About 460 of the 1100 students at Lyneham High School will be taking part in the band and orchestra division of the Eisteddfod - which features student and open-age concert bands, jazz bands and rock bands. Among them will be these four 13-year-old students who play in the year 8 concert band with about 100 other young musicians.

Edward Whitehouse, 13, has studied trumpet for three years, beginning at Turner Primary School. ''I thought I'd give it a go,'' he said. ''It's loud.''

Caitlin Jamieson first studied the fife at Giralang Primary School but now plays the flute.

''It has a really pretty sound.''

Bass guitarist Rachel Cass began the instrument last year because ''My brother played in the band and really enjoyed it''.

Connor Harris began playing drums last year, but it wasn't his first instrument.

''I first played ukulele, then guitar. I wanted to play as many instruments as I could. I used to play guitar all the time with my father and uncle.''

They were rehearsing Dawn of a New Day by James Swearingen under the leadership of teacher Tim Bowyer.

''It's a piece of music that's very challenging and gives the kids a goal to work towards,'' he said.

When he was at Kaleen High School, he had been a student of the school's executive teacher in arts, Debbie Masling - now taking part in her 30th National Eisteddfod and her 16th at Lyneham High. Mrs Masling said, ''It's good for the students to strive to be their very best as a team and individually''.

And in recent years, she said, the emphasis had been placed more on achievement than competition.

Simon Best, a co-convener of the National Eisteddfod since 2005, played in it himself when a student at Canberra High School.

''I started playing in the beginners' band - I played euphonium,'' he said.

Other divisions of the Eisteddfod will be held in August-September.

■ The 75th Australian National Eisteddfod is on from May 23 to May 30. For more information visit nationaleisteddfod.org.au