Primary school students in Yass had front row tickets to a private performance by Canberra Symphony Orchestra (CSO) on Wednesday.
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The performance was part of an ongoing music program taught in Mount Carmel and Yass Public Schools.
The students have been learning about key periods of music history and the orchestra played pieces from a range of eras.
They turned the experience into a game show, Mount Carmel principal Michael Green said.
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The students were in charge of spinning the 'wheel of history', which decided the era and piece the orchestra would play next.
Some students even got a chance to conduct the orchestra, Mr Green said.
He described the performance as "fantastic".
"The kids had a great time. The ensemble played classical, romantic, medieval and even mid-20th-century arrangements, so the students could hear how music has changed through the periods," Mr Green said.
"They also got to listen to the instruments by themselves and as an ensemble."
The Music in My School program is provided by CSO free of charge to schools.
"It can be expensive to bring a performance like this into school or for the kids to go and see," Mr Green said.
The program was developed by acclaimed music educator Dr Anita Collins and includes teaching resources and the performance day.
"The resources are aimed at supporting general primary school teachers who may or may not have experience in teaching music," Mr Green explained.
"They're very easy for a general classroom teacher to use and engaging for the students.
"They also provide a background for the concert, so the students had already been exploring some of the musical concepts that were demonstrated."
This is the second year Mt Carmel and Yass Public have taken part in the program.
Mr Green and Yass Public principal Michelle Fahey said the program shows students the possibilities of a career in music.
"Lots of our students were inspired to engage in music in ways they might not have done before and learn an instrument," Mr Green said.
"Our students had a great time. They learnt about a lot of different instruments," Ms Fahey said.
