• Audio Production Concentration (BFA)

    Audio Production Concentration (BFA)

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    Admission Contact
    College of Performing Arts
    55 West 13th Street
    New York, NY 10011
    212.229.5150 or 800.292.3040
    [email protected]

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  • As the professional music world evolves, a growing number of musicians are seeking careers based in collaborative technology. This concentration enables audio producers and technicians to obtain a BFA in Jazz and Contemporary Music. It emphasizes both DIY work and collaboration, enabling producers to create while interacting with the music and musicians in all the programs at the College of Performing Arts at The New School.  

    • Degree Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
    • Credits 128
    • Format Full-time
    • Duration 4 years
    • Start Term Fall

  • Curriculum

    The course requirements for completing the Instrumental concentration in the BFA in Jazz and Contemporary Music program consist of the following general categories:

    • Fundamentals Improvisation: In this sequence, you study ear training and improvisation techniques in a variety of styles. 

    • Fundamentals Composition: In this sequence, you study theory, harmony, and ear training in preparation for writing your own compositions.

    • Improv Ensembles: These ensembles allow you to choose the type of music you want to make, the musicians you want to play with, and the directors you want as your mentors. The ensembles are reconstituted each semester.

    • Lessons: Our artist-as-mentor pedagogy enables you to take private lessons from leading contemporary and jazz artists across the NYC metro area. You can ask to study with anyone in the city and choose a different mentor each semester.

    • Music Tech Seminar: In this seminar, you learn how to create digital audio workstations and use notation software and discover the ways technology is used in composition, recording, and content creation.

    • Entrepreneurship: Learn about the music business from artists active today. Exploring topics ranging from contracts to socially conscious business platforms, our entrepreneurship courses focus on how to make a living in today’s industry.

    • Electives: Join any of our 50 elective ensembles, and choose from a variety of audio production, composition, songwriting, arranging, and technology electives.

    • Performing Arts Core: You also enroll in a series of interdisciplinary courses through the Performing Arts Core program,  which consists of both required and elective courses taken by all undergraduate students at the College of Performing Arts. These courses explore themes including Improvisation and Collaboration, The Whole Human Artist, Socially Engaged Artistry, and Technology and Experimentation.

    A full description of degree requirements and procedures can be found in the Academic Catalog (PDF).

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