Abstract
Music in Russia was seen as a powerful means of developing the mode of thinking and an understanding of life. With this view in mind, Russian musicians and enthusiastic teachers have tried to promote the finest traditions of musical education. The two first chapters of this research look at the historical background of the achievements of musicians in all fields of music in Russia and the Ukraine, the area of studies. These achievements reflected the traditionally high level of music education in Russia. Chapter three, four and five examine the implementation of the Music Curriculum in pre-school educational establishments, secondary schools and schools of music. They show both attempts by music educators to make school music more appealing to students and recent economic developments in Russia with cuts in education and a lot of controversy about the political and economic issues in society. Nonetheless, the teachers' attitude towards the aims and objective of musical education remains the same. Chapter six focuses on the details of teacher training in Russia. Teachers have always been judged for what they were worth, and the names of good teachers were known and honoured throughout the teaching and music-loving world. Despite all difficulties most people in the country hope that all the best achievements in education will continue to work for future generations. The number of music schools and Institutes of Higher Music Education still remains quite high compared to that in other countries. As a result Russia perhaps has a greater number of highly-qualified musicians, teachers and performers than any other country in the world.