Mr. Ben Rubens
Director of Orchestra- New Providence Middle School & New Providence High School
Phone: 908-464-4700 ext. 6125
Subject(s): HS Orchestra, MS Orchestra, MS Music Elective 8, Swingin' Strings.
NPHS Tri M Music Honors Society Advisor
*Available for Extra help during Professional Period and After School.
Music Boosters - Please support our Music Boosters!
Ben Rubens is in his sixth year working in the New Providence School District, and 2024-2025 will be his fifth full year as the Director of Orchestra at both New Providence Middle School and New Providence High School. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Double Bass Performance from the Manhattan School of Music and completed his Master’s in Music Education at Rutgers University. Besides teaching, Mr. Rubens performs actively on the double bass at many notable venues, including The Kennedy Center, The Apollo Theater, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Blue Note in Milano, Blue Note in Beijing, the Nice Jazz Festival, and the Red Sea Jazz Festival. He has also contributed to several CDs, most notably the Smoke Sessions Recording “In The Moment” by the Johnny O’Neal Trio, which features the late trumpet master Roy Hargrove. Mr. Rubens was recognized by the New Jersey Governor’s Teacher Recognition Program in 2024 and named the New Providence High School Teacher of the Year! Mr. Rubens feels grateful to be part of the New Providence community and appreciates all the amazing people who support the NP Music Department in reaching our goals!
“I have been so fortunate to learn through study and classes that I want to have students learn to like this world through playing a musical instrument and studying music. They can have huge emotions possible through respecting what’s not them every single day. This is our purpose!
As people intentionally try to be fair to what's NOT themselves, (including the sheet music with all of its notes, rhythms and more, the instrument, the other people in the ensemble, the audience and more) they have the opportunity to be proud of and like themselves in a deep and true way. A musician gets the chance to experience this every single time they play an instrument, as any success they have there is always a putting together of themselves and the outside world! Students can learn and utilize this principle in anything they do in their lives, which is immensely meaningful and transformative.
There are so many vital benefits to learning and studying music that people can always be proud of! I am very fortunate to have been continually taught and encouraged to see this so I am very happy and glad to be in a profession that encourages being fair to the world as a means of liking and being proud of myself every day!"