Lucky 13: The New School for Jazz And Contemporary Music Provides Sound Education With New Yamaha Drum Kits
NEW YORK CITY As one of the nation's most prestigious schools devoted exclusively to jazz and its offshoots, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music draws its faculty from the top ranks of professional musicians in the New York City jazz community. Now, the institution has a new recruiting tool after it recently acquired 13 new Yamaha drum sets with hardware.
"Our students are excited to have access to such high quality instruments," said Martin Mueller, Executive Director of the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. "When a prospective student comes and sees a Yamaha kit on the stage or in a practice room, it's a great asset in encouraging them to study here."
Founded in 1986, the school enrolls almost 300 students, 20 percent of whom hail from overseas. With a curriculum based on the age-old tradition of artist-as-mentor, classes are taught by accomplished, active artists with significant links to the music's history and evolution. Taking advantage of its setting in the world capital of jazz, the school organizes student jazz performances at local clubs as well as top performance venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center.
"The program has done it right because these are real jazz kits," said Barry Greenspon, owner of Drummer's World in New York City. "New School students who come into the shop say they enjoy playing them and it's not just the drummers who benefiteveryone sounds better with these kits."
The school enrolls around 40 drum majors. Drum faculty members include Joe Chambers, Andrew Cyrille, Chico Hamilton and CharliPersip. A work-study program employs students who clean and maintain the new drums and hardware.
"We've always taken our educational mission seriously," said David Jewell, marketing manager, Yamaha Drums, Pro Audio & Combo Division. "It's great to see that young people are still called to jazz."
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Drum Products, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamahadrums.com.
 (l. to r.) Joe Kramer, district manager, Yamaha Corporation of America; Barry Greenspon, Drummer's World; Martin Mueller, executive director, The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music |
Founded in 1986, the school enrolls almost 300 students, 20 percent of whom hail from overseas. With a curriculum based on the age-old tradition of artist-as-mentor, classes are taught by accomplished, active artists with significant links to the music's history and evolution. Taking advantage of its setting in the world capital of jazz, the school organizes student jazz performances at local clubs as well as top performance venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center.
"The program has done it right because these are real jazz kits," said Barry Greenspon, owner of Drummer's World in New York City. "New School students who come into the shop say they enjoy playing them and it's not just the drummers who benefiteveryone sounds better with these kits."
The school enrolls around 40 drum majors. Drum faculty members include Joe Chambers, Andrew Cyrille, Chico Hamilton and CharliPersip. A work-study program employs students who clean and maintain the new drums and hardware.
"We've always taken our educational mission seriously," said David Jewell, marketing manager, Yamaha Drums, Pro Audio & Combo Division. "It's great to see that young people are still called to jazz."
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Drum Products, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamahadrums.com.