Are you ever on a random journey in a new town and open to new ideas and experiences???? That was us on this very cold but sunny day in Boston. We were walking from the north end after getting fresh pastries from an amazing shop ( See my other Boston reviews) when we saw a small historical sign explaining the history of North Bennet Street School. It was bustling as we curiously peered in. As we continue to walk up to the corner where we spot a sign for an open house at the school. We immediately turned around and went back. The lobby and staff were so welcoming! They got us checked in and answered a few of my questions. They gave us a low down and a map. Each area had us exploring and listening to the enthusiasm spilling from the students. It was really interesting and inspiring. Each presentation was so specialized and well organized. We spent a good chunk of time learning about the complexity of pianos, paper making, hand bound books, architecture and more! Another highlight was talking to an older gentleman who was a first year silver smith ( yes it was super cool) who was putting the finishing touches on a ring just as we walked by. He took the time to show us all of the steps from a rod of silver to the dazzling finished ring!!!! My feedback is that they should a season or two of web series showing their talents to the world. It would also be a great STEM connection for education. So many talents and interesting people in the area. Highly recommended. I'd love to attend a class or two here! read more

See all

Unprofessional is an understatement to describe how the North Bennet Street School handled my kid's application. The admissions committee ghosted my student after they completed all the admissions requirements in time for the priority deadline. My student received an email confirming their materials were submitted in time for the priority deadline. Following an interview, there was no notification of acceptance, rejection or placement on a wait list. Zero. Weeks went by, and then months. My student sent emails to follow up, including to the admissions director. Crickets. We parents also contacted the admissions office and director to ask about our student's application. No response to very polite emails and calls. At one point, we got a human on the phone at the admissions office who seemed to be reading from a script, saying they were reviewing applications and would reach out if they needed more info. Six months have passed since the priority application deadline. Still no word -- except that they have the nerve to keep contacting my student with marketing materials. So, clearly they have accurate contact info. Even highly selective Harvard communicates with all applicants to let them know if they're in or out. Yet, NBSS can't get its act together to offer applicants the courtesy of sending a timely rejection email. There is something seriously wrong, in my opinion, with an artisan and trade school that charges $30K a year but treats prospective applicants and families in this manner. In my view, it's a big red flag, and I'd be curious to know if others have had similar experiences. read more

Excellent course on restoring and preserving historic sash windows. The instructor was great and covered all of the practical aspects of the process as well as providing hands on experience. read more

Incredible resource for keeping the artistic trades live and well. Thrilled to have taken the tour, learning about locksmithing and bookbinding and stonesetting and piano/violin building. Just wish they still had a watch-making course. read more

I had the worst learning experience of my entire life here. I haven't yet decided which was more corrosive: my teacher, or the administration protecting her. Instructor Barbera Baker has a very traditionally Authoritarian teaching style. The provost Claire Fruitman gaslit my troubles when I came to her about perceived problems in class. Jamie Dergay in charge of student services was a real piece of work, he seemed SO so very helpful, until he chooses to have selective mutism. Finally Rob O'Dwyer was soo charming and available during the recruitment process, yet seemed constantly "busy" and was very hard to get a hold of once I felt like I had a problem, that I wanted to talk to him about. This place is fine if you're willing to pay through the the nose (22,000$ for my 9 months) and follow the format. Do not make any waves ever with your instructor or the administration. They won't hesitate to ostracize anyone they feel isn't following the format; truly proceed at own risk, some teachers are AMAZING (like the paper binding program specifically) yet other instructors like Barbera Baker are akin to David Schwimmers' character In The HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers" Martin Sobel. A truly untenable Martinet. Her teaching style is to really "rub your nose in it" like she's instructing petulant 13 year olds. Just patently inappropriate for active adult learners...You need to be either fresh out of middle school; or High School aged yet completely uninterested in the subject matter and forced to be present to get anything out of this class. Questions are discouraged. Taking is discouraged. Don't you dare bring in any of your own tools or once question the instructior without triple checking your jargon. If you call a "strait-slotted" screwdriver a "flat-head" she'll shame you like you just pushed a senior citizen into traffic. Completely inappropriate behavior for a teacher of adults. Avoid avoid avoid. read more

