The Beat Shop is a music production studio and practice space, which includes a small recording booth, a versatile work space, and a lounge. The shop has multiple sets of DJ turntables and mixers, live instruments, and digital drum machines and samplers. Our computer stations have software for recording, sequencing, and creating new music.

In Beat Shop students explore music of all forms, mainly focusing on the foundations of hip-hop. Students go through projects devoted to reading music, beat making, “screwing and chopping”, sampling, MCing, and mixing. Additionally, participants work with writers to write lyrics and learn to express themselves in new ways. After going through different aspects of music-making, students focus on their interests, from production to DJing or MCing, to playing live instruments or doing promotion. Instructors in the Beat Club work with the students to find the best way for them to use their skills and interests, finding specialized music teachers, organizing CD release parties or going to MC and DJ battles.

Check out hot beats and rhymes from the 3 week Beat Shop 2007 summer session here