The Reflective Conservatoire 2006 Guildhall School of Music and Drama February 16-18, London. Virtually there Real-time interactive technology applied to instrumental music teaching

Individual instrumental instruction is considered an essential component of traditional training, one which institutions continue to employ despite a climate of shrinking resources. With increased access a priority, music institutions are challenged to find ways in which students might receive quality training both on and off-campus. Of particular importance to tertiary institutions is that pre-tertiary students receive quality teaching which will ensure they are competitive in the auditioning process. For countries where distance is a factor in the provision of equitable access to quality teaching, interactive technology is proving an innovative response to the needs of students in remote locations. Whilst presently it is used primarily to service pre-tertiary students, some examples demonstrate how it might be employed in future tertiary programs. This paper emerges from recent research into the use of technology in the delivery of tertiary and pre-tertiary music training particularly in Australia, and it addresses the challenges of teaching instrumental students using realtime interactive technology, based on the particular example of the VideoLink Program at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. It explores the medium through the experience of those participating in this and other similar programs, suggesting potential future applications of the technology at tertiary level.