Beat Match Brunch is a workshop series that teaches women-identified and gender non-conforming individuals how to DJ with vinyl records. Along with technical skills, the workshops provide resources, peer-support, and encouragement for those entering the electronic music scene. The first workshop series took place in April of 2016. The curriculum was developed and taught by local DJ Mother Cyborg (Diana Nucera). Over the course of four weeks, womxn with diverse musical tastes and cultural backgrounds learned how to use turntables, handle, select and “read” vinyl records, isolate sounds, and use BPMs to beat-match, all in a supportive and collaborative community environment. 

DJ Culture, in Detroit and elsewhere, is male-dominated: VICE Magazine reports that women make up under 10% of all DJs at music festivals. There is also a high barrier to entry — the cost of equipment and records can be prohibitive, and as beginners, womxn are less likely to have access to technical mentorship, practice space, and opportunities to perform. Our first workshop had to turn away about half of the applicants. That demand highlights the series’ potential to breathe fresh air into the city’s electronic music scene.

Our starting class learns these fundamentals: handling vinyl, understanding and identifying Beats Per Minute, reading audio waves, and beat matching. Seraphine also hosted the first Digital Beat Match Brunch in April of 2018. To view photos from our past Beat Match Brunches:

Beat Match 1: April 2016

Beat Match 2: October 2017

Beat Match Digital 1: April 2018

Beat Match 3: September 2019

In an effort for inclusive and transparent education of the materials outside of our own network, we have published Mother Cyborg’s curriculum into a zine. Our zine can be purchased from Allied Media Projects here.

If you have equipment or supplies that you would like to contribute to our collective and future iterations of Beat Match Brunch, contact us at hello@seraphinecollective.org. We will gladly accept new, second-hand, or in good condition items listed below.

  • Turntable needles
  • Cartridges
  • Records (all genres)
  • 1/4 inch and XLR cords/adapters
  • Turntable/mixer flight cases (Marathon brand preferred)
  • Portable speakers (XLR or 1/4 inch inputs)
  • Crossover
  • Amps
  • DJ Mixers (1/4 inch or XLR outputs)
  • Direct-drive turntables (Technic 1200 preferred)
  • CDJs (Pioneer brand preferred)
  • Traktor or Serato software and control vinyl