Traditional school music lessons where children bash a xylophone or blow into recorders are not renowned for inspiring a love of the subject, but the number of pupils taking GCSE music has rocketed after a hands-on pilot scheme that encourages pupils to jam like their favourite rock stars.

As part of the Musical Futures programme, children create their own music on the internet, listen to pop songs and attempt to play them by ear.

Academics investigating the informal learning approach found that it boosted confidence, improved behav-iour and concentration and resulted in a 40 per cent increase in the number of pupils wanting to take GCSE music.

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation set up the scheme in 2003. The researchers, from the Institute of Education, University of London, found that the project increased motivation among students who played instruments and those with no former interest in music.

Professor Susan Hallam said: “Musical Futures gives students more control over what and how they learn. Choosing the music they want to learn to play enables them to make links between school music and the music that they listen to outside school. It also increases their motivation.”

Anna Gower, the head of music at Monks Walk School in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, said that pupils brought a variety of music into their classes, from Coldplay to Frank Sinatra.

“Before, we would end up with most of the class coming up with music that sounded identical, because we had told them how to do it,” she said.

“But Musical Futures turns it all backwards so music is the starting point for learning. From the very first lesson they were more engaged.”

Explore Education

• Schools

• GCSE & A Level Results

• Good University Guide

• Sunday Times University Guide

• Student

• Young Times

Times recommends

• Google generation has no need for rote learning
• Left-handers do 'less well' in exams
• Nativity comic books for multicultural Britain