Ben Friedland, a Chicago native, is an avid upright and electric bassist currently based in Boston. His primary training, performance history, and teaching experience lies in jazz and classical, though he is also exceptionally well versed in folk, pop, and rock. Ben has performed across the country at notable venues such as Jordan Hall, The Mad Monkfish, The Press Room, Post Underground, Symphony Center Chicago, North Shore Music Theatre, Severance Hall, Maltz Performing Arts Center, Night Town, Brother’s Lounge, The Bop Stop, Roulette Intermedium, The New England Aquarium, and The Multi Cultural Arts Center.
As a jazz and orchestral musician, Ben has performed with a wide variety of groups, including Mostly Bones, Itay Dayan and His Band, Joe Sabourin Trio, Ruthie and the New Sound, Northshore Music Theatre, North Bedform Symphony.
In 2023, Ben earned a Masters in Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music studying under Cecil McBee, Brian Levy, and John Lockwood. He received his undergraduate degree in Classical Performance at The Cleveland Institute of Music in 2020 studying under Derek Zadinsky, Assistant Principal Bassist for the Cleveland Orchestra.
He has since been working in the Boston area as a bass player and educator working alongside musicians including, Joey Dies, Nadav Brenner, Matt Hendo, Aeron Small, Jason Raede, Jeff Sagurton, Josh Gagnon, Mitchell Bailey, David Paligora, Erica Risti, and Joe Sabourin.
In his free time, Ben enjoys working on and riding bikes.
Teaching
As an educator, I realize that each student has their own set of challenges and that there’s no one direct approach to combat these. My studio is a judgement free atmosphere that maintains constructed criticism to help my students grow as musicians.
With regard to lessons, I offer one-on-one 45 and 60 min lessons that take place in Medford (near the Mystic River). I offer upright and electric lessons (all levels) in styles including, jazz, classical, rock, and folk. An example of what we'd work on in a lesson would consist of the first 15-20 minutes being spent on scales, technique, note reading, right-hand left-hand dexterity exercises, and etudes. The remaining lesson time would be focusing on repertoire along with what pieces you want to learn, whether that be learning a new or old piece, figuring out how to play a certain technique, or getting the sound you want as a bassist.
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