The world-famous Black Dyke Band is set to blow its own trumpet - with a centre of excellence for music.

The Queensbury brass band wants to inspire the maestros of the future and put its Foster's Mill home on the music map.

The band still practises in the cramped room made available by Foster's Mill in 1855 and decorated with old cups and photographs from decades before.

But the commercially-minded band, one of the finest in the world, needs room to grow.

Band administrator Geoff Whiteley said: "We want to extend the band room with individual practice rooms like the colleges of music have elsewhere."

He said principal conductor James Watson was concerned that high-quality players did not seem to be readily available in the north. The band's current musicians, who nearly all have ordinary full-time jobs, originate from across the British Isles, including three from Wales.

"We are trying to fill in the gap and are aiming for a high standard," he said. "Everything for youngsters seems to be sport-based at the moment. But there are those who are not good at sport but are artistic. We intend to re-launch the junior band. We hope to work closely with the local authority on this project."

The centre will be used to teach brass to people of all ages.

The project hinges on a side extension of the building. Now leaders hope the scheme will hit the right note with Bradford Council's planning chiefs.

The plans show a merchandise selling area downstairs, a variety of small practice rooms, two large group practice rooms, a music library, CD store and archives.

How the funds will be raised is still unclear but the project is expected to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Band notes

The band started in 1815 in Queensbury when the village was known as Queenshead.

In 1855 it became linked with Black Dyke Mill through an association with John Foster, who played the French horn.

In 1860 it won a major contest at Crystal Palace, the first of many - the band has regularly won European, National and Open Championships.

In 1904 it made one of the earliest brass band recordings.

In 1906 the band went on a tour of Canada and the United States, the first of many trips abroad.

In 1976 the band was granted Honorary Freedom of the City of Bradford.

In 1994 it gained sponsorship with Bradford & Bingley Building Society and in 1997 became brass band in residence at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.