MORE children could benefit from playing an instrument in the future.

A report to North Yorkshire County Council's environment and heritage scrutiny committee said that its music service to schools enriched pupils' lives.

The council plans to ensure that more children can benefit from it, especially those from less-privileged backgrounds.

In a joint report, councillors Richard Thomas and John Marshall, members of a research group set up to study the arts, said: "Involvement with music and the other arts has proved to be most effective in engaging with hard-to-reach groups of young people and helping them to develop."

A review will be carried out into ways of providing instrument and vocal tuition to children and students at the county's schools and colleges.

The report said the music service will spend almost £2.5m this year.

Published: 18/09/2004