Nearly 90 year seven and eight students joined in workshops of songs and improvised music before performing as a band at a concert on Wednesday night.

Horsham College music head Nick Shirrefs said it was the second time schools from each area had been involved and the fifth year the college had hosted the event.

He said students practised pieces in their lessons and their own time ahead of the music day.

"We get together to perform as a full band,'' he said.

Pieces learnt for the get-together included Wild Thing, African song Siya Hamba, Beethoven's Ode to Joy, Funky Town and The Jungle Book's I Want to be Like You.

Students broke off into small groups to rehearse and then brought it together as a mass ensemble.

Mr Shirrefs said the Mega Music Day had only become better since it first started.

"It's grown dramatically and it's improved dramatically,'' he said.

He said instruments involved included flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, violins, a cello, a double bass, bass guitars, percussion and strings.

Mr Shirrefs said the day aimed to promote musical education.

"The education of music in schools is dying for several reasons,'' he said.

"We're trying to promote the learning of music.

"If we can get more instruments in more hands we are starting to do our jobs. We would like to see more students playing more instruments.''