The Bachelor of Arts in Music will allow students to recognize, create, and capitalize on entrepreneurial opportunities in the field of music. It will also educate students to leverage critical thinking skills, develop discipline through the study of music to pursue a broader array of professional opportunities in music as well as other fields that require creative skills. The program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to pursue music in a formal setting while allowing them to pursue their unique interests alongside broader course offerings in the liberal arts. The Bachelor of Arts in Music prepares students to envision professional outcomes that are different than the traditional preparation for composition, performance, and music education. Through core music classes, students will attain a general level of functional musicianship sufficient to begin and sustain a professional career in the music field.

If you are a prospective student, please complete the steps below in the order presented to apply for the Bachelor of Arts in Music at James Madison University. Current JMU students wishing to change their major to the B.A. in Music should contact Dr. John Peterson (peter2jr@jmu.edu).

Percussionists: to manage the JMU percussion facilities, JMU's percussion equipment is reserved for percussionists who are taking lessons and are in the percussion studio. If you want to fulfill your ensemble requirement as a percussionist, you must successfully audition into the percussion studio on one of the scheduled audition days and take Applied Percussion Lessons. If you do not want to take percussion lessons or fail to audition into the percussion studio, you may fulfill the degree's ensemble requirement on another instrument which you own and play or choose to sing in a choir.

1. Submit your Undergraduate Admissions Application via the JMU Admissions Office

2. Create a Slideroom Portfolio.

In addition to completing the application questions, you'll need to upload:

• Contact information for an optional reference
• Unofficial high school transcript
• Music resume
• Sample of relevant work (Music Industry applicants only)

All materials should be uploaded one week prior to your interview date. No items should be mailed or emailed to the School of Music.

3.Schedule your 10-minute interview over Zoom from 4:30-6PM on one of the following dates:

• 2024-2025 interview dates are TBD; please check back

4. *Register for an audition date, if applicable:

• December 7, 2024
• January 25, 2025
• February 8, 2025

*Any Bachelor of Arts in Music applicants interested in taking lessons in voice or on their instrument  must register for an audition date. You will do this  separately from your JMU Undergraduate Admissions Application using the links above. There will not be a reminder on your University Application. 

For more details regarding specific instrument or vocal audition requirements, please visit our audition guidelines page.

NOTE ON SCHOLARSHIPS: All students who apply to the School of Music are automatically considered for a music scholarship.