A STUDENT at Westminster University's Harrow campus has been given charity money to run a pilot scheme teaching teenagers music production.

Simon Bennett, 23, of Alicia Avenue, Kenton, set up the Rollingsound project to "bring children and recorded music closer together".

The project, which has received a £4,500 grant from the Peabody Trust, will train youngsters aged 13 to 19, and the mentally disabled, in all aspects of state of the art computerised music production, from the first lyric to the final product, using new recording programmes and technologies.

Rollingsound teachers will guide their pupils through such techniques as sequencing and recording, helping those with ambitions to work in the business into higher education to study commercial music production.

Simon, who is himself studying commercial music at the Watford Road campus, said: "I have put a lot of hard work into this project as I feel that producing music is a good way of expressing yourself.

"I cannot wait until June, when the pilot scheme starts. I want to encourage people to record their own music so that they can keep it."

Rollingsound is also working with Women's Integrated Services Harrow, Wish, on the Girls' Xpress project to create a music video.

Simon's aim is to instal a music studio on a bus in which he can tour the UK to educate more people. He needs to raise funds for this and is looking for local businesses willing to help in return for advertising on the side of the vehicle.

Companies which would like to get involved should call Simon on 07817 162839, or e-mail him on infor@ rollingsound.org. For more information on the Rollingsound project, log on to www.rollingsound.org.