NextGen Beats Program Guide
MATTAHUNT Music & Technology Initiative
Ages 9–12 • 10 Weeks • 20 Sessions • 75 Min / Session
NextGen DJs Program Package
A hands-on music technology, rhythmic literacy, and creative youth empowerment curriculum preparing young artists for live performance and creative teamwork.
Music
BPM, Phrasing & Rhythm
Tech
Decks, Software & Audio
Creativity
Mixing, Loops & Style
Teamwork
Tag-Team & Feedback
Stage
MCing & Live Showcase
The 75-Minute Daily Framework (3 × 25-Minute Power Blocks)
TUES & THURS SCHEDULE
BLOCK 1 • 0–25 MIN
Hype & Rhythm Ignition
High-energy icebreaker, call-and-response, ear-training games, and concept hook to capture focus immediately.
BLOCK 2 • 25–50 MIN
Tech Lab & Skill Stations
Hands-on hardware practice in pairs: cueing, EQ swaps, transitions, beatmatching drills, and coaching rotations.
BLOCK 3 • 50–75 MIN
Live Cypher & Debrief
Open decks rotation, peer feedback round, mini-set showcase, gear power-down checklist, and daily reflection.
The DJ Creed (Engagement Code)
- 1 Respect the Mic & Decks: When someone is speaking or mixing, headphones down and all eyes on the performer.
- 2 Hype Your Crew: Zero negativity. We applaud courage, groove to peer sets, and offer constructive praise.
- 3 Clean Cues Only: Youth-appropriate edits only. Creative expression shines brightest with positive vibrations.
- 4 Tag-Team Spirit: Share booth time fairly. Promptly hand over headphones when the rotation bell chimes.
The Golden Fader (Gear Protocol)
- 1 The 5-Foot No-Zone: Absolutely no water, drinks, snacks, or gum within 5 feet of laptops, decks, or mixers.
- 2 Feather Touch Controls: Glide faders; never slam crossfaders or press jog wheels harder than a phone screen.
- 3 Cord & Cup Discipline: Place headphones around neck or on stand; never yank cables or pull cords from sockets.
- 4 Power Down Hierarchy: Monitors/speakers off first → Software quit → Controllers disconnected → Covers on.
Culminating Milestone: Youth produce a 3-track live set & perform in the Mattahunt Showcase.
PAGE 1 OF 5 • PROGRAM ARCHITECTURE
PART I • CURRICULUM MATRIX Weeks 1–5 • Foundations, Rhythm & Transitions
Sessions 1–10: The Technical & Rhythmic Foundation
Each session runs 75 minutes, structured into 3 timed 25-minute segments: Warmup Game → Hands-on Lab → Cypher Jam.
WEEK 1: WELCOME TO THE BOOTH & THE BEAT Core Objectives: Gear Anatomy, 4/4 Time, Downbeats
Session 1 (Tue): Anatomy of the DJ Rig DAY 1
0–25m: Human Drum Machine icebreaker (kick/snare/clap circle).
25–50m: Explore controller layout (Jog wheel, fader, pads, headphones).
50–75m: First Deck Play challenge: Load track, press Play/Pause on beat.
Session 2 (Thu): Finding the "1" & Phrasing DAY 2
0–25m: Drop Detective game: raise hand on beat 1 of each 8-bar bar.
25–50m: Setting Temporary Cue Point right on the kickoff drum transient.
50–75m: "Cue Tap Race": partner calls beat, DJ taps cue button right on the 1.
WEEK 2: TEMPO, BPM & THE PITCH SLIDER Core Objectives: Measuring Speed, Pitch Adjustment, Nudging
Session 3 (Tue): Deciphering BPM DAY 3
0–25m: BPM Simon Says (fast/slow dance to Hip-Hop 90 vs House 128).
25–50m: Pitch fader mechanics: speed up/slow down tracks to match tempo.
50–75m: The 100-BPM Sync Challenge: Match two songs without looking at screen.
Session 4 (Thu): The Jog Wheel Nudge DAY 4
0–25m: Rhythm Clave Pass: pass rhythmic accents around the circle.
