BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — Teens can take their talents to the turntable this fall at a free DJ series from the Brooklyn Public Library’s Bedford branch.
Remix Academy comes to the library on Franklin Avenue, near Hancock Street, to help teens learn DJ and life skills, according to organizers.
Working with partner group Building Beats, students ages 14 through 18 will participate in weekly, two-hour music production workshops.
Children’s librarian Christina Ferrari pitched the idea to BPL’s program, Bklyn Incubator, which provided funding for the initiative.
“We’re really trying to reach out and engage the teen population in our immediate neighborhood,” Ferrari said.
“Music is such a huge part of their lives and it’s a great way to pique their interest to get them into the library.”
Session leaders will cover topics such as artists from Bedford-Stuyvesant, sampling, the importance of diversity, the music business and song structure and use laptops, DJ software, headphones and Numark controllers provided by the library.
Each student will work on their own sets which will be presented to the community during a final presentation in October, Ferrari added.
“We are hoping they learn a little bit about themselves, gain confidence and basic life skills like learning how to stick to a commitment, deal with critiques from peers and instructors,” she said.
Participants can also receive information on resume-building and careers.
“By coming to programs we are connecting them to resources that they might not have and positive peer and adult influences that they might not be getting in their daily lives,” Ferrari said.
“It’s opening their eyes to other opportunities they might not be thinking about.”
The Saturday series kicked off on Sept. 17 and and will continue for six weeks. Spots are still available for students to attend on Sept. 24.
Other free programs from the Brooklyn Public Library and Bklyn Incubator include literary and technology workshops highlighting food justice in Brownsville and an ancestry writing series at DeKalb Library.
For more information on Remix Academy, visit the Brooklyn Public Library website here.
