Jim Reiss

I fundamentally believe in the benefits of music education and the use of DJ skills to achieve them.

I established DJ School UK in 2013 to provide musical engagement in a contemporary format for that cohort of hard to reach young people who are not interested in the more traditional or established instruments. 

Under my management DJ School UK has developed the art form of DJing while engaging thousands of young people under a non-profit, inclusive ethos.

The DJ School UK teaching method allows anyone to be engaged at the touch of a button, but encourages and educates at levels of demand equivalent to those of traditional instrumentalists. 

I have 20 years experience working with schools, colleges, FE and HE offering support right through GCSE to MA. DJing as an engagement tool excels in Pupil Referral Units, with young people and children who are NEET, SEN(D), SEMH, looked after, from households suffering from economic deprivation or facing other challenging life circumstances that may obstruct their ability to engage with music.

Consulted with AQA on the specification for DJ Skills in GCSE music.

Vocational consultant to LCoM's Foundation Degree in DJing.

Developed AQA Unit Award Scheme certifications.

Working in partnership with The Leeds Music Hub (LMEP) I developed tutorial videos, resource booklets, teacher guides, student worksheets and CPD training to assist the delivery of DJing at all levels.

Member of the Arts and Humanities Research Council–funded network called Contemporary Urban Music for Inclusion Network.

Contributing author to the chapter "Pursuing diversity and inclusivity through hip hop music genres: Insights for mainstream music curricula" in the "The Routledge Companion to Creativities in Music Education". Viewing the plurality of creativities in music as being paramount importance to the field of music education, this volume provides a wide-ranging assemblage of over 50 chapters, addresses theory, practice, research, change initiatives, community and broadening perspectives which advance the disource on creativities in music education. (Routledge, 2023)

Contributing author to the recently released "Music for Inclusion and Healing in Schools and Beyond: Hip Hop, Techno, Grime, and More". Exploring projects, programs and practices that feature contemporary popular musics (OUP, 2023)

Most recently I have become available as a guest speaker/visiting lecturer on the topic of DJ skills and the ways they can be used productively and effectively for teaching and learning in both schools and extra-scholastic environments.