25–50m: Outer platter rim nudging to fix drifting beats (trainwreck recovery).
50–75m: "Drift Rescue": Facilitator untunes beats; youth align them in 10s.
WEEK 3: SONG ARCHITECTURE & CROSSFADING Core Objectives: Intro/Outro Phrasing, Crossfader Curves
Session 5 (Tue): Song Anatomy Breakdown DAY 5
0–25m: Song Section Freeze Game (Freeze when the verse hits).
25–50m: Mapping Intro (16 bars), Verse, Chorus, Build, and Outro.
50–75m: Setting Hot Cue 1 at Intro, Hot Cue 2 at Chorus Drop.
Session 6 (Thu): The Clean Crossfade Blend DAY 6
0–25m: Volume Swell Relay (Group vocal fade up/down on hand signals).
25–50m: Crossfader curves: Linear blend vs Sharp cut; Channel faders use.
50–75m: First full 16-bar intro/outro crossfade blend across Deck A & B.
WEEK 4: EQ MAGIC & FREQUENCY CONTROL Core Objectives: Bass Swap, Hi/Mid/Low Bands, Filter Sweeps
Session 7 (Tue): 3-Band EQ & The Bass Swap DAY 7
0–25m: Blind EQ Guess (Youth guess which knob was cut by ear).
25–50m: The Golden Rule: "Never two kick drums at once" • Low EQ Swap.
50–75m: Clean Bass-Swap Drills: Cut Deck A bass on bar 1, release Deck B.
Session 8 (Thu): Filter Sweeps & Clean Exits DAY 8
0–25m: Underwater Radio Challenge: Describe sound textures.
25–50m: High-Pass Filter (HPF) and Low-Pass Filter (LPF) builds and drops.
50–75m: Partner Filter Relay: One DJ filters out, partner drops the new bass.
WEEK 5: LOOPING & MID-TERM PROGRESS CHECK Core Objectives: 4/8-Bar Auto Loops, Extended Intros, 2-Song Mix
Session 9 (Tue): Creative Looping Techniques DAY 9
0–25m: Loop the Beatbox Circle: Kids repeat a 4-beat loop continuously.
25–50m: Setting 4-bar and 8-bar auto-loops on instrumental intros.
50–75m: Buying Time: Using loops to extend short tracks during mixing.
Session 10 (Thu): Mid-Program Booth Review DAY 10
0–25m: DJ Gear Trivia Bowl (Points for naming knobs and shortcuts).
25–50m: Independent 2-Track Transition Showcase (EQ + Fader + Cue).
50–75m: Peer Affirmation Circle: Each DJ receives 2 positive shoutouts.
Milestone Check 1: Every student can cue on the "1", match BPM, and execute a clean bass-swap blend.
PAGE 2 OF 5 • SESSIONS 1–10
PART II • CURRICULUM MATRIX Weeks 6–10 • Performance, Stagecraft & Showcase
Sessions 11–20: Stagecraft, Tag-Team & The Showcase
Advanced mixing, scratching basics, audio effects, MC hype skills, and complete mini-set curation for public performance.
WEEK 6: SCRATCHING BASICS & SOUND FX Core Objectives: Baby Scratch, Vinyl Mode, Echo Out Transition
Session 11 (Tue): Turntablism & The Baby Scratch DAY 11
0–25m: Record Rewind Relay: Mimicking "Ahhh/Fresh" vinyl vocal samples.
25–50m: Platter hand placement: Baby scratch forward/backward on the beat.
50–75m: Scratch Drop Drill: 4 scratches → Release track cleanly on the 1.
Session 12 (Thu): FX Magic: Echo, Delay & Reverb DAY 12
0–25m: Echo Chamber Game: Calling out rhythmic echoes with voices.
25–50m: The 1/2 beat & 1 beat Echo-Out transition on outgoing song.
50–75m: The "Dramatic Exit": Cutting song abruptly with an 8-beat echo trail.
WEEK 7: GENRE EXPLORATION & CULTURAL ROOTS Core Objectives: Hip-Hop, Afrobeats, Latin & Pop Multi-BPM Mixing
Session 13 (Tue): Global Grooves & Syncopation DAY 13
0–25m: Global Rhythm Passport: Guess the origin (Jamaica, Nigeria, Bronx).
