Youngsters blow their own trumpet
A kind-hearted professional musician is giving up his time to teach youngsters at two Stafford primary schools to play brass and woodwind instruments.
Talented trumpeter Gavin Lamplough is on a quest to give more children an opportunity to make music.
Armed with trombones, euphoniums and trumpets, Gavin has been stepping out of his own classroom at Stafford Grammar School each week and into Seighford's Cooper Perry and St Andrew's in Weston, in a bid to get the eight and nine-year-olds hooked on a new skill.
Mr Lamplough said: "Sadly there is a noticeable decline in the amount of music delivered in our local primary schools which is not the fault of teachers, but simply because of budget cuts and lack of funding.
"It's been lying heavy on my heart for a number of years and I wanted to do something about it."
In a drive to reach out to the community, Stafford Grammar School has enabled Gavin to visit the local primary schools by juggling his timetable.
"The result has been so positive. The kids' faces light up when I unpack the instruments and there is genuine excitement," Mr Lamplough added.
The SGS director of music is backed by Staffordshire's Entrust music service, which is lending many of the instruments free of charge.
Nearly 30 pupils at each school are learning to play and are so keen that after-school clubs have been set up and they have already performed a concert to family and friends.
Mr Lamplough said: "For anyone who claims music is not relevant today, they should look at these children and see how much joy it's bringing.
"My intention is to make this a long-running scheme and eventually to roll it out to other primary schools."