Excellent instructors and fun learning environment. I am an amateur crafter who has taken 2 continuing education classes at NBSS: Spoon Carving and Shaker Wooden Boxes. I really enjoyed the format and pace of these classes. In both cases, the first day focused on technique and included step by step demonstrations of the crafting process. Day two was more unstructured, where students could create something of their own design, at their own pace. The instructors are incredibly patient and excited to answer the endless questions students have. They take time to ensure each student understands the basics, or has exposure to next level techniques depending on their pace. Classes are pricey, but the quality of the product is fantastic. If I were living in Boston longer, I would consider one of their intensive programs. read more

Took the Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking class with Ryan Messier. The class and instruction were amazing - I would kill to be able to take the 3 month or 2 year programs. If you look at the low reviews, they are from students who wouldn't stop talking (a problem in any class, and only somewhat of an issue with the class I took, thankfully), or who showed up an hour late - aka students who shouldn't be there anyway. This school has an incredible, and well-deserved reputation. I'll certainly be taking classes here again, and would absolutely endorse the school in general and Ryan specifically as a great instructor. read more

It's time to up your lumbersexual game. No you don't need to travel up to the northern woods of Vermont to a week long retreat, of all places you can learn the master crafts right in the North End. It sounds like a joke heading people to the land of pasta and cannolis to learn joinery, spoon carving, and woodturning and I would hardly believe it either but the other students in my classes had traveled to North Bennet Street School from all over the east coast (oh that's another thing too, the new building is no longer on North Bennet street so don't get lost!). I ended up doing a bit of a sampler of the different continuing ed classes with Bowl Turning, Relief Carving, and Spoon Carving. Each one of them was fantastic for different reasons. Bowl Turning is almost like a form of meditation. I had gotten my start over at Artisans Asylum and I wanted to learn some more advanced techniques. This class got me moving around the piece that I was working on and learning some great ways to add finishing touches to my pieces. The drawback to this class is that you'll want to buy a lathe right away, and yes they even let you know how to go lathe shopping like a pro. With Relief Carving I wanted to be able to create some more ornate detail on the woodwork that I'm doing. I thought that it was going to be mostly just copying images of leaves and plants but you'll learn techniques from chip carving to pattern making to yes, carving leaves. This class does require a little bit more of an investment in personal tools so it's good to keep that in mind but if you're planning on carving you'll be needing those tools to do your work. Spoon Carving may seem to be the least glamorous of the classes that I took but don't let the name fool you. You'll be working on a shaving horse using a pull knife. Take a look at this video for a quick teaser https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTDeGKvgM2A&t=5s On top of that this is the most outdoorsy of all the classes that I took. You'll have an idea of how to take a rough piece of green wood all the way to a finished product using even without the use of specialized tools. Now that I've got you all excited about taking a class you're probably thinking "sounds great I'll swing by next weekend to start learning!". While that's great enthusiasm there are a couple of things to be aware of. Classes are small and fill up fast, you'll probably be booking your class a month or two out. The classes that I took were over the weekend and ran from about 8:30 to 4:00 Saturday and Sunday. Not only will you want to be well rested but you'll also want to show up early so you have enough time to learn how to use all the tools safely. Still in? Awesome! Go out and learn how to be woodsy AF! read more

Absolutely the best. Took a woodworking course led by Ryan and it really provided a great new perspective on the work I do. Immediately registered for two more, might go for the big intensive program next year. Facilities are well designed, school equipment is high quality, they go through great efforts to make sure the materials you have to buy are kept as reasonable as possible. My only minor thing on that is some of the recommended tools or tool types didn't seem to exist (but the descriptions were clear enough to buy an acceptable equivalent). Be warned that the continuing ed classes will attract a certain type of person who will incessantly ask questions that were either previously addressed or completely irrelevant. Sounds like the jewelry making classes know how to keep a lid on this ;) read more

