Marching Royal Dukes

The Marching Royal Dukes are the school's official marching band. Formed in 1972 (same as the football team), the "MRD's" perform at halftime and post-game at all home football games, and travel with the team occasionally to perform at away and post-season games. In 1994, the MRD's were the recipients of the Sudler Trophy, the highest honor available for a college marching band, and was the first ensemble from a school with a I-AA football team to do so.

The MRD's are one of the largest collegiate marching bands in the nation, with 474 members as of 2008. Nicknamed "Virginia's Finest", they have performed at venues such as the inaugurations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the NFC title game between Washington and Dallas in 1983, Bands of America Grand National Championships in 1988 and 1991, and the 2001 and 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In the past decade, the band has taken trips to Europe during the school's winter break, featuring Athens, Dublin, and Monoco.

The typical MRD's show consists of three pieces, spreading across different genres, from jazz and funk to musicals and movie themes, however, nearly every show includes a patriotic piece, and the second piece always features the Dukettes, the university's dance team. Much of the ensemble's repertoire is arranged by JMU alumnus Larry Clarke.

Marching band is offered as a two-credit applied music class at JMU, whereas most other universities it is solely an extracurricular activity. MRD's tryouts are open to all students.

In addition to performances at football games, the Marching Royal Dukes record a new CD every year with selected songs from their show music, as well as stands tunes performed at football games. Every fall break the MRD's host Parade of Champions, a high school marching band competition, inviting bands from across the state and beyond to perform and receive scores.

The MRDs have had a far-reaching impact on other programs in the state, including alumnus William Pease, who now directs the Cavalier Marching Band at the University of Virginia, and former director Brantley T. Douglas, who now directs the Christopher Newport University marching band.

JMU Brass Band

The JMU Brass Band is one of only a few collegiate brass bands in the United States. Formed in the Fall of 2000, the band has twice been named the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Honors Section Champion (2004, 2005), and is currently the 2007 NABBA Champion Section Runner-up. The group maintains an active performance schedule throughout the academic year, performing regularly both on and off campus. Most recently, the band was a featured ensemble at the 2004 Virginia Music Educators Conference in Norfolk, Virginia and the 2006 Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Kentucky. The ensemble has been host to a number of guest artists including euphonium virtuoso Steven Mead, YBS Band solo horn Sheona White, baritone soloist Katrina Marzella and trumpet soloists Vince DiMartino and Allen Vizzutti. The band has also worked with prominent brass band conductors Stephen Bulla, Philip Sparke, James Curnow and Douglas Yeo.

Pep Band

During the basketball season, the JMU Pep Band performs at all home games, both men's and women's. If either team plays in a postseason tournament, the band travels with them as well. The Pep Band is open to all members of the marching band, and has twice been named “Best Pep Band in the East” by Eastern Basketball Magazine.