WHAT IS OONTZ KIDS DJ ACADEMY?
There’s no question about it – DJs and Producers are the new rockstars. They headline festivals, dominate the airwaves, and play catchy hits that everyone loves. But how do they do it? What is it that makes a great DJ so great? Where did they find that sound? Did they make it themselves? How are they seamlessly transitioning from one song to another? What are they doing with all of those knobs and buttons? And why are they always checking their headphones? Get started with OontzKids to learn all of this and much more:
Learn what a DJ does and why it’s so important. Through hands-on experience with real hardware (Pioneer DJ Controllers) and software (Rekordbox DJ), students will learn the principles of beats, bars, tempos, phrasing, and beat matching. Using tools such as hot cues, EQ, and filters, students will learn how to seamlessly transition from one carefully selected track to the next, eventually preparing to perform a live set.
Dive deeper into advanced mixing techniques, music library management, set preparation, and techniques such as slicing, sampling, looping, and even live remixing with a capella tracks and instrumentals. Learn how to collaborate with other DJs and mix into and out of each other’s sets as you build your own music library and export it for use in real world performances.
PRODUCTION & PERFORMANCE WITH ABLETON LIVE
In today’s music, we hear so many more sounds than could ever be produced with traditional instruments. Whether you listen to Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, EDM, movie soundtracks, or even country, almost all music today is produced and consumed using some sort of software. Welcome to the world of electronic music!
MEET THE OONTZRUCTORS
Dan Quinn
Founder, Owner and Oontztructor
Southlake, TX
As a career DJ, musician, tech enthusiast, and dad, OontzKids founder Dan Quinn has certainly found his niche in the music world, performing at events and inspiring the next generation of DJs and musicians. Whether packing the dance floor at a wedding, creating laid back vibes at a backyard pool party, or
belting out tunes for thousands of attendees at a corporate event, Dan has current, first-hand experience in not only performing for crowds of all sizes, but understanding the technical and “human” aspects of any performance, and sharing his experiences with others.
Dan has performed at nearly every major venue in the Dallas area including the American Airlines Center, AT&T Stadium, The House of Blues, The Bomb Factory, and most recently at Globe Life Park in Arlington for the Texas Rangers 2018 Season Opener. His client base includes major corporations such as PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch, BMW/Mini, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Barclay, TD Ameritrade, and countless small businesses, schools, organizations and party planners throughout DFW.
In addition to performing, Dan is a music technology enthusiast who is always experimenting with and embracing new ways of connecting people to music. As an emerging leader in the field, Dan is often flown around the US to perform at events, has been invited to perform (2017) and speak (2018) at The NAMM Show in California, attend the Ableton Loop Summit (2017) in Berlin, Germany, and has been featured locally in DFW News Outlets such as The Dallas Observer, The Dallas Morning News, CBS 11, Southlake Style, and 76092 Magazine.
Dan founded OontzKids in the summer of 2016 to rave reviews and has since been expanding the reach and course offerings of the program, spreading the Oontz to the next generation. Dan lives in Southlake, TX with his wife Danielle and 4 children. He holds an engineering degree from the University of Rochester and a Professional Certificate in Ableton Live from the Berklee College of Music.
paul mandeltort
Operations Guru and Oontztructor
chicago, il
When it comes to making music, there isn’t much that “mTort” doesn’t know. Affectionately (but not so jokingly) referred to as Dan’s CCE (Chief Consultant for Everything), Paul has played a crucial role in the development of OontzKids courses and the operations that keep it running.
Paul’s DJ Career began in Atlanta where he was an Electrical Engineering student at Georgia Tech and working for an event production company. Forced to take the decks in an emergency one night, Paul learned to DJ very quickly, and his DJ career was launched- playing countless private parties, proms, weddings, clubs, and even at the legendary Burning Man festival in Black Rock City, NV.
Paul and Dan have been close friends since they met working at a tech company in Austin in 2005. They still throw a big event together each year during their former company’s annual conference.
Paul joined OontzKids in December 2016 and was an immediate hit with the students. His phenomenal DJ skills coupled with knowledge, excitement, patience, and willingness to help (and his scratching skills) had the kids begging him not to leave to catch his flight on the last day. He has since flown into DFW to help with numerous DJ camps, and will certainly be back for more.
An expert in everything from sound systems to IT to parts sourcing to mechanical and graphic design, Paul plays a crucial role in helping OontzKids build the foundation it needs for future growth.
Paul is not a dad. He just acts like a kid, fits right in, and keeps Dan and KB from getting too old.
COLLAPSE
Kaivan “KB” Bazleh
Course Developer and Oontztructor
carrollton, TX
KB’s resume as a DJ is so extensive that there’s no way we could sum it up in a single paragraph, so we’ll just say this: He’s an incredible DJ, dad, and teacher. Having spent the last 15+ years of his DJ career, in Austin, KB and his family relocated to DFW in the fall of 2017, and OontzKids is better off for it!
KB is an open format DJ and Turntablist with a foundational style in Hip-Hop music. Translation: He does it all, and yes, he can scratch with the best of them.
He has shared the stage with world famous DJs and electronic music acts, held prime time residencies at some of the top clubs in Austin, DJ’d and MC’d for hundreds of weddings and private events, and has taught hundreds of students how to DJ and produce music at Dub Academy, where he also developed DJ and production courses using Serato, Traktor, and Ableton Live.
KB has shared the stage with such legends as DJ AM, DJ Craze, DJ Klever, A-Trak, Major Lazer, Zeds Dead, The Cool Kids, DJ Spinderella (Salt-n-Pepa), Aphrodite, and has been contracted to perform for A-list celebrities such as George Strait and Jessica Alba.
Many of his students have gone on to hold their own residencies, start their own DJ companies and open for notable performers.
As a dad himself, KB is a natural with kids and teens, helping each student to find their own unique style and run with it.
KB lives in Carrollton with his wife Emily and son Rowan. He graduated from The University of Texas in Austin and has been a full time DJ ever since.
COLLAPSE