OKEHAMPTON-based folk charity Wren Music has launched a series of new autumn workshops for adults and young people.

Players of all acoustic instruments are invited to come along to join the new folk orchestra of West Devon, which will be meeting on Tuesday evenings at Okehampton College under the direction of fiddler Emma Welton.

The workshops start on Tuesday September 21 and are open to people of all ages over 14-years-old.

Also on Tuesday evenings the new West Devon folk choir will be meeting at Okehampton College led by Wren's Music director Paul Wilson. No experience of choral singing is necessary, just the desire to have fun finding your voice and singing together with other people.

The choir will enable people to sing with their natural voices, rather than using classical vocal techniques. People are welcome to come and join the choir even if they have never sung before, and the minimum age is 16.

Both of these weekly workshop groups will run from 7pm to 9pm.

Roots Voicebox is a new choir for eight to 18-year-olds, meeting on Wednesday afternoons from September 22 at the parish hall in Okehampton. The choir aims for excellent sounds with natural voices, and will be performing at festivals and concerts, as well as writing some original songs with singing leader Sarah Owen.

Young instrumentalists from eight to thirteen-years-old are invited to join the Dartmoor Youth Roots Band, which will be meeting on Monday evenings from September 20, from 6pm to 7.30pm at Church House, South Tawton. Paul Wilson and rising folk star Jackie Oates will be leading the music making. There will be a wide variety of acoustic instruments provided by Wren, or people can bring your own.

A new group for thirteen to eighteen year olds is also starting soon. Roots Acoustic Band aims to be Devon's leading teen folk band. Workshops sessions will be held at Beaford Arts Centre on occasional Saturdays from October 2.

Young people will be working with professional musicians and workshop leaders Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll, and will learn music from different traditions, how to arrange for the band, improvisation and composition, and techniques to make a simple tune sound great. There will also be the chance to try out some more unusual instruments.

For further information, booking places and costs call Wren Music on 01837 53754 or visit http://www.wrenmusic.co.uk">www.wrenmusic.co.uk