YOUNG musicians will have the chance to work with professional musicians during a 10 week "rock school" course.

The course is open to musicians who are not already in existing bands.

The sessions are open to budding musicians aged between 11 and 18, and students don't even need to have their own instruments.

The two-hour long sessions will run every Saturday from May 3 to July 5, excluding May 10, with an audition session on April 26 from 10am to 1pm.

Bands formed over the course of the sessions will play at the Greater Manchester Youth Games on July 12 and at the Bolton Music Showcase on July 26.

That's not to say that existing bands have been left out. Bands whose members are aged between 11 and 18 can apply to take part in the Showcase Showdown on Thursday July 10 at Thornleigh Salesian College.

Bands will be judged by a panel including professionals from The Bolton News, Tower FM and Cityscape Records.

And the winners will perform in front of hundreds of people at the Bolton Music Showcase.

Application forms are available through schools in Bolton now.

For more information about Rock School, email Mindee Hutchinson on artsdevelopment@bolton.gov.uk or ring 01204 334335.

For more information about the Showcase Showdown, email Naomi Lord at showdown@boltonmusicshowcase.org.