JMU Music Academy

Fall registration coming soon!

Man with guitar standing in front of guitar class

JMU Music Academy

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Designed for beginners and developing learners, Music Academy classes are tailored for adults to make music in a fun, no-pressure environment!

These recreational music classes meet on JMU campus and are open to JMU faculty, staff, students, and adults of the local community.

Classes are offered in full sessions or half sessions depending on theme or instrument. For more details, read below.

Registration and pricing coming soon. See class details below.

Music Academy Offerings

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Guitar Classes (Academic Year Offerings)

Beginner Guitar

Time: Tuesdays, 7:00-7:50pm

Dates:

1st half session (5 weeks): Sept. 1-29
Full session (10 weeks): Sept. 1 - Nov. 3

Instructor: Thaddeus Jackson

Email: jacks2ti@jmu.edu

Intro to Songwriting on Guitar

This course aims to get you started writing your own songs and using guitar to help build them. Topics addressed in this course include: song structure, lyric writing, building chord progressions using the guitar, and crafting a good melody. A general knowledge of guitar open chords such as G, C, D, A, Am, Dm, Em, and E are encouraged for this class.

Time: Fridays, 12:00-12:50pm

Dates:

1st half session (5 weeks): Sept. 4 - Oct. 2
Full session (10 weeks): Sept. 4 - Nov. 13 (no class October 9)

Instructor: Thaddeus Jackson

Email: jacks2ti@jmu.edu

Piano Classes (Academic Year Offerings)

Beginner Piano

Beginner piano courses will be offered at two different times this season! You can choose to do Tuesday evenings or Friday afternoons. See below for more information.

Times: Tuesdays, 6:00-6:50pm OR Fridays, 12:00-12:50pm

Dates:

Tuesdays 1st half session (5 weeks): Sept. 1-29
Tuesdays full session (10 weeks): Sept. 1 - Nov. 3
Fridays 1st half session (5 weeks): Sept. 4 - Oct. 2
Fridays full session (10 weeks): Sept. 4 - Nov. 13 (no class Oct. 9)

Instructor: Natalie Doughty

Email: doughtna@jmu.edu

Beginner II Piano

Time: Fridays, 1:00-1:50pm

Dates:

1st half session (5 weeks): Sept. 4 - Oct. 2
Full session (10 weeks): Sept. 4 - Nov. 13 (no class Oct. 9)

Instructor: Natalie Doughty

Email: doughtna@jmu.edu

Intermediate Piano

Time: Tuesdays, 7:00-7:50pm

Dates:

1st half session (5 weeks): Sept. 1-29
Full session (10 weeks): Sept. 1 - Nov. 3 (no class Oct. 9)

Instructor: Natalie Doughty

Email: doughtna@jmu.edu

Voice Classes (Academic Year Offerings)

Beginner Voice Class

If you can speak, you can sing! This Beginning Level Group Singing class is suited for those that want to learn the fundamentals of healthy singing technique and be able to apply it when singing their favorite popular songs! This course will teach you: how to breathe like a singer, alignment and body awareness, vowel shaping, dynamic control, and other concepts to improve your individual singing skills. Singers will learn vocal warm ups and practice technique and participate in group singing as well as solo singing (optional).

Time: Wednesdays, 6:00-6:50pm

Dates:

1st half session (5 weeks): Sept. 2 - Oct. 14 (no class Sept. 16 or Oct. 7)
Full session (10 weeks): Sept. 2 - Nov. 18 (no class Sept. 16 or Oct. 7)

Instructor: Georgia Orfanides

Email: orfanigm@jmu.edu

Intro to Musical Theatre Voice Class

Intro to Musical Theatre is suited for those who love singing along to musicals and want to learn the stylistic techniques for singing in the genre or are planning to audition for a musical. This course will teach you: how to pick songs for your voice type, acting through the song, the 'types' of musical theater songs, character study, how to pick a 16-32 bar cut for auditions, and how to emote and communicate the message of your song. Singers will learn: healthy vocal technique, warm ups, practice techniques, ensemble songs as well as solo songs.

Time: Wednesdays, 7:00-7:50pm

Dates: