For the seventh year, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra will present Symphony for Kids, an interactive performance piece designed to introduce the sounds and spectacle of live orchestral music to the young.

During the concerts held today and tomorrow audience members are introduced to each instrument and will be encouraged to interact and ask the musicians questions.

Conductor Ian McLean aims to light a fire in his young audiences about the potential and power of orchestral music.

''Children are exposed to the sounds of the orchestra on the radio, television and CDs every day; however [this] is an opportunity for them to see how these sounds are created live on stage,'' McLean said. ''For my generation, we were lucky enough to see orchestras perform on stage regularly, which led many of us down a musical path. Hopefully, Symphony for Kids can do the same and unearth this generation's musicians of the future.''

Symphony for Kids has been tailored for children's tastes and this year features popular pieces such as the overture to Jaws, songs from The Lion King and High School Musical, and an enthusiastic medley of Wiggles songs.

''It is a unique opportunity and nowhere else in the ACT can parents and children see this on stage. The idea is to ... play tunes that [children] know before introducing them to something of a classical repertoire,'' McLean said.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times