DO YOU have a cello in the cupboard, a guitar gathering dust or a drum kit doing nothing?

Then a new project aimed at helping Pembrokeshire schoolchildren to learn a musical instrument may strike a note.

Reach Out with Music is a new, non-profit making scheme started by two local teachers, which aims to make instrumental tuition accessible to all interested children.

It’s the idea of Hannah Lowe and Jazz Langdon, who became friends while playing in Tenby’s Greenhill School orchestra and have now gone on to teaching careers.

Jazz, aged 22, played percussion in the orchestra and is now an infants’ teacher at The Meads, Milford Haven, while violinist Hannah, aged 23, who also played in the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, is a music teacher at Pembroke School.

They are urging people to look in the attic for that long-forgotten instrument to help Reach Out with Music enable families who may not otherwise be able to afford the cost of one to get their children started on the musical ladder.

“The project has been endorsed by the Pembrokeshire Music Service and Pembrokeshire County Council, and we launched it on the Reach Out with Music Facebook site,” explained Hannah. “We’ve already had guitars, violins and a clarinet donated, and we’re keen to spread the news that we are looking for instruments so we can have more and help as many children as possible”

The scheme aims to start providing lessons in several pilot primary schools in September, with tuition provided by the Pembrokeshire Music Service.

Added Hannah: “We are very grateful for the very positive and practical support of Musicians World in Haverfordwest, who have also agreed to received donations of instruments for us to collect, and these can also be left at Gravell’s Garage in Narberth.

“Recent research and reports have highlighted the many benefits of music in education - not only the pleasure of playing an instrument, but also helping social and emotional development, improving confidence and encouraging discipline and perseverance.

“We are very eager to give more children the benefit of this, and if any individual, business or organisation is interested in helping in any way, we would be pleased to hear from them.”

Anyone who would like to help the project can email reachoutwithmusicproject@gmail.com.