The JMU School of Music and the School of Professional and Continuing Education is excited to offer a college-level online music theory course for credit to high school students! 

• Students receive JMU university credit for the course (transferable to other VA institutions).

• We are pleased to be partnering with the School of Professional and Continuing Education to offer a 94% discount on the normal 3-credit course rate of $1700. Therefore, the cost of the course is only $99. The textbook is open source and therefore free.

• Completion of the course with a C or better will satisfy the entrance requirement for the JMU School of Music Bachelor of Arts in Music. Competion of the course with a C or better would also count toward a Bachelor of Music at JMU, but an additional audition would be required for admission into that degree program.

• For maximum flexibility, there will be a mix of synchronous and asynchronous class meetings. Synchronous class meetings will be recorded for students who cannot attend.

• The course will run during the JMU Spring 2026 semester (January 20-May 6 with finals running May 7-13).

If students are interested in continuing their studies at JMU, they will have to satisfy the university admissions requirements. Also, the Bachelor of Arts in Music does not have an applied music requirement. If students want to study private lessons, they will also have to complete an audition.

For more information, please contact Dr. John Peterson at peter2jr@jmu.edu.