Five years ago science teacher Anne Savan began playing the Austrian composer's orchestral symphonies to her special needs class at Aberdare Boys Comprehensive School.

The idea behind it was simple - an attempt to quieten boisterous pupils. She had no idea where it would lead.

But not only did it work in calming behaviour, the boys with profound learning difficulties are now managing to achieve the national average in science results after failing even to score previously. They have also been musically inspired.

And what first began in the small mining town is now being taken up as far afield as Germany and France.

Research in Sussex, London and Scotland is now supporting Anne Savan's initial findings that certain high frequency sounds in the music stimulate the co-ordination centre of the brain.

Blood pressure

It causes the production of a chemical - probably and endophin - which lowers blood pressure in the body.

This then means the body produces less adrenalin and the boys become clamer and their co-ordination improves.

The experiment has, according to Anne Savan, improved "beyond recognition" the lives of her pupils who have now become intergrated into the school band.

There they perform with a mix of ages and abilities and give concernts at schools and community centres.

"Although they may not have much of a sense of tune, they have now got a sense of rhythm and are able to co-ordinate, so they can clap or whatever" she said.