Keighley pupils enjoyed learning how to create great sounds and rhythms from some very unlikely everyday objects.

The year seven, eight and nine pupils from University Academy Keighley (UAK) were treated to three workshops delivered by pupils and staff from Dover Christ Church Academy, in Kent.

The visiting group of 40 pupils and five staff was led by the Kent school’s musical director, Michael Yeoman, who is the son-in-law of UAK year seven head Julie Smith.

Mr Yeoman’s pupils, who comprise an unorthodox band called ‘R!OT’, taught their Keighley counterparts to make music from items such as shopping trolleys, sweet tins, wheelie bins, tool boxes, plastic oil drums and even a radiator.

This “junk percussion”, together with two other music groups from the same visiting academy — Academy Voices and Soul Band — staged an evening concert that same day.

The event, which was open to parents and other members of the public, also featured Silsden Town Band and a dozen UAK students, including year nine soloist Rishee Anand.

R!OT, which was formed a year ago, staged a successful public performance at the Canterbury Music Festival and has previously won a place to perform at the Music for Youth National Festival, in Birmingham.

Its sound has been described as a fusion of South American, west African and European rhythms.

Ms Smith said the UAK pupils proved to be fast learners, adding that the visit earlier this month formed part of a “music challenge”, with prizes on offer to the best performers.

“It was a fabulous day,” she said. “The visitors were amazing — they performed a piece of music called ‘Curry Samba’.

“There were five different rhythms going on at the same time.”