THE North-East's premier music venue has launched a training initiative to provide music leaders in the region with access to professional development opportunities and to attract newcomers.

MusicLeader North East, unveiled at the Sage Gateshead at the weekend, is one of five regional networks, which forms part of a national Youth Music initiative.

The project was launched as part of a Sound Sense North- East Network Day, which gave community musicians, music teachers and practitioners a chance to find out more about what the network can offer.

Sage Gateshead learning and participation director Katherine Zeserson said: "All across the North-East, schools, community centres and cultural venues are buzzing with youth music activities of all kinds."

Youth Music chief executive Christina Coker said: "To ensure young people are getting the best music-making experience, Youth Music is committed to investing in learning and skills development for music leaders.

"We hope that, through MusicLeader North-East and the wider national initiative, music leaders will become better equipped to meet the demands of a changing music education landscape."

By 2010, Youth Music aims to have 11,000 music leaders networked and to have enabled 1,100 new practitioners to have entered the sector.