HALF of all children in York should be playing a musical instrument within seven years, a council official has said.

Wes Lawrance, City of York Council's arts education manager, was speaking after the announcement of a £200,000 funding bonus from the Government.

He said: "Playing a musical instrument is now accepted as raising educational aspiration and success, and paves the way for increased enjoyment of music in later life. This funding announcement is fantastic news for York. Within six or seven years, we want to see one in every two children in York schools playing a musical instrument on a regular basis. The sheer number of young performers will ensure that York continues to have a vibrant musical scene in the future."

The arts education service will use its share of the £332 million of funding for music in schools to offer a one-year programme, experiencing music through playing an instrument, to every child at Key Stage 2.

The programme will be delivered in the classroom through partnerships between local schools and the arts education service.

Every school in York with pupils at Key Stage 2 will be able to get involved in the opportunities by 2009. In York around 500 children are already involved, but many more schools are now keen to join the programme.

Research shows that around half of the children, who have already experienced playing an instrument through the wider opportunities programme, wished to carry on playing after the initial year.