TWO £500 awards are music to the ears of primary school pupils who will now be able to play hand chimes and glockenspiels.

Soudley Primary School and Primrose Hill CofE Primary Academy were chosen as joint inaugural winners of a school music grant, funded by a foundation that honours the memory of a popular music teacher.

The Yvonne Walkerdine Music Bursary (YWMB) awards will see Soudley buy a set of 15 hand chimes, music books and a carrying bag, while Primrose Hill youngsters will benefit from a classroom set of 25 glockenspiels and beaters.

Bursary chair Fiona Crawley said: “We initially thought to give away a single grant of £500, but having received the applications, we were so impressed that we found funds for both schools.”

Soudley Primary’s music coordinator Susan Barber said: “The hand chimes can be used by the whole school and will last for many years.

“They are easy to play with just a single movement of one hand, therefore children of all ages and adults with special needs will be able to follow and produce simple tunes.

“These instruments are especially beneficial for those with speech and language difficulties and dexterity issues. Everybody will be able to make music at the same level.”

Victoria Henson, head teacher at Primrose Hill, was also delighted, saying: “The acquisition of the glockenspiels will lead to an improvement in performance skills which will be celebrated in assemblies, used in workshops and school clubs and will be invaluable in teaching pupils about all the elements of music.”

The YWMB was founded after the sudden death in 2008 of Yorkley school teacher and community musician Yvonne Walkerdine.

Following many years of support for talented young Forest musicians, the committee took the decision to broaden its approach by introducing the schools grant.

Fiona Crawley said: “We are very keen to expand our work into schools and engage with more students. This grant will encourage teachers to be more innovative and creative in their musical provision without impacting financially on already squeezed budgets.

“We were delighted with the response for our very first bursary. All the applications were well considered, creative and interesting.

“We chose Soudley because of its inclusiveness and Primrose Hill due to its creativity and the lasting legacy of the bid.”

Applications for the annual grant must be made by January 31 each year. More information can be found at www.yvonnewalkerdine.com or on the trust’s Facebook page.