DJing Tops the List of Ireland’s Most Sought-After Creative Careers.

Research from Remitly analysed Google searches across 145 countries, looking specifically at searches such as “how to be…” and “how to become…” rather than conventional job searches. DJing ranked tenth among all careers searched globally and was the second most searched-for career within arts and culture, behind only acting.

The Irish Mirror has also reported DJing as the top dream career in Ireland. Of course Google searches aren't the same thing as employment statistics. What the research measures is aspiration, the kinds of things people are curious about learning, pursuing and potentially imagining themselves doing.

For schools, that may be the most interesting part.

Meeting young people where their interests already are

The ways young people experience and create music have changed significantly. DJ controllers, production software, streaming platforms and accessible creative technology mean that making and performing music no longer begins and ends with traditional instruments.

For some students, their first meaningful experience of actively making music might be mixing two tracks together, creating a beat on a laptop or experimenting with effects.

That doesn't replace traditional music education.

It can provide another door into it.

At NextUp Arts Collective, we've seen first-hand how quickly students engage when they're given the opportunity to get hands on with DJ equipment and contemporary music technology.

A DJ workshop might initially feel like something completely different from a traditional music lesson, but underneath it students are working with rhythm, tempo, phrasing, musical structure, listening, creative decision-making, technology and performance.

From DJing to creating music

DJing can also be an accessible introduction to the wider world of music technology.

Once students begin asking how was this track made?, the natural next step is often music production.

That's why alongside our DJ workshops, we're increasingly developing opportunities for students to experience music production and digital music-making moving from selecting and mixing existing music towards creating something of their own And with technology playing an increasingly important role across education and music, giving students opportunities to encounter these tools early can help them understand that there are many different ways to participate in music.

More than becoming a DJ

Not every student who takes part in one of our workshops is going to become a DJ  nor is that the objective. For us, the value is also in introducing young people to new creative possibilities.

One student might discover DJing. Another might become interested in producing music.

Someone else might become fascinated by live sound, events, radio, recording, performance or another part of the creative industries entirely. Sometimes the most valuable thing a workshop can do is simply allow a young person to discover. 

Bring contemporary music technology into your school

NextUp delivers practical DJ and Music Production workshops for schools across Ireland providing the equipment and facilitation needed to give students a genuinely hands-on introduction to contemporary music technology.

Planning TY, or other year group activities for your school or youth organisation in Ireland? Explore NextUp's workshops: nextupartscollective@gmail.com