THREE schools in York and North Yorkshire have received £2,000 in grants for musical instruments and improving young people’s access to music education.

The funds from the EMI Music Sound Foundation are being used to expand the opportunities available to children in their extra-curricular and enrichment music lessons and clubs. The grants have gone to schools in the York-based Ebor Academy Trust .

Haxby Road Primary Academy have used their grant to expand the range of tuned percussion for students to explore as part of their ‘Haxbeaters’ percussion project.

A new flute ensemble ‘Fluteshoots’ has been set up by Staynor Hall Primary Academy in Selby.

And Brotherton and Byram Primary Academy has added a set of bass ‘Dundun’ drums, as well as traditional African shakers, to their African Drumming Club, ‘Djembefolas’.

All children in the three schools have weekly music lessons with specialist music teacher Robert Heath.

Mr Heath said: “Our music sessions and team of music specialists provide Ebor students with opportunities to discover new interests and develop their musical skills.

“But more than this, every week I see children growing in confidence and finding they have talents that they never knew were there. These EMI grants allow us to explore music more deeply, with really exciting activities and high quality instruments to learn on.”

The EMI Music Sound Foundation has several famous and successful musicians as its patrons, including Sir Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Cliff Richard, Diana Ross and Tina Turner.

Ebor Academy Trust comprises 15 schools, including Robert Wilkinson, Haxby Road and Park Grove in York. The two schools at Hob Moor and Lakeside are expected to join in April. Ebor also runs schools in Selby, the Yorkshire Coast and in the East Riding and the Humber.