NOISE resonated from Horrabridge Primary School recently as pupils were taught how to play brass instruments.

David Gray, brass and guitar teacher, visited the school as part of a new project giving primary schools in Tavistock and surrounding villages the opportunity to learn how to play a musical instrument for free.

The project, Wider Opportunities, is funded by the Learning Community.

David said: 'The schools I'm visiting are having a 50-minute class session for six weeks, learning to play a brass instrument. The instruments include trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, baritone, euphonium and trombone.

'The project so far has been a great success with many children having great fun and learning an instrument they may never be given the chance to try.

'The two previous schools I have just finished the project with — St Andrews, Buckland and Lamerton Primary — gave great feedback and said that the children thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and some of them have now continued having lessons on the instruments.'

David said the whole point of the project was to make children aware of a variety of musical instruments — brass instruments in particular, were simply not being learned anymore.

'There are plenty of teachers but not enough pupils. Many parents assume that they are expensive instruments to play but I'm sure that when they find out they can rent a trombone for just £20 a year, some of them will change their minds.

'Maestros Music in Plymouth has an excellent rental and hire purchase scheme and they now have a stall in Tavistock Pannier Market every Thursday.'