Only six months after its launch, Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music\'s Virtual Conservatorium initiative is proving that it has struck the right chord with students and supporters.

The Virtual Conservatorium is now enrolling undergraduate and postgraduate students from throughout Australia, and has gained a major boost at State level by partnering with Learning Network Queensland.

Virtual Conservatorium coordinator Ian Bofinger has been encouraged by the response from students and also by the interest from other quarters.

According to Ian, “The initiative\'s profile was boosted greatly by Telstra\'s decision to include a Virtual Conservatorium advert in a national newspaper and magazine campaign.” Undergraduate musicians enrolling in the Bachelor of Music/Performing Arts are able to study from their hometown as long as they have access to an approved tutor and ensemble performance opportunities.

Contact with CQCM is maintained via a visiting assessor, communication with an electronic \'carer\' and access to online study materials and packaged resources.

Postgraduate students are able to enrol in the online version of the Master of Arts Administration.

Support has also come from Queensland Rail, Greyhound-Pioneer, Avis and Travelcrew in the form of discounts for Virtual Conservatorium students travelling to residential schools.

International academic interest in the activities of the Virtual Conservatorium was recently bolstered when Ian delivered a conference paper in Norway.

Brisbane’s Cannon Hill Anglican College has also arranged to become a Virtual Conservatorium partner.

Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music is part of the Faculty of Education and Creative Arts at Central Queensland University. Details are available at www.cqu.edu.au/cqcm PIC: CQU\'s Virtual Conservatorium is proving popular with students who want to study music and performing arts through flexible learning.