The Defence Force School of Music (DFSM) has been responsible for the education of Australian Defence Force (ADF) musicians since its inception in 1984. Previously the preparation of soldier-musicians had been the responsibility of the Army School of the Army School of Music, which was part of the Army Apprentices' School. Preparation of sailor-musicians had been the province of the Royal Australian Navy School of Music. Thus, with its roots in a tradition of training for music as work, the DFSM has been well-positioned to adopt the principles and practices of Vocational Education and Training (VET). This paper reviews the principles of VET, describes the DFSM and its work, and addresses the questions: "How has the DFSM's philosophy and practice of Music-Education-as-VET been shaped by its history?" and "What is the nature of the experience of students at the DFSM?".
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