Davey Rockit says that some vinyl records were donated to Astro Mix Lab by DJ Qbert, a well-known turntablist originally from the Bay Area. Although there is newer technology with turntables such as CDJs (CD turntables), there are still a lot of DJs who mix or scratch with vinyl turntables. (Cheryl A. Guerrero/Staff Photographer)
Davey Rockit waits outside of Astro Mix Lab before he closes up the shop in Glendale on Friday, April 29, 2011. Rockit started the DJ school in October 2009. Nearly 2,000 students have already taken courses at the school. (Cheryl A. Guerrero/Staff Photographer)
Art Marquez, 20, learns a scratching technique at Astro Mix Lab in Glendale on Friday, April 29, 2011. The advanced scratching class is taught by Francis Repunte (also known as Nemesis One). “Scratching is taking a sound from a record and you manipulate it by using the turntables, mixer and fader,” Repunte says. (Cheryl A. Guerrero/Staff Photographer)
Haik Chilingaryan, from left, JC Cruz, and Shaun Fabos try to count how many beats are in a measure while Johnny Yono helps each student at Astro Mix Lab in Glendale on Thursday, April 29, 2011. (Cheryl A. Guerrero/Staff Photographer)
JC Cruz, 26, tries to listen to a song while learning about music theory in the CDJ beginner’s class at Astro Mix Lab in Glendale on Friday, April 29, 2011. (Cheryl A. Guerrero/Staff Photographer)
Francis Repunte (also known as Nemesis One), left, listens to his student, Al Derrock, during an advanced scratching class at Astro Mix Lab in Glendale on Thursday, May 12, 2011. (Cheryl A. Guerrero/Staff Photographer)
Art Marquez, 20, learns how to scratch during an advanced vinyl class at Astro Mix Lab in Glendale on Thursday, May 12, 2011.Francis Repunte (also known as Nemesis One) teaches the scratching class. “I’m just trying how to make something sound good,” Marquez says. “I’m trying to be creative as possible,” he adds. Mar (Cheryl A. Guerrero/Staff Photographer)
Asro Mix Lab’s Johnny Yono, left, teaches his student, Haik Chilingaryan, about music theory during a CDJ beginner’s class at Astro Mix Lab in Glendale on Friday, April 29, 2011. Yono is a progressive house and trance dj. “A big part of DJ’ing is the physical performance,” Yono says. “People wanna come and see somebody for a certain reason other than the fact that they can mix a couple records... they wanna see a smiling face or a very physically active dj who plays to the crowd,” he adds. (Cheryl A. Guerrero/Staff Photographer)