Darlington people will be urged to "feel the beat" at a drum workshop on Tuesday.

The session, which takes place at the town's Circulation Recording Studios, is part of the CircLearning initiative, which has been designed to help people develop their musical talents.

Graeme Robinson, managing director of Circulation, said: "In this session, I will be covering styles from rock and jazz to reggae.

"The idea is to encourage more Darlington residents to develop their musical talent."

CircLearning is a partnership between the studios and Darlington Borough Council, funded by the Learning and Skills Council and incorporating the New Deal for Musicians scheme and the Darlington Community Music Project.

"CircLearning will be offering everything from percussion and guitar sessions to electronic music composition on a rolling programme," said Mr Robinson.

The drum session will be followed on Thursday by a workshop called Internet Marketing Secrets for Musicians.

Mr Robinson said: "This workshop is a little different in that it explains how to market and promote your own music, using your own computer, without giving it away."

Both sessions take place between 2pm and 5pm at the studios, at Lingfield Point, McMullen Road.

The workshops cost £3, but are free to any Darlington resident over 50, or anyone who left full-time education without any formal qualifications, the unemployed and other concessionary groups.