TALENTED Douglas Dare struck a chord with music legend Sir Paul McCartney… and ended up singing with him on the piano.

The former Beaminster schoolboy was one of a select few chosen to meet and play for the former Beatle in a one-to-one session at the end of their course at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA).

Douglas, 21, who also went to the joint Beaminster and Colfox sixth form, was delighted when Sir Paul joined him on piano and vocals as he played two of his songs.

He said: “Beforehand I was really nervous. But I went in and it was just him sat there with a piano and a guitar.

“He was really casual and normal about it all. He was very genuine and my nerves just went away.”

Sir Paul asked about Douglas and his music but also gave him some pointers and advice.

Douglas played him a couple of songs, including one called London’s Rose about Tube stations being used as bomb shelters during the war.

Douglas said: “He said that his parents met in a bomb shelter during the war so it rang true with him.”

He added that Sir Paul started playing along with him on the piano and sang along with the chorus and added harmonies.

Sir Paul also asked Douglas for a CD of his material to listen to and they talked about Sir Paul’s own music.

Douglas said: “I really respect his stuff. There are certain songs I really do like, more of his recent stuff.”

The night before the session with Sir Paul, Douglas played in a showcase of talent in London.

DJ Janice Long also played Douglas’s song Glorious Feeling on her show on Radio 2 the day after he sang with Sir Paul.

Douglas is set to move to London in October to concentrate on his band, Greenwich Tea Party.

The band are writing material and working with a small independent music label.

Douglas went to Symondsbury Primary School and his mother Theresa lives in North Street, Bridport. She said that she was very proud of Douglas.

Hear Douglas’s music at Soundcloud.com/douglas-dare and visit the band’s website at Greenwichteaparty.co.uk.

His Facebook music page is Facebook.com/douglasdaremusic l The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) opened in 1996 to give a new approach to performing arts training.

It was co-founded by lead patron Sir Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty, who is LIPA's principal.

It is housed in Sir Paul’s old school, which underwent a multi-million pound renovation to transform it into a state-of-the-art performing arts higher education institution.