This presentation will trace the rapid transition to online delivery undertaken by staff in the Bachelor of Contemporary Music (BCM) degree since March 2020. Prior to the pandemic, the BCM was delivered entirely on-campus at Lismore and in 2020 the degree was also offered for the first time at the Coomera campus of Queensland TAFE. This double-barrelled provocation propelled staff into a dizzy whirlwind of innovation that has not yet subsided. Numerous technological tools have been trialled and staff continue to refine delivery methods that range from one-to-one, small group, small and large ensemble teaching, to more traditional lecture and tutorial modes.
Overcoming the issue of latency to enable remote participation in ensembles has been one of the key difficulties. The use of online tools, such as Splice and Audiomovers, have allowed staff and students to easily share audio projects, however, latency remains a barrier to real-time online musical interaction. Assessment of live performance has also proved challenging in the restricted COVID-19 environment. For students without suitable home studios, the creation of backing tracks and use of the isolated booths in the University studio facilities has provided them the opportunity to complete live performance assessments with high quality sound and video recording. With access to campus facilities restricted, staff and students have had to ensure compliance with strict WHS guidelines for any on-campus activities.
Since March, music staff have worked as a team to address challenges, drawing on professional practice experience to solve technical problems and enlisting help from a wide network of musicians, music teachers, technicians and educators all dealing with similar issues. With minimal preparation time, many issues required immediate support or intervention for a class to proceed. This required staff to essentially be on call for others for troubleshooting purposes; whether it be to jump into a Collaborate Session to solve a problem, to test a new audio setup, or to simply offer a sympathetic ear to a fellow staff member sinking deep into a Collaborate/Zoom induced fatigue.