Football chants are the most obvious link between the beautiful game and music. Several successful Scottish bands have also grown out of friendships made on the terraces.

Now young people across Scotland are being invited to create their own tunes for free at their local Scottish Premier League club.

The project, called Music Box, offers youngsters the chance to learn about the music industry, make their own recordings and take part in performance events. It is the result of a partnership between all Scottish Premier League football clubs and Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative.

The idea is to build on the relationship between music and football and the way people define themselves by their choices in both areas.

Officially launched last month at Hampden in Glasgow, Music Box kicks off in the October school holiday with a series of taster sessions for 12 to 18-year-olds, ranging from DJ’ing to drumming or learning guitar.

The sessions will be followed by a weekly music club over 30 weeks, where young people can form bands, write songs and compose their own tunes in whatever style of music they are interested in playing. Each club will also hold a “sharing” event where future stars can perform in front of peers, family and friends.

Andrew Dixon, Creative Scotland’s chief executive, said: “Music Box is an enormously exciting programme that combines the credibility that professional football clubs have in our communities with the magnetic draw of music and its ability to empower and transform young people’s lives.

“Music Box will create new opportunities for young people to take part in free, weekly creative music making.”

Billy Singh, general manager of the Scottish Premier League Trust, said: “We are beginning to see how football clubs can be a focal point within local communities and make a real difference to people’s lives.”

www.creativescotland.com.