Learning how to scratch

Jet, April 7, 2003

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Caption: * LEARNING HOW TO SCRATCH: DJ Sunshine (c), an instructor at the Scratch DJ Academy in New York, leads students Jennie-Sue Abarno and Kathleen Raulis in a class. The academy, founded by late DJ Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell (inset) of the pioneering rap group Run DMC, teaches others the tricks of the turntable, an education previously taught by word of mouth and sheer repetition. Courses of instruction include the history of turntablism, blending, mixing and how to create a successful mix-tape. The company, Scratch Media Productions, LLC, co-founded by Mizell and Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk author Reg E. Gaines and Rob Principe, educates amateur DJs and enthusiasts by providing them with equipment and instruction to learn this art form, providing benefits through symposiums, theater productions and consumer and educational publishing. Mizell died last year after he was shot in his recording studio in the New York City borough of Queens (JET, Nov. 18, 2002).