AN innovative "rock school" aims to provide young people in Bolton with the opportunity to experience every angle of the music industry.

Yamaha-Al!ve is a unique collaboration between a rock band and the musical giant which seeks to encourage students to take up musical instruments.

A workshop day at the Bolton Arena on December 14, will give pupils the chance to obtain advice from top industry insiders, try their hand at an instrument, and learn about the many options available to someone considering a career in the music business.

The finale of Bolton's very own version of School of Rock - a film starring Jack Black as a teacher whose aim is to inspire schoolchildren to take up an instrument - will be a performance by the rock band Al!ve.

Peter Ross, Al!ve's manager, said: "I think the only way you can create new musicians is by inspiring them."

Since starting out while they were at school in Bury nine years ago, Al!ve have played more than 500 gigs, made more than 100 TV appearances and performed at Prince Charles' 50th birthday reception at Buckingham Palace. The majority of their work, however, is still in the education sector.

"We don't want to do a disservice to traditional music, but if schools have problems motivating students into those routes, this could help," said Ross.

"Originally we were running lectures based around the band at Granada studios. They proved very popular - we were offered the chance to pilot it and ended up staying for three years - and we did occasional trips to nearby schools, but eventually the project outgrew the funding that was available."

Ross remained committed to touring the project round schools nationwide, and used evidence that the schools had benefited from the band's visit, in terms of behaviour and attendance, to apply for funding from education schemes.

"Along the way we have worked with a lot of difficult schools and with very underprivileged children, but we really want to help motivate pupils into courses and career decisions in the music industry," Ross says.

Extra funding and an already long-standing arrangement with Yamaha, who provided instruments for the pupils to play, meant that Ross could expand the target area to include schools outside the North-west.

The immediate impact of the programme has resulted in a dramatic increase in numbers of children learning a musical instrument and choosing to study music for GCSE. Many schools visited have needed to increase their instrumental teaching staff following the event that is equally popular among teachers and pupils.

Ross says: "This is a serious attempt to talk to pupils in their own language and style and with a form of music they relate to and respect. The band are superb musicians who simply love to play. We want to communicate how much fun can be had playing a musical instrument, and that learning a musical instrument is a skill for life that can lead to a broad range of career opportunities."

Ross is also keen to show students that there are more career options in the music industry than simply standing under the lights on stage. The lights need operating, the sound needs engineering ("our sound engineer is on tour with The White Stripes," says Ross, proudly) and of course there is Ross' own role - as the band's manager.

"We try to remind them that it's not just about music. There's film and photography elements, opportunities for school newspapers to get involved, chances for management and business studies students to show what they can do, and plenty of openings for media studies students too," he said.

Ross has demonstrated this wide range of opportunities in the run up to the Yamaha-Al!ve event at Bolton Arena, one of the biggest projects he has taken on yet.

Expanding on an idea the team hit upon years ago - that the children at the schools where the band played would benefit from acting as promoters for the gig - Ross has taken on a 30-strong committee from Canon Slade to act as an event organising company.

"Canon Slade being a fairly dedicated arts school, they were desperate to be involved. We set up a meeting and ended up with about 30 pupils and Gail Shuttleworth, who is the head of performing arts.

"Using their own enterprise and initiative they have to think of the best way to promote the event. It's a very real event - if they sell out the tickets and get a great audience, that will be a great feeling for them," he said.

The Bolton event will feature all-day "hands on" opportunities, where pupils try drums, guitars and keyboards, with chances to try mixing and scratching, and learn about recording equipment.

They will also learn about the structure of a band, how to get started, the benefits of learning a musical instrument, the workings of the music business, research skills and career opportunities.

Gary Tate, managing director at Bolton-based music specialists Harker and Howarth, who are supporting the event, says: "This event gives children a taster of learning a musical instrument along with where it can lead."

The Yamaha-Al!ve team is enthusiastic about the event and the opportunities it will afford local schoolchildren. Ross in particular is pleased that his idea has taken off.

"I'm really looking forward to it. The band are really looking forward to it; we're all really excited," he adds.

l For more details, schools can contact Peter Ross on 07970 191668