MUSIC is so popular at Whitchurch Primary that the school band is now 45 members strong.
The group gave its first performance in its present form at the school recently — and it went down a treat.
Music was very much in its infancy when Angela O'Shea-Warman joined the school as headteacher, and two years ago she put the wheels in motion to start a school band.
The headteacher, who said she was keen on giving all the pupils an opportunity to play a musical instrument, approached talented musician Tony Evans, and things just snowballed from there.
'The parents were fantastically supportive and raised thousands of pounds so we could buy instruments — we now have 60, ranging from trombones to flutes, oboes and cornets,' she said.
'We have 200 pupils and 60 children now play an instrument, but every child has the opportunity to learn if they want to.'
Enthusiastic children turn up to band practice every Wednesday at 8.15am and music forms part of the normal school curriculum on two days a week.
The band has played at some community events but performing in public is something it wants to extend. However, this can only be done with sponsorship and the school is hoping local businesses will help in this department after Plymouth firm Wolferstans Solicitors made a donation recently.
Whitchurch School Band has been selected to perform at the County Headteachers' Conference in South Devon in the spring and considers this a great honour.
Mrs O'Shea-Warman said the children were growing in confidence from playing in the band and is was a known fact that pupils improved academically if they played instruments.
The picture shows band members with musical director Tony Evans and conductor Jenni Martin.