Class Schedule
The year-round Tuesday schedule of the Rainbow DJ Lab, how a class runs from 4 to 6 pm, and the 14 Missions.
Every Tuesday, 4 to 6 pm
The Lab is a year-round program, every Tuesday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in the Rainbow Beach Park fieldhouse game room. The first class is planned for January 12, 2027, with 39 class Tuesdays in 2027. The calendar skips every federal-holiday week and CPS spring break. The full dated calendar is on the Rainbow DJ Lab 2027 page. Classes start only after the Chicago Park District approves the program and the other launch requirements are complete (see the launch checklist). We'll email every registered family.
Join any Tuesday
Children join on any Tuesday a station is free and learn at their own pace. Missing a class costs nothing: make up any Mission at the next class. Stamps never expire.
The 14 Missions
There are two Missions for each color of the rainbow. Each Tuesday the instructors feature one Mission for the room (they cycle 1 to 14 across the year), and each child also works on their own next skill:
| # | Mission | # | Mission |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red: Meet the Machine | 8 | Green: Make a Third Song |
| 2 | Red: Build Your Crate | 9 | Blue: Hot Cues and Loops |
| 3 | Orange: Beats, Bars and Phrases | 10 | Blue: Word Flip |
| 4 | Orange: Mix on the One | 11 | Indigo: Theme Clash Lab |
| 5 | Yellow: Tempo with the Lights On | 12 | Indigo: Mic, MC and Live Lab |
| 6 | Yellow: Beatmatch by Ear | 13 | Violet: Build Your Set |
| 7 | Green: The Three Knobs | 14 | Violet: Rainbow Showcase (families attend) |
What a Tuesday looks like
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 3:30–4:00 | Instructors set up 12 stations |
| 4:00–5:30 | Core DJ Lab, nine blocks (below) |
| 5:30–6:00 | Guest woman DJ: her story, a signature technique, every child tries it |
| 6:00 | Pickup |
The 90-minute core
| Minutes | Block |
|---|---|
| 0–7 | Drop In |
| 7–12 | Mission Card |
| 12–20 | Watch Me Think |
| 20–35 | Deck Time 1 |
| 35–40 | Move Break |
| 40–55 | Deck Time 2 |
| 55–70 | Wordplay Lab |
| 70–82 | Spotlight (volunteers only) |
| 82–90 | Check Out |
On listen-back Missions (6, 10 and 13), each child records 2 minutes of mixing and reviews it with a mentor.
Arrival and pickup times
- Arrive 10 minutes early. A parent or guardian signs each child in, and the first block starts on time.
- Pick up on time. Children are released only to adults on your authorized-pickup list, after a photo ID check. See arrival and sign-out.
- Running late? Call or text Stephen Henry at 872-255-9333.
The family Showcase
The Rainbow Showcase is the one families are invited to attend. Showcases are planned for spring, midyear and year-end. A child plays at the next Showcase after earning all 42 Passport stamps, and only if they want to. See performing.