuition,  hard work & practice, being imaginative and having fun! The school also has great resources and facilities… in fact some of the best I have seen anywhere in London.

Why in London? Other activities you may have?

I am a Londoner and I love London. There is always so much to see and do here and you can never get bored of the place. I see London as one of the main focal points for music in the UK (especially Dance and Electronic music) so I am lucky to live and teach here!

Other activities – I am a busy guy I guess… other music related activities I am involved in include: music production (either in the artpeggios studio or in my own at home), releasing and promoting my music, making new mixes/podcasts/cd’s and working on launching my own record label.

Do you perform in London or anywhere else?

I have been dj’ing in London (at various clubs, bars, private parties and on the radio) and other parts of the UK for many years now and the last couple of years I was privileged to be a resident dj at a well known London based gym called GYMBOX.

Your favorite artists:

my record collection is actually very eclectic and diverse… I have to say though that my favourite records are those from artists such as: Michael Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC, Miles Davis, George Benson, Luther Vandross, Omar, Soul2Soul… I guess being a child of the 80’s explains this! Some of my current favourite UK artists include the likes of recent Mercury Music Prize nominees & winners: James Blake, Disclosure, Dizzee Rascal, Jessie Ware and Katy B.