Tongue clicking, breath holding and tips for setting xylophones on fire formed part of a fun-packed music lesson for local children led by students at the Purcell School today.

The Aldenham Road music school's Elastic Band, made up of fluorescently dressed students and energetic conductor Kevin Hathway, put on the interactive concert for the Bromet, Nascot Wood, Little Green and Yorke Mead primary schools to get them interested in music.

Instead of drowning the schoolchildren in sonatas and symphonies, the band has been created to perform “light music” including songs and scores from popular films.

A loud, jazz-fuelled version of When the Saints Go Marching In kicked off proceedings after a short mime introduction by Mr Hathway and was followed by clapping exercises, jokes, questions and a long series of challenges both for the visitors and the players.

“Shall we see how long she can hold the note?”, came the question before a schoolchild's stopwatch led to a predictably red-faced oboist.

A speed challenge to hit all the notes on the xylophone and a chance for the children to play familiar tunes on instruments often dwarfing them in size followed, sandwiched between familiar scores and songs played by the band which included finalists in this year's BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.

Yvonne Graves, Headteacher of Bromet Primary School said: “It was absolutely brilliant. Fantastic. The children loved it. Most of them just went 'wow' and it's already inspired some of them to want to take up a musical instrument.”

Katherine Todd, teacher at York Mead Primary School agreed, saying the chance to see experienced young musicians play had helped build on work already done in music lessons.

James Quinn, Head of Trust Fundraising and Development at the Purcell School said: “We really hope this will get the children interested in musical instruments and music itself. It's all about reaching out to more children, getting them involved. Making music a hands on experience.”