Wanna learn how to woodwork? bookbind? make jewelry? reupholster furniture? Or perhaps you want to expand upon your already excellent locksmithing techniques? NBS is where you can do all that and more. Me? I'm a bookbinder. I was doing okay learning on my own, but I was quite sure my techniques were amateurish and could be improved upon. Turns out I was right. During my first class I finally learned how to properly sew a signature (signatures are the sections of paper that make up a book). It seemed so simple once the instructor just showed me (why do illustrations in instructional books suck so bad?). The second class? Proper backing. My half-assed way worked perfectly good, but now I can be assured my journals won't fall apart with continued use. By the end of my third class I had completed two books and was 3/4 the way done with my third. With two weeks to go I want to bang out two more books- and one will even have words. Fancy. The workshops are pricey, but you are getting very good instruction in well-equipped studios (with small class sizes so if you have questions your instructor can actually help you). And, if you are even more adventurous or need a career change, you can go for a full blown "degree" in a variety of trade crafts: violin making, cabinet and furniture making, piano technology, amongst others. If you aren't the handy/artsy type you should at least stop by their storefront- they sell works completed by students, past & present. Everything from blank journals to violins to exquisitely crafted furniture (there's a chair in there right now that I must have). read more

The North Bennet Street School lives up to its reputation. I took the Fundamentals of Woodworking two week course in hand tools (planes, scrapers, chisels and sharpening with a little french polishing thrown in on the final project). It was excellent. I am a self taught woodworker and have done some pretty sophisticated pieces but all most all by machines - I lacked confidence that I was using hand tools properly. The instructor, Ryan, has an encyclopedic knowledge of wood, tools, and woodworking and loves to talk about them. He has a nice manner in the classroom, gives clear demonstrations and excellent personal instruction on the fine points. I recommend the class for a beginner or a anyone, like me, who has experience but not had good hand tool instruction - you learn what sharp means when you sharpen your own tools and use them right away - do they perform like Ryan's tools? read more

I've taken a few continuing education classes in their woodworking program over the past 4 years based off the reputation of their full-time programs. Although many of the teachers seem knowledgeable, and couple were great teachers, I can't recommend this place to other students, especially as person of color. I am a black woman, and when I first begin taking classes here, their program director made a show of being cold and rude to me when she came around to meet our 101 class. My teachers at the time, Dan and Andy-two really nice guys did their best to smooth things over, which I appreciated, but it wasn't a good first impression and it wasn't the last of many awkward/rude encounters I've had while taking courses here. I've been pulled over and asked where I was headed in the hallways out of suspicion; one older staff lady who used to work the front desk thought I was a person off the street trying to rob the place; and many of the teachers and students I've had class with would seemed startled when I would show up and say hello on the first day of class and others would be noticeably uncomfortable and sometimes rude towards me. The classes I've paid for have ranged between $300 and $1200, and had I not initially been interested in their combined program at Mass Art I probably would not have taken their more expensive foundation courses. read more

I took a week-long Build a banjo course, (with instructor Jamey Pope,) and, despite the commute into Boston, (always a pain in the keister!), I would take this class again in a heartbeat! Actually, no. Another class. I learned enough from this class to build a banjo on my own. But I have absolutely nothing negative to say about the North Bennet Street School - the professionalism, the quality of instruction, the friendliness of the other staff and students... I am glad that there are schools like this out there. read more

I took a machine woodworking class with Grant Burger and it was amazing! Grant was patient, knowledgeable, and fun to learn from. I highly recommend taking a class at North Bennet and taking a class with Grant. read more

I wanted to learn a new skill. I have always been interested in woodworking and this class was a great place to start. Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking. The instructor was fantastic. The pace of the course was just right. Highly recommended! read more

I just spent 2 fantastic days learning about Book Binding at the NBSS school. The instructor (Amy) was superb, very knowledgeable and cheerfully answered every question I had regarding the subject matter. The group was the right size (6 people), with excellent tools and materials provided. The tools we used were professional grade (expensive rulers, dividers, presses, etc.) which help me get the coursework completed in the prescribed time. In the first day the group successfully completed 3 types of pamphlet books and one stitch-only (no-glue) type of book. On the second day we completed a flat-back book and a companion box for the completed books. I am happily very surprised that I could make so many books in the 2-days of the course, and I attribute this to the great instructor we had. The facilities of the NBSS school is excellent, with modern conveniences and packed with tools and equipment that would be hard to find elsewhere. The NBSS shop was open on Saturday so that we could purchase our tools and other items. The new location in the North End of Boston is very convenient, literally across the street from the Faneuil Hall area. It is about 5 to 7 minutes walk from the Government Center T station. Food is plentiful at the North End area (excellent cafes and restaurants), being the famous Italian part of Boston. Overall, I am very happy with the NBSS school, and I am already looking at doing other courses at the NBSS later this year. read more

