YOUNG musicians are being offered an opportunity to develop their skills at a series of free workshops.

The Exchanging Notes Hartlepool project, which is aimed at young people aged 12-19, delivers lessons through a range of music organisations with funding from the National Foundation for Youth Music.

Co-ordinator Tim Coyte, from Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “We know there are lots of very talented young people out there who perhaps just need a bit of support to develop their skills and give them confidence.

“We would welcome people who’ve never played before but want to have a go and it may be that someone has always wanted to be in a band but doesn’t know where to start. Some people might be practising on their own but keen to play with others, while the project also offers song-writers a chance to try out their work on others.”

Recently, young people have been working together to write and record their own song, they have held a fundraising concert for Children in Need and they have visited music venues such as the Sage in Gateshead.

Weekly workshops are being held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at two venues in the town until early December.

The Tuesday sessions are taking place from 6pm-7.30pm at Red Dreams in Whitby Street South, while the Wednesday workshops are being held from 7pm-8.30pm at the Throston Youth Project in Wiltshire Way.

For more information about the project email tim.coyte@hartlepool.gov.uk or call him on 01429-523617.