ADMISSIONS___________________________________

BA/BFA COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAM

THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC AND
EUGENE LANG COLLEGE THE NEW SCHOOL FOR LIBERAL STUDIES

America’s higher education system presents many of our brightest and most talented young people with a difficult choice: to pursue professional studies in a conservatory-type setting or to acquire a traditional liberal arts education.

Taking advantage of their unique setting within a major urban university, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts have structured a five-year curriculum in which students simultaneously complete two degrees, the music BFA and the liberal arts BA. This program draws heavily upon the resources of The New School’s undergraduate liberal arts division, Eugene Lang College, and requires students to take 90 credits of liberal arts courses and 90 credits of music study. A student in this five-year program completes both a full music and a full liberal arts curriculum, preparing for direct entry into the music field, or for graduate study in such areas as law, business, the social sciences, or the humanities. Students interested in pursuing this option should ask the Office of Admissions to furnish them with descriptive materials and the catalog of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.

CURRICULUM
Students are placed in Small Group Ensembles according to their level of development on their instrument as determined at listening sessions during the first week of school. Students are given placement tests at the beginning of the semester to determine their levels in theory, ear training, improvisation, rhythmic analysis, arranging, and piano (pianists do not have to take the piano test), and on their instrument to determine whether or not they will be placed in the “Proficiency” curriculum.

Students placed “In-Proficiency” (which lasts an average of two semesters), are assigned a private “in-house” teacher for their instrument until they have placed “Out-of-Proficiency.” After that, they meet with an Out-of-Proficiency instrumental advisor to help them choose with whom they should study.

BA/BFA Jazz students take approximately 10 credits per semester with The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and approximately 8 credits with Eugene Lang College though individual semesters may be weighted more heavily toward either the Jazz or the Liberal Arts curriculum. The Jazz courses would normally include Improvisation Ensemble, private lessons, and required core courses including theory, ear training, etc. BA/BFA students take most of their liberal studies courses at Eugene Lang College. Additionally, it is suggested that they include The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music’s jazz history courses.

The school’s major musical emphasis is on mainstream jazz, including elective ensembles focusing on the music of Art Blakey, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, Theolonius Monk, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, and many other recognized giants of jazz. In addition, there are ensembles that focus on the jazz avant-garde (including Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, and Futuristic Concepts), on international jazz (Afro-Cuban Orchestra, Brazilian Ensemble, African Drumming, Middle Eastern Ensemble, and others), and on styles of contemporary music related to jazz (such as MBASE Ensemble, Sound in Time, Advanced Rhythmic Concepts, Rhythm and Blues Revue), as well as courses in music technology (Finale, MIDI, Protools).

ADMISSIONS
Applications for the BA/BFA Combined Degree Program must be submitted by January 15 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester to receive a live audition. Applicants to the BA/BFA Combined Degree Program must complete the online application at www.jazz.newschool.edu. In addition to the application, the following materials are needed to complete the file for review: $75 application fee, two academic essays, a pre-screening tape (if required), an audition tape/CD (unless a live audition is requested or required), recommendations, and transcripts. Applicants who have not completed a college-level program must submit high school transcripts and SAT/ACT scores.

AUDITIONS
Refer to the Audition Information section of these Admission pages for pre-screening and audition requirements..

SCHOOL VISITS/TOURS/INTERVIEWS
At The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, tours are offered every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3:00 p.m. during the school year. Tours generally begin in the fourth week of the semester. Please call at least one week in advance. You will tour the jazz facilities and have the opportunity to observe an ensemble class. Students interested in scheduling a tour should call the Jazz Admissions Office at 212.229.5896 x4589 or set up a tour online.

At Eugene Lang College, tours are scheduled every weekday at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. and should be scheduled a few days in advance. Prospective students are also allowed to sit in on a seminar class during the academic school year. Classroom visits need to be arranged at least one week in advance. Interviews are not required for admission purposes, but are highly recommended. Students interested in scheduling a campus tour, classroom visit, or an interview should contact Eugene Lang College’s Office of Admission at 212.229.5665.