I recently took a 3-day leather rebacking class taught by James Reid-Cunningham as a part of continuing education program -- it was AMAZING and I learned so much. The dedication of all of the classmates were also wonderful. The class officially started at 8:30am each day, but almost everyone showed up by 8:00am and started working away. I have taken three book-related classes at NBSS so far, and each time I am deeply influenced by their teaching and the hard-working environment and come back with renewed enthusiasm on the topic. read more

I just completed the Fundamentals of Machine Woodworking course and it was outstanding! I continue to be impressed with NBSS grads and faculty, and Ellen Kaspern was certainly no exception. She was awesome! I have used many of the machines featured in the class before but learned a great deal about proper use, adjustment and maintenance of them. Just what I was hoping to learn - and more. My only disappointment is that I can't take another class of Ellen's soon enough. read more

I took the Fundamentals of Machine Woodworking with Ellen and the Fundamentals of Fine Woodworking with Ryan. These classes were outstanding, I cannot speak highly enough of my experience at North Bennet. Both instructors were extremely knowledgeable, patient, were excellent teachers, and were just generally awesome! I feel like I've come away from the classes with a huge amount of basic information and skills that will provide a great foundation for stuff I want to do in the future. I happened to take a bowl turning class elsewhere in between my two classes at North Bennet, and it was not the same level of instruction as at North Bennet. Highly recommend! read more

It was my dream to take this class for quite a while and when I did, it did not disappoint. We made four simple small scale books and a case to hold them. I had made some books before, so it wasn't completely new, but the equipment and paper were very good and all of the basics were covered. Mostly it was very cool to be in their facility and to be able to use good tools and equipment, and to be able to use some very nice paper and other equipment. The instructor (Erin) was great. It was impressive that in only two days she could convey such a wealth of knowledge - terminology, methods, detailed techniques. Cutting was done ahead of time so most of what we did was assemble pre-cut materials, but we did some trimming too. So basically the work that was done for us saved time rather than deprived us of important experience. read more

This review is for the Jewelry Making and Repair course only. I have little to no knowledge of what the other courses are like. I guess that for a tuition of over $29,160 (even more now I've been told) for a 2-year course, I expected more. (This price does not include the cost of materials, supplies, etc.) I now call this school the "School of No Recourse". Why? Go to www.ripoffreport.com and search for North Bennet Street School for my whole story. read more

Just tool the fundamentals of woodworking at nbss. It was great. Our instructor Ryan Messier was greT to learn from. The class was well paced with good hands on work that developed skills along with clear concise class instruction and a good level of 1 on 1 support. Great course for people interested in developing hand skills and a fundamental understanding of fine joinery. read more

Just took a two-day spoon carving class. Outstanding! I'm actually really surprised how much I was able to learn in two days. The course covered wood types and why you would want to use them (or not use them), tool use, tool sharpening, carving techniques and a wide-ranging discussion of spoons and carving them. Our instructor, Tim Manney, was perfect. He combined an impressive depth of experience with humor and a most approachable personality. His teaching consisted of parts lecture, whiteboard, demonstration and one-on-one guidance. I highly recommend the course, Tim Manney and NBSS! read more

Took a continuing Education class in wooden spoon carving with Tim Manney. Tim is a great teacher that knows when it is important to talk through a technique and when a demonstration speak a thousand words! Can't say enough about the quality of education and supplied tools and materials. read more

I took jewelry classes here a few years ago, and I really enjoyed it, it was very comprehensive and fun, until the teacher pulled me aside after class one day, and told me that if I kept asking questions during class time I wouldn't be welcome anymore. She said that I was interrupting everyone else's learning, and if it wasn't covered during class, I could look up the answers at home. I was shocked. I'd spent a lot of money on these classes, and I've never had a teacher tell me to stop asking questions. Ever. I was pretty upset, and needless to say, I didn't go back. read more

