Jazz Trio Workshop in NYC
Play with a professional bassist.
We match you with the right musician. A New York pro holds down the bass.
Finding the right people to play jazz with is hard. Jam sessions are crowded and unpredictable, and large ensembles leave little room to really play. You apply once, and we match you with another musician at your level who shares your musical taste and your schedule. Your third bandmate is a professional jazz bassist who anchors the time, shapes the groove, and coaches you from inside the band. It’s a small-group jazz class for adults: just two students per session, so you play far more than in a big ensemble or a jam session.
Apply to Join a Trio → $100 refundable deposit
How it works
Four steps from application to first downbeat.
Trios begin as soon as a match is made — most placements happen within a month. Choosing more time slots helps us match you faster.
- 1
Apply
Tell us your instrument, your level, the styles you want to play, the artists who inspire you and the time slots that work for you. Include a short audition video.
- 2
Reserve your spot
A $100 deposit puts you in the matching pool. It’s credited toward your first 4-week plan and fully refundable at any time.
- 3
Get matched
We pair you with a musician who fits: similar level, shared musical direction, compatible schedule, and an instrument you’ve said you want to play with.
- 4
Play
Meet your partner and your faculty bassist at our Midtown studio, and start making music as a trio.
How a trio comes together
A pro bassist, a harmony instrument, and a third voice.
A trio is three musicians: your professional bassist, you, and the partner we match you with. Every trio has a professional bassist plus at least one piano or guitar for the harmony.
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You play piano or guitar?
Your partner can be the other harmony instrument (guitar or piano), a horn, a drummer, or a singer.
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You play a horn, drums, or sing?
Your partner will be a pianist or guitarist.
You have a say in who your partner is. On the application you tell us which instruments you’d like to play with, and which you’d rather not. We only match you with a partner you’ve said yes to.
Why play in a trio with a pro?
The most intimate setting in jazz, and one of the most demanding.
With only three players, every note counts and nobody can hide.
Playing next to a professional bassist changes everything. You feel what solid time really is, you learn to lock in with the rhythm, and you get feedback in the moment, while the music is happening, not only after.
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More playing time
than in any larger ensemble, with only two students per session
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A professional rhythm foundation
every week
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Detailed, personal feedback
on your soloing, comping and time feel
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Real interplay
the skill that separates good players from great ones
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A partner you actually connect with
because the match is built on shared taste
Music you want to play
Your trio’s repertoire follows your shared interests. Whether you’re drawn to the swing of Count Basie, the bebop of Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk, the lyricism of Bill Evans, the modern sound of Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, or the open improvisation of Ornette Coleman, we match you with a player who wants to go in the same direction. Your bassist then helps the group choose tunes, build arrangements and find its own sound.
Your faculty bassists
Sean Conly, Joe Fonda, David Ambrosio, Joe Fitzgerald, Matt Pavolka and Andrea Veneziani are working New York jazz musicians who have performed and recorded with artists including Freddie Hubbard, Regina Carter, Tom Harrell and Andrew Hill. They tour internationally and bring both musical guidance and real-world professional experience to every session.
Who it’s for
Intermediate to advanced pianists, guitarists, horn players (brass and woodwinds), drummers and singers who can work through standard jazz forms and want to grow in a small, focused group. Play something else? Contact us and we’ll see what’s possible. Not sure about your level? Apply anyway and send a video; we’ll let you know honestly. Newer to jazz? Start with Intro to Jazz Improv or the Jazz Standards Workshop.
Schedule, location and rates
When
One 2-hour session per week (4 sessions per plan). Sessions run every day of the week, with several time slots each day. You choose the slots that work for you on the application, and we match you based on your availability.
Where
NYJW, 265 W 37th St, 10th Floor, New York, NY
Start date
Ongoing, trios begin as soon as a match is made
Matching deposit
$100
credited toward your first 4-week plan and refundable at any time
Rate
| Plan | Rate |
|---|---|
| 4-Week Plan (consecutive classes) | $580 |
Billing
Current rates are always on our Workshop Rates & Policies page, updated each season. Age-based and multi-workshop discounts may apply. We keep your card on file securely. Your 4-week plan renews automatically: we email you about a week before each charge, and you can cancel any time before the next plan starts, with a full refund if you’ve already been charged. The binding terms are the Terms and Conditions of Enrollment.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to find my own partner?
- No. Apply on your own and we’ll match you with another musician. If you already have a friend you’d like to play with, you’re welcome to apply together and form a trio with one of our bassists.
- We’re two friends applying together. Do we need to send videos?
- It’s not required. Still, a short video from each of you is very helpful: it lets your bassist get to know your playing and prepare the right material from the first session.
- How do you decide who plays together?
- We look at your instrument, your level (from your audition video), the styles and artists you choose, and your available time slots.
- Can I choose what instrument my partner plays?
- Yes. On the application you pick the instruments you’re open to playing with, and you can rule any out. If you’d rather not play with a singer, for example, we won’t match you with one.
- Why is there a deposit?
- The $100 deposit reserves your place in the matching pool. It’s credited toward your first 4-week plan once you’re matched, and it’s fully refundable at any time.
- What if you can’t find me a match?
- If we haven’t matched you within 30 days, we’ll email you and you can choose to keep waiting or get a full refund of your deposit. Choosing more time slots helps us match you faster.
- What if the match doesn’t feel right?
- Talk to us. We’ll work with you to find a better fit.
- What should my audition video include?
- One or two minutes of you playing a tune you know well, including some improvisation.
Apply to Join a Trio →
$100 refundable deposit