Whether you’re stepping behind turntables for the first time or transitioning from CDJs, these private 1-on-1 lessons focus on building genuine vinyl skills through proper technique, beatmatching by ear and real-world club experience.

With over 25 years behind the decks, Lisa May brings a disciplined and structured approach to vinyl DJing that has been refined through countless club and festival performances.

Meet Your Mentor

Lisa May is an Indigenous Australian techno DJ and producer with over 25 years of experience behind the decks.

Originally emerging from the hard dance, hardstyle, hard techno and trance scenes, Lisa performed at major events across Australia including eight appearances at Defqon before transitioning into techno, where she has built a reputation for technical precision and musical depth.

In 2023, Lisa joined the resident roster at Eat The Beat, performing alongside some of the world’s leading techno artists and appearing at internationally recognised events including Amsterdam Dance Event, Carl Cox’s PURE showcase, Sydney Mardi Gras, Revolver Upstairs and Hardware Piknic.

As a producer, Lisa has released music on Volta Records, Codex Recordings, FE Chrome, Reload Records and Kaligo Records, with her productions receiving support from DJs around the world.

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What You’ll Learn

• Turntable setup and operation
• Vinyl handling and cueing
• Beatmatching by ear
• Pitch control fundamentals
• Timing and phrasing
• EQ fundamentals
• Transition techniques
• Developing confidence behind the decks
• Vinyl setup and maintenance
• Club-ready vinyl skills

Lisa’s Teaching Approach

Vinyl is a unique discipline that requires a completely different approach to digital DJing.

Students coming from CDJs often discover that much of what they know doesn’t transfer directly. Learning to beatmatch without a BPM display is a completely different skillset, and developing a feel for the physical relationship between the record and the turntable is where almost everyone starts from scratch.

For this reason, lessons are tailored to each student’s individual pace and experience level.

Weeks 1–2

• Building a feel for the turntable and the record
• Understanding weight, resistance and physical control
• Learning how to manipulate the music using touch and movement
• Developing foundational listening skills

Week 3 Onwards (Progress Dependent)

• Introduction to mixing between two records
• Beatmatching fundamentals
• Tempo control and correction
• Building confidence in longer transitions

Core Goal : Beatmatching by ear

A word from Lisa May :
‘This is the foundation of vinyl DJing and the benchmark every student works toward throughout their lessons.
Homework can be provided for students who have access to turntables at home, however it is not required.
Progress varies enormously from student to student. Some people pick it up within a few weeks, while others take considerably longer, and that’s completely normal. Lessons are structured around where each student actually is rather than following a rigid timeline.’