MUSICAL marines hit the right note as they visited pupils at a Greenock secondary school.

Youngsters at Notre Dame High got a unique chance to play alongside The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, who are based in Rosyth.

The band, in their first visit to the school, held workshops in the morning followed by a lunchtime performance.

Pupils Grace Deveney and Darren Adams were blown away by the experience.

Grace, 15, who plays clarinet, said: "It was a cool experience.

"I didn't expect to see such a big woodwind section or to meet so many talented clarinetists."

Marine Richard Sharp's performance on the marimba left a big impression on the young musicians and audience.

Darren, 17, who is also a percussionist, said: "The quality of the band was outstanding.

"It was brilliant."

The band showcased skills on the drums, percussion and woodwind sections and ended with a modern bagpipe and violin duet finale of an Avicii hit that had everyone clapping along.

Band master Zoe O'Gorman, warrant officer 2 Royal Marines, said: "It's the first time we've been to Notre Dame and we are very impressed.

"We like to visit schools in Scotland and the north of England and showcase what we do to young musicians to show them that they can have a career with music.

"It's good for us to do workshops and perform and people don't realise we also play up-to-date, pop music as well as traditional music."

All marines do 15 weeks basic training at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone in Devon.

Musicians then go on to study for another three years at the The Royal Marines School of Music at the former naval detention quarters at HMS Nelson, at the Naval Base at Portsmouth.

They have to play two instruments from different sections.

Zoe said: "It's an old prison, so the students all have their own 'cell'. It's fairly well soundproofed, so it's a good place to practise."

When they are not performing the band are regular marines and in a military capacity they deal with the medical side of operations, assisting doctors with casualties on hospital ships.

Gerard Gordon, principal teacher of music at Notre Dame, said: "It was a huge privilege to have her Majesty's Royal Marines Band here in the school.

"Our pupils performed for the band in the morning and they were very impressed by our young people.

"We then had workshops and members of our senior concert band got the chance to play with the band.

"It was a great opportunity for them."