A MUSIC project is tackling inequality to give teenagers a chance to break into the industry.

Behind the Noise (BTN), which works in 24 schools in Glasgow and Renfrewshire, helps young people sample performance, management and production.

From working at T in the Park to performing in front of audiences in their hundreds, the scheme takes a hands-on approach to lift the lid on the music industry.

And the numbers speak for themselves.

This year, of the 77 school leavers involved in the scheme, 61 applied to study performance, sound engineering or business and 55 were accepted.

Now in its fifth year, BTN expanded this year to the Kibble Education and Care Centre, a secure unit for children, and all three of its pupils have scored places at college.

The scheme is run by a team of five, headed by Ewan Macleod, a former A&R man and music TV presenter; and Rico Capuano, who has more than 20 years experience in the music industry in Scotland and across Europe.

Rico said: "The project is designed to lift the lid off the industry and give the young people a look inside.

"For me, watching them develop new skills and confidence are the things I see as being really important. You see a real confidence build in them and change in them.

"It's not about pushing them in to the music industry, it's about giving them what life skills they need for all sorts of employment.

"There are a lot of kids out there who are slipping through the cracks because they don't know what opportunities are available to them.

"We can't all be an engineer or a teacher or anything academic but some young people have a real talent for this industry so they need an in to it."

This week 27 bands made up of 150 young people are performing at the Classic Grand, in Glasgow city centre.

The building is buzzing with young people fuelled by adrenaline and excitement ahead of their end-of-year performance.

Biba Richardson, in sixth year at Clevedon Secondary, wanted to take part in BTN after seeing older pupils at her school thoroughly enjoy their experience.

The 17-year-old, who plays alto saxophone, was one of a group of 13 who formed a band, Lacuna, during their time on the course.

She said: "I ended up being the band manager, which has given me so many transferable skills - confidence, time keeping, organisational skills.

"I had to learn how to speak to people and bring them into line if it was needed.

"I hope to go to Edinburgh University next year but I want to keep music on as well. I know how to form a band now so I'll know where to look for opportunities.

"It's definitely going to stay part of my life."

This year some 250 young people took part in BTN. Rico and Ewan point out that Glasgow is a Unesco City of Music with an international reputation - but to keep that going, the city needs to develop its young talent.

They call on all sorts of local music industry contacts to share their professional expertise, passion and social mindedness.

Over the five years BTN has had 120 students go on to University of the West of Scotland and Napier to study related degrees and the four trainees from its apprenticeship programme are now in employment.

Ewan is now at university for the first time, having been invited to take a degree by University of the West of Scotland - and he's in the same class as some of his BTN alumni.

He said: "On my first day a guy came up to me and said, 'Ewan, what are you doing here?' and it was one of our Behind the Noise guys.

"He said he was really nervous about starting the course and I said, 'You know what, mate? I am too.'

"It's a bit strange being on the same course as the kids you were coaching but we're getting through it together."

Over the course of a year BTN young people take part in workshops covering all elements of the music industry, take work experience and form bands.

Ewan said: "The programme is very adaptable and the young people are at all different levels.

"It's really something for them to work with pupils from other parts of the city. Glasgow can be quite territorial but it also has such a rich music scene, such a rich cultural scene.

"And so when these young guys get together they've discovering new and different things."

This year the scheme has worked in Kibble with young people in secure care and they have also worked in Hollybrook, an additional support needs school in Govanhill.

This is in addition to the 250 pupils from Glasgow and Renfrewshire schools.

Rico said: "Some schools are more supportive than others and you can really tell from the students which schools have been helping them out.

"Some music teachers will say, 'Right, where are you at with Behind the Noise?', and give them support or time to rehearse.

"In Glasgow, particularly, the teachers know what this means to the kids and they are very, very supportive."

For the BTN staff, the most important part of the project is widening young peoples' horizons and showing them an alternative to 'traditional' career choices.

Ewan said: "I grew up in terraced housing. I wanted to be a drummer but the neighbours weren't as keen so all my drum sessions ended up with a visit from the police.

"At school I was given a recorder to play. None of the music I listened to featured a recorder. I wasn't told about the options out there for me.

"It's very difficult when you are limited in what you can do and I want to show young people there are no limits to what they can do."