25–50m: Mixing Afrobeats (105 BPM) into Reggaeton (95 BPM) via word-play.
50–75m: Cultural Cypher: Students select cultural favorites to share and mix.
Session 14 (Thu): High-Energy Genre Switches DAY 14
0–25m: Tempo Jump Dance: Youth react to speed changes on the fly.
25–50m: Quick-Drop Cuts: Moving from 125 BPM House into 80 BPM Trap.
50–75m: Genre Clash Jam: Pair of DJs mix two completely distinct genres.
WEEK 8: CRATE DIGGING & ENERGY CURVES Core Objectives: Reading the Crowd, Set Structure, 3-Track Curation
Session 15 (Tue): Reading the Room & Energy Flow DAY 15
0–25m: Crowd Energy Charades: Act out bored vs hyped party crowds.
25–50m: Building an Energy Curve: Opener (Mid) → Peak (Hype) → Cool-Down.
50–75m: Draft your 3-Song Showcase Tracklist on the planning sheet.
Session 16 (Thu): Tag-Team DJing & Hand-Offs DAY 16
0–25m: DJ Hot Potato: Pass headphone cues without missing a beat.
25–50m: Booth communication: Hand signals for "30 seconds left", "Drop now".
50–75m: Duo Tag-Team Round: 2 DJs alternate tracks for a seamless 6-song run.
WEEK 9: MC SKILLS & TECHNICAL DRESS REHEARSAL Core Objectives: Microphone Technique, Hype Hosting, Full Run-Through
Session 17 (Tue): Mic Check & Stage Presence DAY 17
0–25m: Hype-Man Call & Response: "When I say Next, you say Gen!".
25–50m: Proper mic grip, avoiding feedback squeal, self-intro announcements.
50–75m: Live Set Trial: Introduce yourself, execute 3-song mix, sign-off.
Session 18 (Thu): Technical Dress Rehearsal DAY 18
0–25m: Rapid Booth Setup Drill: Cable check & controller link in 3 mins.
25–50m: Timed 5-minute showcase sets with live peer audience.
50–75m: Facilitator & peer rubric feedback: adjustments before the big day.
WEEK 10: SHOWCASE & INDUSTRY HORIZONS Core Objectives: Public Performance, Community Event, Career Exposure
Session 19 (Tue): Soundcheck & Career Pathways DAY 19
0–25m: Audio Careers Spotlight: Audio Engineer, Tour DJ, Radio Producer.
25–50m: Final Soundcheck: Set master volume limits & backup thumb drives.
50–75m: Stage layout prep: Lighting, banner placement & DJ run-sheet order.
Session 20 (Thu): The Mattahunt DJ Showcase FINALE
0–20m: Doors Open & Family Welcome: Youth DJ booth rotations begin.
20–60m: Live Solo & Tag-Team Showcase sets before family and community.
60–75m: Graduation Ceremony: Golden Fader Certificates & Cypher Jam.
Culminating Outcome: 100% of youth perform live, demonstrate EQ transitions, and introduce their sets.
PAGE 3 OF 5 • SESSIONS 11–20
TOOLKIT & FACILITATION Energizers • Gear Maintenance • Troubleshooting
Daily Icebreaker Playbook & Hardware Protocol
Instructional recipes for the first 25-minute engagement block and standard operating procedures for DJ equipment.
Five Signature 25-Minute DJ Icebreakers
- Human Drum Machine
Setup: Circle format. Assign 4 kids to Kick (chest thump), 4 to Snare (clap), 4 to Hi-Hat (tsk-tsk), 2 to Bassline (hum). Facilitator acts as BPM fader, speeding up or slowing down the human loop. Teaches multi-track listening.
- Drop Detective
Setup: Play an unfamiliar instrumental with an 8-bar or 16-bar build up. Students count aloud "1-2-3-4...". On the exact drop beat, they must strike a freeze pose. Whoever hits the 1 with perfect precision earns DJ DJ points.
