Figure 1.-- Here we see a concert given in Moscow by the talented children being studied by the Moscow at the Institute of Psychology. The audience consists mainly of adults--the psychologists and the parents of the children, probably. The performers wear the same black and white uniforms with long stockings. Most of the children are violinists, but notice also the boy pianist who accompanies them.

Russia has played an important role in the world of classical music. As in dance, the Soviets very effectively trained skilled musicians. Russian psychologists addressed the question of how to improve the music training system. Innate talent is of course just just one aspect of developing skilled musicians. Talent has to be developed by hours of of practice. Music education was a state mission. And the Soviets were very successful. No other country produced as many virtuoso musicians in the 20th Century as the Soviet Union. One of the key intitutions was Central Music School (CMS) at the Moscow Conservatory. It began operating 1932 under the guidance of Professor Goldenweiser and Heinrich Neuhause. The CMS continues to operate in post-Soviet Russia. It is still the school that aspiring musicians, incouraged by their parents, seek to attend. Interesingly, despite all the well trained musicians, post-Soviet Russian seems not to be an imprtant factor in the world of popular music. Perhaps language is a factor in restricting the success of Russian musicians outside the country. Hopefully HBC readers might have some useful insights here.

Instumental Music

During the Tsarist era we believe that children learned musical instuments primarily through private tuition. Some children may have been taught at home by their parents. The Soviet system of musical education, still existing in Russia almost without any change, is rather simple. There are three grades of musical education -- music school, music college and then a conservatory. Music schools were not (and are not) free, but rather cheap - usually less than $10 per month. Children attend lessons (4-7 per week) in such a schools after a normal school. Private lessons were not so widespread in Soviet times. What we are less sure about if the achievements of Sovit music compared to that of Tsarist times. The Soviets gave considerable attention to music and there is a long list of Soviet composers. None seem to have the same stature as the great Tsarist composers. We would be interested in tge assessment of HBC readers who are more knowledgeable about music. Boys practicing their instruments generally dressed informally. They sometimes, however, dressed up to have their photograph taken. Many boys studying musical instuments never play in a band or orchestra and thus never had performance costumes. Most will, however, paricipate in recitals. Mothers once insisted that boys wear their very best suits for these recitals. A wide variety of uniforms were selected, some were more popular than others. The outfits boys often show a desire by the orchestra director to present a rather stylish image.

Performance Groups

Russia is one of the countries like Germany that have played a major role in music. Boys have participated in a wide range of musical activities, many of which required uniforms. These actvities have include both instrumental and choral music. There are costumes associated with many musical activities. Boys participating in choirs have distinctive uniforms. Bands commonly wear uniforms. A generation ago it was expected that a boy participating in fine arts programs would dress up for recitals and performances. This often meant a suit. Gor younger boys this usually meant a short pants or knicker suit. Boys involved in the fine arts would generally be from more affluent families by Soviet standards. Some of the limitations to less affluent but competent children developing theor talent was addressed by the Soviet system. Some of the costume or appropriate dress associated with the fine arts include.

Bands

Bands are musical groups that are smaller or more specialized than orchestras. Band usually are composed primarily of brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. Other bands are composed of more narrowly specialized instruments or play only certain types of music. There are two basic kinnds of bands, set and marching. Bands, especially marching bands, generally required a uniform. Some of the best known band uniforms are Scottish and Irish pipe bands. American school bands also have elaborate bands. Scout groups also have uniforms, but this is primarily an English Scout activity. We have not yet noted Russian marching bands. We do not have much information on the types of bands in Russia. Many European countries had village bands. We do not know if this was also common in Russia. As far as we can tell, school bands were not very common. There may have been orchestral groups, especially in the schools for gifted children. We are unsure about the Young Pioneers. During the Soviet era we believe that there may have been factory or workplace bands. Children of the workers may have participated. Hopefully some of our Russian readers will know more.

