PARENTS of young musicians converged on Stitchcombe House, in Savernake Forest, on Sunday for a concert featuring their talented children.

It was the culmination of a course organised by the Super Strings Club, the brainchild of West Lavington-based music teacher Liz Richards.

Recently, the thriving group of young musicians, aged from three to 18, received an arts development grant of £400 from Kennet District Council to help them continue their work.

Mrs Richards is keen that the grant should benefit as many children as possible by extending the musical training the club provides to all those who wish to take advantage of it.

Young cellists, violinists, violists and bass players come together each week in Market Lavington to make music in small chamber groups and orchestras.

The group's youngest musicians work through the different classes, named after musical terms, beginning in the Tonics, progressing through Super Tonics and Sub-Dominants to Dominants.

They participate in a whole range of games and activities using the method pioneered by Hungarian composer and educator Zoltan Kodaly.

Guest musicians are invited to lead performance workshops and the children are treated to a whole range of concerts by professional musicians.

The young musicians perform their own regular concerts and each summer the club runs a popular and successful summer course, when a team of experienced music teachers spend a week dedicated to producing lots of chamber music, culminating in a concert. The courses also give the youngsters the chance to create their own artwork.

The first of the three courses running this summer took place at Stitchcombe House, near Marlborough, but the next two will be held at Dauntsey's Aided Primary School, in West Lavington.

Many of the club's members find their participation in the group invaluable when participating in music competitions in the area.

But, as it becomes increasingly popular, the Super Strings Club is currently struggling to find more spacious practice facilities with parking.

Mrs Richards said: "We would be interested in hearing from anyone with a suitable venue in mind, for example a redundant farm building or office space."

Anyone who can help or wants to find out more information about the Super Strings Club can phone Mrs Richards on (01380) 812179.