EDUCATION chiefs are hoping to win a cash windfall to jazz up music lessons for local school pupils.

They are hoping to be awarded over £565,000 to give ALL Bolton pupils the chance to learn about music they like.

And if they get the cash, pupils will get the opportunity to take up none traditional music such as jazz, pop, folk and world music.

Music will also be used in special projects to try and help struggling or disruptive youngsters get back on track and assist pupils with special needs.

The bid is the brainchild of the local education authority controlled Bolton Music Service which is based at The Deane school.

Music chiefs will face stiff competition for a Standards Fund grant from the Government but say they need the extra cash to expand, modernise and reach more Bolton children.

Ideas include more school choirs, a music project for under achievers based at the Reebok, sessions in nursery schools, a national centre of excellence for string instruments, Millennium music schemes and a recording studio.

But they say they need more staff, extra training and a wider range of instruments to make music lessons more attractive to youngsters who may be turned off by the idea of traditional violin or piano lessons.

Bolton's music chief Paul Payton said: "The current service has a very traditional stamp on it and we do not want to lose or dilute that.

Rock band

"But we do want to develop and offer a cross section of opportunities so that every child in the borough, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to become involved in music.

"We should be reflecting the world as it is today and if a disaffected youth wants to be in rock band we should be providing the means for him to do that.

"Research has shown that music has a role in developing childrens' cognitive and social skills and if young people are coming to Bolton Music Centre at night, they are not on the streets doing things they should not be doing."

Music chiefs will hear if their bid has been successful towards the end of this month but even if they do not get the cash, which will be on top of the £400,000 normally spent by Bolton Council every year, they plan to modernise the service. WORTH OF NOTES! £565,000

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