The virtual conservatorium: A new emerging option for conservatoria

In March 2001 the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) embarked on a new initiative: 'The Virtual Conservatorium'. This chapter outlines the process of ideas and implementation methodologies that led to the deve1opment of 'The Virtual Conservatorium within the main entity of CQCM. 'The traditional view that higher education services are best provided on a campus to a student body resident nearby, via a narrow set of delivery methodologies will come under scrutiny as the new technologies continue to expand the possibilities for location independent interaction between teachers, between teachers and students, between students, and between the providers of academic support services. '(Higher Education review, 1997:9) 'The Virtual Conservatorium' was created to offer a geographically non-specific version CQCM's "on campus" offerings by developing new delivery methodologies for tertiary music education.