The School of Jazz and Contemporary Music

The School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School seeks bold and adventurous students who want to become part of one of the most demanding, intimate music programs in existence. We offer a dynamic mix of legendary musicians as mentors, a superb and renowned faculty, an audaciously progressive curriculum, countless opportunities to perform, and proximity to all of the action in the global epicenter of the music industry, New York City.

A Music Education Relevant to Today’s World

The School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School, founded in 1986, is one of the most influential institutions of its kind. Together with the Drama School and Mannes School of Music, we form the College of Performing Arts at The New School. The quality and uniqueness of the school lie in its artist-as-mentor approach to learning, its progressive curriculum, small ensemble-based performance, a stellar faculty composed of artist-practitioners, and our access to unique musical opportunities throughout New York City.

Degree Options

Students earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Music. Some opt to pursue our BA/BFA program, a five-year dual-degree track leading to a BA in Liberal Arts field and a BFA in Jazz Performance. 

Within The New School’s College of Performing Arts, students can pursue a Performer-Composer Master of Music (MM) degree, designed for musicians whose passion lies at the intersection of composition, performance, and improvisation, or an Arts Management and Entrepreneurship (MA) degree, designed for performers who want to gain the necessary skills to become a multidisciplinary artist.

Be Mentored by Legends

In our case, those who do, teach. The School of Jazz and Contemporary Music attracts top-ranked musicians, including Reggie Workman and Jane Ira Bloom, to our faculty. They help you develop the confidence and knowledge to experiment, take risks, fail, take more risks, and find your own authentic style of self-expression.