Ray Williams has been teaching guitar at the school for 18 months

The number of pupils taking GCSE music at Cwmtawe Comprehensive School in the Swansea Valley has more than quadrupled in two years and the school now boasts seven bands as well.

Professional guitarist Ray Williams, who has played with the likes of Bonnie Tyler and David Essex, has been credited with inspiring the music revival.

And next week many of the youngsters he teaches will take to the stage for a Battle of the Bands competition.

They have organised the event themselves to raise money for the mental health charity Mencap.

The school's head of music, Bev Cheetham, said: "Ray Williams has been a real inspiration and since he has been teaching here he has inspired hoards of pupils."

Carpool include event organisers Rhodri Hunt and Tom Williams

Mr Williams, who teaches at the school in Pontardawe for just four hours a week, is well known in the Swansea music scene.

"There has been an influx of guitar bands from America which I think has inspired a lot of British youngsters to take up the guitar," he said.

"They are enthusiastic and it's looking very promising.

"It's very rewarding for me to pass on information that I have gathered over the years and see young musicians take off."

The Battle of the Bands concert was dreamt up by pupils Rhodri Hunt and Tom Williams whose band Carpool have made it to the last four in the competition.

Former Dire Straits drummer Terry Williams will be among the judges at the concert in the main school hall next Thursday.

Opportunity

The winning band will have its own three track demo CD recorded and mastered at Steer Studios in Tairgwaith.

"We have sold over 100 tickets so we are hoping it will be a big success," said Rhodri.

"Our band is playing six songs - three covers and three we have done on our own."

Ms Cheetham, who has been in the post two years, said the concert was the result of a lot of work.

Synergy are one of the four bands to make the final

"The pupils have organised this themselves - everything from tickets down to P.A. and are so insistent that they want the money to go to a charity that helps other young adults," she added.

"I really feel that it shows how some youngsters really do put others before themselves and will go out and make things happen rather than sit back and wait for the opportunity to arrive."

The Swansea Valley is already well known in the music world for its male voice choirs.

Gyrlais Male Voice Choir recently performed for Prince Edward on a recent visit there and Cor Meibion Ystradgynlais sang at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium before this year's Wales and England rugby international.

But perhaps the most famous is Morriston Orpheus Choir who have performed around the world.