Master bass by studying with the legends you want to become and contemporary powerhouses shaping the future of bass today. Our “artist-as-mentor” pedagogy means you can take private lessons with more than thirty different bass players-musicians like the legendary Reggie Workman, who played with John Coltrane, or Linda Oh. Other great bass faculty include Ben Allison, Andy McKee, Doug Weiss, Ben Street, and Gene Perla.
Improvisation is in our DNA and we provide the flexibility and opportunity to shape your training to fit who you want to become as a bass player and play the music you want to play. Each semester, choose which ensembles you play in from among eighty options. You'll rehearse, record, and perform under the direction of our diverse and talented faculty-like the John Coltrane Ensemble with John Coltrane's bass player. Choose from ensembles like Charles Mingus Ensemble, Charlie Parker Ensemble, Rhythm & Blues Ensemble, Electric Miles Ensemble, Progressive Rock Ensemble, Wayne Shorter Ensemble, and more. Or, create your own ensemble and decide what you play and with whom.
Begin your career in the heart of New York City's jazz and music scene. Get exposed to contemporary music as it is being played, and have a chance to make it yourself. Recently, bass students played gigs at Zinc Bar, where New School artists play every other Monday night, as well at The Frick Collection. Plus, we're the only school with a jazz club, The Stone, in our lobby.
Learn to think about art, life, collaboration, and creativity in new and unexpected ways-enriching who you are as a musician. Take classes across The New School, including courses in our design school, Parsons, and our liberal arts college, Lang. In one semester, you might work on mastering composition while also looking critically at how music and social justice intersect in the world today. Leave the New School a more well-rounded and prepared artist for the 21st century.