Kanye West's charity gives out free music lessons

Staff at Kanye West's charity are giving under-privileged youngsters in his native Chicago, Illinois, the chance to undergo music training.

The Stronger hitmaker co-founded Donda's House, which was named after his mother, and the organisation has teamed up with a local church for a unique scheme.

They will give a free, 10-week music training program to youths in Chicago's tough South Side district who are considered "at risk". Students will learn how to write and record their own music on the course, which is organised by Grammy-winning rapper Rhymefest, and their efforts will be released as a record.

A Donda's House spokesman says, "Art instruction and particularly music instruction leads people to become better problem solvers, more flexible. There are just so many outcomes that come from the study of music and particularly music writing."