- BPM Simon Says
Setup: Call out tempo genres: "Simon says 85 BPM Boombap!" (slow head nod), "Simon says 105 BPM Afrobeats!" (mid-bounce), "Simon says 130 BPM Techno!" (rapid steps). Eliminates hesitation in feeling tempos.
- Blindfold Cue Pilot
Setup: One student wears blindfold at the controller; partner uses only verbal rhythm cues ("Ready... drop on 3... NOW") to guide partner into tapping the Cue button on the downbeat. Teaches booth communication and trust.
Daily Station Readiness Checklist
- Power Sequence: Power laptop → USB controller → Open software → Power speakers last.
- Decibel Safeguard: Facilitator clamps master booth limit to 85 dB maximum to protect young ears.
- Sanitation Protocol: Disinfectant wipe over headphone pads and controller platters before each cohort.
- Cable Management: Tape down all ground audio lines; keep headphone coils off floor to avoid tripping.
Booth Emergency Troubleshooting
Issue: "No sound coming through master speakers!"
1. Check channel fader is up. 2. Verify Crossfader isn't assigned to opposite deck. 3. Check speaker power switch & RCA input connection.
Issue: "Cannot hear song in headphones before dropping!"
1. Check headphone CUE button is lit for that deck. 2. Rotate Cue/Master knob left toward "Cue". 3. Turn up Headphone Volume dial.
Issue: "Track speeds up uncontrollably when touched!"
1. Ensure Vinyl Mode button is active. 2. Make sure hands are clean and dry; check jog wheel touch sensitivity calibration.
Recommended Lab Rig: Pioneer DDJ-FLX4 or Numark Mixtrack Pro FX • Serato DJ Lite / Rekordbox • Over-ear DJ cans
4 LAB STATIONS (2 STUDENTS PER STATION)
Facilitator Note: Never allow students to pack cables roughly. "Over-under" coil technique taught in Week 1.
PAGE 4 OF 5 • TOOLKIT & PROTOCOLS
STUDENT HANDOUT & RUBRIC Showcase Curation • Assessment Matrix
NextGen DJ Set Planner & Performance Rubric
Fillable showcase planning blueprint for student DJs and official evaluation standards for certificate qualification.
DJ Showcase Curation Blueprint
Plan your 3-song continuous set for the Mattahunt Showcase.
DJ Name: _______________________ • Date: _________
| Track | Song Title & Artist | BPM | Energy Level | Transition Technique |
|---|
| #1 Warmup | | | [ ] Mid [ ] High | Opening scratch / Fade in on 1 |
| #2 Peak | | | [ ] Maximum Hype | 16-Bar Bass Swap on Chorus Drop |
| #3 Finale | | | [ ] Crowd Singalong | High-Pass Filter Sweep + Echo Out |
My Stage Mic Shoutout (Hype the Crowd):
Special Sound FX / Hot Cues Planned:
Youth DJ Competency Assessment Rubric Evaluated across 4 Core Disciplines
1. Rhythm & Timing
- • Master: Drops right on "1", counts 8/16 bars effortlessly.
- • Growth: Minor nudge needed; detects tempo within 5s.
- • Rookie: Needs visual waveform aid to hit cue point.
2. Technical EQ & Blend
- • Master: Flawless bass swap; no frequency mud or clipping.
- • Growth: Swaps bass on phrase; minor volume dips.
- • Rookie: Overlaps two basslines or cuts fader abruptly.
3. Curation & Energy
- • Master: Cohesive flow; crowd energy peaks naturally.
- • Growth: Good track choices; tempo jumps managed.
- • Rookie: Random song selections with jarring tempo shifts.
4. Stagecraft & Care
- • Master: Clear mic intro; hypes peers; treats gear with care.
- • Growth: Speaks on mic; follows equipment rules.
- • Rookie: Hesitant on mic; requires gear safety reminders.
NextGen Creative Pathways: Live DJ • Audio Recording Engineer • Music Producer • Radio/Podcast Host • Tour Manager
MATTAHUNT CERTIFIED
Showcase Certification: Students scoring ≥12 points receive the NextGen Resident DJ Pin.
PAGE 5 OF 5 • PLANNER & RUBRIC
