Students learn the ABCs of DJing with Midtown Jack

A group of Blackfriars students has put a new spin on learning.

Year 12 students Harry Boyd-Turner, Harrison Dallimore, Danny Nguyen and Seb Taylor were yesterday mentored by Caleb Roach – aka DJ Midtown Jack – ahead of their own silent disco DJ sets as part of the upcoming Prospect Art Walk.

Midtown Jack – described as “one of the most explosive artists in Australia’s entertainment scene” – taught the boys how to best mix songs for a seamless DJ set, taking into account a number of factors, including feel, beat and key.

“Midtown thrives off creating insane media content and incorporating electrifying live performance to enhance electronic dance music,” his bio reads. “(He) has performed all over Australia at clubs and festivals and his weekly live-to-air radio show, The Session, has over 50,000 listeners and a music catalogue with over three million streams.”

Ahead of his own DJ set, Harry, Blackfriars’ 2023 Music Captain, said it was amazing to work with Midtown Jack.

“Each of us, irrespective of our prior knowledge, walked away with enhanced DJing skills, thanks to Caleb’s expert instruction,” said Harry, who is studying DJing as part of his SACE Stage 2 Musical Exploration subject and performed a DJ set as part of the recent St Dominic’s Day celebrations.

He said the Prospect Art Walk silent disco, where participants wore headphones to listen to the music, promised to be a “unique and memorable event”.

“A silent disco offers attendees the thrill of dancing to tunes played directly into wireless headphones, creating an intimate yet collective musical journey,” he said.

“The highlight? All four of us will be behind the decks, ensuring a diverse mix of tracks that cater to every musical taste. Whether you’re familiar with silent discos, or new to the concept, it promises a great evening of art, music and community. We hope to share this vibrant experience with as many of you as possible.”

The 2023 Art Walk, on 18-19 August, will see Prospect’s streets, laneways and business bursting with art and immersive experiences, including live painted and augmented-reality murals both nights.

The Blackfriars students will be in charge of the silent disco sets on the Saturday night (19 August).

Our thanks to Mark Crabtree and the team from the City of Prospect for facilitating the workshop and giving our students the opportunity to run the silent disco.