A PIECE of music composed by a former music teacher who now has dementia has been released as a single.

Paul Harvey, who taught at Imberhorne School in East Grinstead, improvised the piece after being given just four notes to play by his son.

Nick Harvey, who lives in Crowborough, posted the clip of his father online with the intention of showing how musical ability can survive memory loss.

The clip received more than half a million views on Twitter in less than 24 hours and was played on BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme to mark Alzheimer’s Day on September 21.

The 80-year-old’s composition has now been recorded by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

Upon hearing his single for the first time on BBC Breakfast, Paul said: “Wow, wow. Fantastic. I was just listening to a wonderful piece of music and then all of a sudden I said to myself, “I wrote that, I wrote that tune.”

As well as being a wonderful pianist, Nick said his father is a “performer and an entertainer” at heart.

He told the BBC: “When he sits at the piano and either performs a classical piece or improvises, it brings him back. It’s vitally important in his life.”

The single called Four Notes is currently number one in both the iTunes and Amazon download charts, beating big names including Miley Cyrus and Little Mix.

In a video message posted by Nick on Twitter, Paul said: "I'm filled with awe that so many people like my music, and the wonderful orchestra and the wonderful arrangement, which I think is lovely.

"I'm so pleased that all the money is going to a worthy charity, and just to everyone involved, thank you.

"I'm filled with wonder that that's my tune and it's lovely."

Despite being diagnosed with dementia last year, Paul, a former concert pianist, has continued to play pieces from memory and create new ones.

Nick told the BBC his father’s ability to create a tune from just a few notes is “an old party trick.”

The proceeds of the single will be split between the Alzheimer’s Society and Music for Dementia.