HUNDREDS of musical instruments are being provided for children in an effort to keep the full range of sounds alive for schools.

Experts at North Yorkshire County Council fear that without appropriate guidance children will opt for mainstream instruments such as the flute, the guitar or keyboards.

They are concerned that school orchestras could be limited in their repertoire because they do not have the necessary instruments for the full spectrum of music.

To try to prevent that happening the authority's music service has secured £14,000 in funding to provide more than 300 instruments, including the French horn, bassoon, tuba, cello and trombone.

The county's executive member for education, Councillor Chris Metcalfe, said: "North Yorkshire already boasts a high take-up of musical instruments, about five per cent more than the national average, with over 9,000 children receiving lessons.

"The additional funding we have secured from the National Foundation For Youth Music means that we can offer them a greater variety of instruments to play, and even those who opt for the more mainstream ones will get the chance to play a broader range of music."

David Morgan, the head of the music service, said there were many benefits to learning to play an instrument.

He described it as a precise science that required mathematical skills and said it introduced children to foreign languages because many of the terms were in French, Italian or German.

He said it had great history and required great physical co-ordination, dexterity and skill. But most of all it was an art form which allowed the children to express themselves in a creative way.

"There is lots of research which shows that children who play musical instruments achieve well in academic areas," he said.

"Children learn to be good at managing their time, prioritising, loyalty, teamwork and commitment."

The work of North Yorkshire County Council's Music Service was praised by inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education.

They said the service provided a rewarding experience for young people and praised tuition, the quality of ensemble and the administration over such a wide area.