THE National Centre for Early Music in York begins a new series of concerts for young children, family and friends on Sunday morning when Catapluf’s Musical Journey entertains five to seven year olds.

Further concerts will follow in June, November and December in a series chosen to cross all genres and give young people aged three to 11 the opportunity to listen to and on some occasions join in with the music-making.

Delma Tomlin, the NCEM director, says: "It’s fantastic to have the opportunity for young people to engage with music. Last season we welcomed the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with their Pitter Patter weather programme; the children were absolutely mesmerised and there was a strong desire for us to offer more for this age group.

"So, over the spring and summer seasons, we'll have four very different concerts: Catapluf’s Musical Journey, presented by award-winning multi-instrumentalist Adriano Adewale, who takes a musical journey around the world; then Kathakali, presenting a classical dance drama with their story of Hima Sundari, similar to Snow White.

"Next will be Swinging Safari with I Flautisti, the all-female London recorder quartet, playing over 20 different recorders, and finally, Music in the Round’s Ensemble 360 will join us with Crazy Creatures, bringing to life two brilliant children’s stories.”

This Sunday, Catupluf takes the York audience on a musical journey to every corner of the globe, travelling to places where anything from saucepans to water, drums, drainpipes and even the human body are turned into musical tools. Adriano Adewale's Catapluf is joined by Jenny Adejayan on cello, Marcelo Andrade and Giuliano Pereira on saxophones, flute and guitar and Andres Ticino on percussion.

Kathakali's Hima Sundari on June 13 at 6.30pm is suitable for age seven upwards. Told through the ancient art of Kathakali, this dance drama of Kerala takes a sleeping princess, her evil stepmother and a handsome prince and adds the spectacle, bright colours, dramatic music and rhythmic music of India.

On November 1, in Swinging Safari at noon, I Flautisti perform renaissance tunes, baroque favourites and modern jazzy and swing pieces on more than 20 different recorders. They also offer seven to 11 year olds the chance to find out more about the development of the recorder over the ages.

On December 13, at 11am and 1.30pm, Ensemble 360 and narrator Polly Ives perform the children's stories The Duck With No Luck and A Cat Called Scratch, written by Jonathan Long, illustrated by Korky Paul with music by Paul Rissmann. This Crazy Creatures concert for age three upwards features magical image projections from the book and audience participation.

Looking forward to the four concerts, Delma says: "If we can introduce children – and their parents – to music of the highest possible standard at an early age, we have a much better chance of encouraging them to learn an instrument, enjoy listening and singing and all that this means for them in terms of personal development, social skills and educational attainment in the future.

"Particularly important, when there's so much pressure on funding for musical training and the humanities, is that parents understand how children just love to make music and it’s an interest many of them are born with, which they lose if not encouraged."

The series is funded by the monies the NCEM has raised over the past couple of years through the Arts Council Catalyst programme. "We have money for three more years at this point – and these concerts are really good fun," says Delma.

Tickets can be booked online at ncem.co.uk/family or on 01904 658338.