Gary Barlow joins Practice-A-Thon Makes Perfect

Music stars including Russell Watson, Gary Barlow and Jamie Cullum, along with rising star Dani Harmer (aka Tracy Beaker) are urging everyone to pick up a musical instrument and play their part in raising money for children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

They're supporting a unique partnership between Arts Council England and CLIC Sargent's Pratice-a-thon Music (PATM) campaign which encourages people of all ages and abilities to get sponsored to practice their musical instruments to help raise money for children and young people with cancer.

PATM has teamed up with Arts Council England's 'Take it away' scheme, which provides interest free loans for the purchase of musical instruments and tuition. Whether participants choose to practise for one week or a whole year, the important thing is to make more music, have fun and raise money for a great cause in the process.

At today's launch, Russell Watson said: "Making music has given me a focus, enormous enjoyment and has got me through some very dark times. I'm best known as a singer and consider the voice to be an instrument that requires plenty of practice, but I think it's fair to say that having tried to play guitar, that will certainly require a lot more practice for me! Roll on Practice-a-thon! I'm playing my part and I'm delighted to be raising money for children with cancer in the process."

For extra inspiration, participants have access to a series of exclusive online tutorials of hit songs including Take That's 'Back for Good', Motown classic 'Heard it Through The Grapevine', Snow Patrol's hit single 'Run' or, for the rockers, Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' (arguably featuring the greatest guitar riff of all time) and legendary Oasis hit 'Wonderwall.'

Using unique 'multiplayer' software, these classic tunes have been cleverly arranged to strip down separate parts for a variety of instruments and are suitable for musicians and vocalists of all abilities. The tutorials provide a unique and simple approach to learning and, better still, participants can play as part of a group to get the full effect. By signing up to PATM between September 2009 and March 2010, participants can access the tutorials free of charge from the Show Me How To Play website.

Gary Barlow said: ""I was ten when I started to play piano, I played it by ear to start with for the first couple of years... It's a very easy song 'Back for Good' as there are only four or five chords in it. Practice makes perfect - definitely!"

Mary-Alice Stack of Arts Council England said: "More than 25,000 people have already used the Take it away scheme to buy a musical instrument, so we know that there are a huge number of people out there who want to get involved in learning and playing music. We hope Practice-a-thon will inspire them to pick up their instruments and practise, play or perform for a great cause."

Sign up now at www.clicsargent.org.uk/music and play your part in raising money for children with cancer.