This school has a great reputation and I wanted to try out a class before applying. I used to go to Mass Art and a few of my teachers went there and are the best of the best. I showed up to my class a little late because I live far from the school. I was only 45 minutes late for my 3+ hour class and I rang the door bell and no one answered. Being a young woman I didn't feel comfortable going to this class so late at night not knowing if someone would open the door for me so I tried to withdraw. Which I did, but because of some crap policy they won't refund my tuition of almost 700 dollars. And on top of that they won't put it towards an earlier class, or call me back, or email me back. I'm pissed at the lack of professionalism. I just want my money back. read more

Highly recommend this school. I spent the last few years building furniture on my own, but felt I needed the fine tuning and expertise of a master craftsman. I enrolled in the 3-month furniture course and was blown away by the knowledge of our instructor Jamey. I now feel confident to pursue this craft professionally with the skills they passed on to us students. The school is in a great location, the facilities are top notch and the staff does everything to make the experience run smoothly. The small class size allowed the instructor to help us individually whenever we needed. I really enjoyed the schools traditional but current approach to furniture construction. Thank you NBSS read more

Recently took the fundamentals of fine woodworking class with Ryan. The class was great in teaching the basics that are usually skipped over and thus its appreciation. The class is paced to accommodate possible ranges of the skills of the students in the class. Ryan is patient and knowledgeable, giving context to the exercises, then a demonstration before we were to try ourselves. The school itself is well equipped and a tour of the facilities gives inspiration to do more. One thing to note is that the quality and condition of your personal tools may affect the time needed to tune them. read more

I am a carpenter and was looking to expand my furniture-making knowledge, so I signed up for the three-month furniture-making intensive at NBSS. Wow! What a great program. The instructor, Jamey, is an amazing guy, a great furniture-maker, and a fantastic teacher. And the support staff at the school are always on hand to help everything run smoothly. The pace of teaching works for those with or without any woodworking experience and the projects are super fun--everything from mortise-and-tenon joinery to dovetails to curved legs. I would absolutely recommend any of the NBSS workshops! read more

Since my last post, the school has returned my money to me. The instructor stated that it was not fair to take payment for work I am unhappy with. So, I give them one more star! read more

My experience with the jewelry making and repair course was similar to Kami F.'s, in that often my questions were ignored or dismissed. Many times, when they were answered, they were answered through the clenched teeth of the head instructor. I hung in there almost to the end of the first semester, but toward the end of the semester I was not allowed to go to the assistant instructors for help, but was told by the head instructor that I would be allowed to see only her. There were often long lines to see her, however, but I was required to wait, even if the assistant instructors were free. When I fell a few days behind the other class members I was called into the head instructor's office. She told me I "would not be welcome" to come back the following semester because I "was struggling" to keep up. Later, after I began to write a number of bad reviews, I was told the school had also wrongfully accused me of "verbally abusing" my fellow classmates--something I would NEVER have done! This accusation was new to me as I had not been charged with such misconduct during my attendance there! read more

I graduated about 20 years ago and went into a career and worked my way through Northeastern Night School. My teacher was immature too focusing on his outside the school career in class, and no we did not finish our project either. We finished the shed late but not the addition. My teacher was one of those carpenters who took his supervisors test after three years of working and a degree from Wentworth not actually having much skill or knowledge other than what he learned at Wentworth. He tried to pass on what he was taught but it did not work well. The only thing that made me happy with the education was the centuries old traditions of the school. I took classes at a Mass Community College and got a certificate in Construction Technology and learned more about blueprint reading, running a business, wood technology, energy conservation, solar, masonry and concrete technology then I did at the North Bennet Street School. The North Bennet Street School was a major disappointment and a waste of my time. What really annoyed me at the time which took my focus off of the curriculum is they are a post High School institution and they offered no kind of support really for young adults and I think my teacher was the type of person who labeled students productive, slacker, troublemaker, or will wind up in jail. I was one of the productive ones because that is what I made the teacher believe so I made it through and graduated. read more