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University of Adelaide to cut Elder Conservatorium vocational music courses

A student says a decision to end three vocational music courses in Adelaide will ultimately harm the health of the local music industry.

The University of Adelaide no longer will offer certificate III, certificate IV or the diploma of music from the Elder Conservatorium program after this year.

Contemporary music student Emily Retsas thinks that will force many students to move interstate for their studies.

"I think it affects all aspects of the music industry because you fail the bands that are of export-ready level," she said.

"Musicianship and the quality of songs and the quality of bands and live performance are paramount to the rest of the industry succeeding and continuing to grow."

Greens MLC Tammy Franks said it was the second blow for local music education after a closure of the music department at the suburban TAFE at Noarlunga.

"I would like to see the courses that were at Noarlunga and the courses that are currently at the Con (Elder Conservatorium) continue to be offered in some form," she said.

"It doesn't have to be in those particular institutions but if the Government is serious about supporting music and live music in this state then they need to make sure these stepladder positions are there."

SA's Higher Education and Skills Minister Gail Gago said the University of Adelaide had taken a business decision, but she denied students had lost local opportunities to study music.

She said a government subsidy was available for education providers to help cover the costs of particular courses and the University of Adelaide received that subsidy for the three music courses mentioned.

Ms Gago said the Government also gave the university extra funding to back those courses, but only for the short-term.

She said the wider subsidy would remain available next year but not the extra funding component and the university had taken a decision not to offer those music courses in 2015, but all current students would be able to complete their training.

"Students can attend TAFE SA, which offers all three of those courses and has also agreed to deliver jazz music options that had been offered at the university," Ms Gago said.

In a statement, Adelaide University said its changes had been forced by the reduction in government money on offer.

"All of the current VET/diploma students will all be able to complete their 2014 courses and the university is currently looking at different pathway options for future students," it said.

The university said there were about 80 current students.