My Early Life
I am Jane Becker and this is a story about my life in the music industry. I knew that I was talented in music while as a little girl who loved dancing. During the numerous home parties and occasions, I would grace them by performing some dancing struts most of which I watched on cable TV. As I grew up, my mum wanted me to attend music classes.
The first music class that I went to was when I was 11. I didn’t enjoy the lessons and soon I quit. I felt that singing wasn’t my thing and what I really loved was dancing. This might have disappointed my mum who envisioned a lot of success if I became a musician, but I had other dreams.
I wanted to become a dancer and maybe later in life start my own business in the entertainment industry. I wanted to be a music promoter. This might not have augured well with what my mum wanted for me but it was my choice. I therefore concentrated in my studies knowing that one day I would chase my dreams.
While in college, I attended a concert which became a turning-point of my ambitions. During the event, there was a DJ who was so good with the turntables and mixing the music that I admired what he did and his immense ability in mixing different genres of music to produce something unique which everyone enthusiastically enjoyed.
I never thought that this would later become my obsession because after the concert, I researched more about DJing.
When we went for a holiday break, I talked to my parent about my dreams of becoming a music DJ but they were totally opposed against the idea. True to their words, the industry was dominated by men and my entry wasn’t something they considered positively.
However, being as persistent as I am, they bowed to my pressure and that holiday, they paid for me to learn the profession in a local college. Although, the duration was short, I learnt a lot. When school reopened, I decided to continue studying more about DJing. This was a new passion in me that I really wanted to pursue.
Using a PC at home, I installed the virtual version of music mixing and within no time I had become proficient at mixing as I spent considerable amount of time training myself.
Afterwards, I started mixing music during school events and at local event in my neighborhood. By the time I was in college, I was getting various music gigs where I was paid to mix.
Luck must have been on my side because one day during a local event organized by my community, I was the assisting DJ, the only lady among men. The event was covered by the media. When my time for mixing came, I did it so professionally that a media personality in the event who happened to be a radio producer approached me with the intention of having me seek employment at the radio station. I obliged and through his help, I became a radio host at the local radio station.
I still work there, as I study for a degree in journalism so that I can further my career in future.