IT MAY produce a one-note drone which has driven some football fans to distraction during this summer's World Cup — but young Plymouth jazz musicians have proved you can get music out of a vuvuzela.

However, talented as they are, the stars of Lipson Community College's All Grooved Up jazz ensemble had to cheat a bit to fashion a tune from the one-note South African horns which have made such a notable contribution to the football tournament and have now arrived in shops here.

Music teacher Gavin Martin fitted his with the mouthpiece from his trumpet and added a drum backbeat to create a tune "similar to the Rocky theme", when The Herald challenged the ensemble to make a vuvuzela melody.

"They are really built for droning," Mr Martin said. "But with a drum rhythm behind it works great."

Mr Martin described the vuvuzela as being similar to the British post horn, only made of plastic.

He said it produces only one note, E-flat, and said their hard mouthpieces make them "quite uncomfortable to play, because they are cutting into your lips".

The horns have become a talking point during the tournament with calls for them to be banned or screened from TV coverage.

But others have praised them for creating a uniquely African atmosphere at games and Mr Martin described the sound as "quite soothing" and added: "I like the buzz it creates."

All Grooved Up, of course, doesn't normally specialise in renditions on the vuvuzela.

The ensemble contains 26 students, aged from 11 to 18, who rehearse once a week to perform tracks by such artists as the Blues Brothers and Earth, Wind and Fire.

Containing trumpet and saxophone players, and a rhythm section, the ensemble gives concerts too, including to the public. "It's a high standard," said Mr Martin. All Grooved Up plays at a Plymouth Youth Music Service arts festival in Plymouth Pavilions on July 6.