MORE than 2,000 pre-school children are getting the chance to discover the world of orchestral music under canvas.

Children from 66 Scottish nurseries will "go camping" indoors with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) as Glasgow’s newest concert hall is transformed into a colourful jungle.

The RSNO Centre in Glasgow has been turned into a giant tent under which the children and orchestra embark on a musical safari, complete with performances of music from Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals and the RSNO's Lisa Rourke’s arrangement of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, under the canvas walls, onto which will be projected moving imagery linked to the repertoire played by the orchestra, connected by the animal themes in the programme.

The Herald:

The children are encouraged to participate by clapping, dancing and singing along to the music, and are advised to dress accordingly for the journey in their favourite animal disguise and bring along a trusted cuddly toy companion for the adventure.

The 40-minute RSNO Musical Safari has been devised by William Chandler and will be presented by Lisa Rourke and conducted by Holly Mathieson.

The programme of music is designed to inspire the children to explore different sounds and to consider how each instrument of the orchestra represents a different animal as they journey "through the Jungle".

The children will be asked to participate in the final piece of the programme, singing along to an orchestral arrangement of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

The RSNO also encourages all teachers to ask their pupils to share their thoughts and feelings on their musical journey by using art to express their experience.

Lisa Rourke, presenter of the RSNO Musical Safari, said: “We’re looking forward to our big musical adventure with our little friends, where will be discovering big, little, furry and funny creatures on our Musical Safari.

"It’s the first time we’ve turned our rehearsal and performance hall into a campsite but the new surroundings will lend itself perfectly in capturing the young concert-goers’ imagination.”