MUSIC at Christmas is always special. This year it will be even more so for the children of Yeoford Community Primary School because they have created it.

They have been working with Richard Miners of Mid Devon Music Limited analysing a collection of famous Christmas hits, then writing their own lyrics - perhaps a future Christmas classic.

Richard says he was swamped with the pupils’ lyrics and ideas and it was a hard job to whittle them down to a few songs which he helped make musical reality with full musical arrangements.

Over the following weeks, they learned their Christmas songs for a professional recording day to have a CD in time for Christmas, which included other well-known Christmas songs.

All profits from sales will go back to the school to fund much-needed resources or provide future chances for pupils.

Mid Devon Music Limited, based in Copplestone, was launched in 2015 as a way of providing schools and organisations with quality curricular and extra-curricular music making.

Musician Richard has more than 20 years’ experience of playing and music education in this country and Europe.

He is an established composer, arranger and producer, working on projects for such as the BBC, BP, Mercedes Benz and Sky.

A Devonian, in the “Just Play It!” project, Richard gives people the chance to learn musical instruments, and composing skills alongside established and experienced performers.

The CD will be on sale at £10 each at the school Christmas concerts.

As well as Yeoford School, pupils at Cheriton Bishop have also been working on their own Christmas CD.

Nicola Miners added that the children had been through the whole process of making a record album from the beginning.

The winning song lyrics were written by Bea, Aimee and Ellie. Winners of the competition to design CD covers were Katie, Niko and Luke. The cover designs and the winning songs were displayed at the school.

Sue Read