The future of tertiary music training in Australia

In this paper I propose to talk about the present and future of tertiary music training. The focus will be on the tertiary sector in Australia, and on vocational training for musicians. To begin I would like to briefly describe my own involvement in this field as a way of putting my attitudes and observations into some context. In 1986 I was appointed to the Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education (now Southern Cross University) to develop a program in contemporary popular music in response to the needs of the popular music industry in Australia. I'm still doing this job. Before that I held full time academic positions at the University of Sydney and at the Queensland Conservatorium. During the 1970 and early 1980s I also worked part-time at the University of New Wales, the NSW State Conservatorium of Music, and the Newcastle Conservatorium. In the same period I was also involved in the music industry as a commercial composer and arranger, rock performer, piano accompanist, music journalist and music editor. In keeping with the Bach theme of this conference, I should say that in the late 60s and early 70s I also fancied myself as a harpsichordist and continuo player.