Orchestras

Youth orchestras in the West did not require uniforms, although dress is usually standardized. Uniforms have been much more common in Russia and the Soviet Union. Many schools had the boys wear their school uniforms for orchestral presentations. Schools without uniforms will often adopt simple orchestra outfits like white shirts and dark pants. Schools and a variety of other groups have formed children's groups. Unlike choral groups, the orchestras have generally been mixed groups including both boys and girls. Some schools are not large enough to have large orchestras, but many larger schools in the America had them. I'm less sure about the Soviet system.

Popular music and entertaiment

This is not a section which intially occurred to HBC. A HBC reader has suggested that we should add a section on popular music and entertainment. This is alittle difficult to define and would appear to be a rather minor phenomenon. There have for centuries been musical prodigies and child actors. HBC already has sections ob both. Recently a new category has developd with children singing popular music and involved in entertainment. Thesehildrn do not seem to quite fit in the prodigy category as their talent is often not prodigious. Rather their appearance comes from the bugeoning buying power of children--especially pre-teens. Interesingly, despite all the well trained mussicians, post-Soviet Russian seems not to be an imprtant factor in the world of popular music. Perhaps language is a factor in restricting the success of Russian musician

Choral Music

HBC has very limited information on the Orthodox choral tradition. We do know that there were choirs before the Revolution. Rich noblemen are known to have maintained boy choirs. After the Bolshevicks seized power in 1917, church boys' choirs were no longer possible as the Church was not allowed to prostelize among young people. There is a long tradition of classical music in Russia which was also promoted by the Soviet Union. There were thus some seccular choirs, although HBC has as yet little information on them. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, there has been some increased interest in liturgical music. Several choirs now exist in Russia. HBC has noted choirs in both Moscow and St. Petersburg, but there may be others as well. Boy choirs once wore very distinctve costumes. Many perforned in liturgical costumes. Ethnic costumes and saiolr suits were also popular. Many costumes had short pants. Less flamboyant cosumes are now the rule. Blazers and other long trousers are now the most common costume.

Selection

The Soviet Union put considerable effort finding and selecting children with talent to be developed. This included among other aspects psychologists probing the personalities and skills of very young children. There is something troubling about this to the Western mindset. Of course the Western system where the financial standing and background of the parents are critical factors is not that edyfying either. One aspect of the Soviet system that is not alltogether clear to us is what about the ordinary child. Certainly the Soviet system of finding gifted children at an early age was helpful in tariniong world-class musicians that could reflect well on the Soviet state. But did the Soviet system offer the average child support in developing his or her modest talent that could enable them to play and enjoy music for personal satifacation as an adult. We are not sure that the Soviet system dealt well this desire for individual development, but our information on music in the Soviet Union is still quite limited.

Effective Training

Russia has played an important role in the world of classical music. As in dance, the Soviets very effectively trained skilled musicians. Russian psychologists addressed the question of how to improve the music training system. Innate talent is of course just just one aspect of developing skilled musicians. Talent has to be developed by hours of of practice. Music education was a state mission. And the Soviets were very successful. No other country produced as many virtuoso musicians in the 20th Century as the Soviet Union. Here is a photo taken during 1962 in Moscow at the Institute of Psychology. The psychologists were studying musical ability as a feature of heredity and promoting various childrens' musical activities to test their theories. The children learned musical notation through the exercise of playing lotto, a board game. Here we see a concert given in Moscow by the talented children under study (figure 1). The audience consists mainly of adults--the psychologists and the parents of the children, probably. The performers wear the same black and white uniforms with long stockings. Most of the children are violinists, but notice also the boy pianist who accompanies them.

Central Music School

One of the key intitutions was Central Music School (CMS) at the Moscow Conservatory. It began operating 1932 under the guidance of Professor Goldenweiser and Heinrich Neuhause. The CMS continues to operate in post-Soviet Russia. It is still the school that aspiring musicians, incouraged by their parents, seek to attend.

Audiences

Concerts were once primarily for adults. Children did not normally attend. A youth's first concert was often an important event. Here we know less about the Soviet Union. Classical music was immeselu popular. Tickets were realtively inexpensive. Most of the newreel footage we have seen suggests that the audiense was almost entirely adults. There may have been concerts specifically for children. Here we are not sure. Nor do we know if madee attending a concert a family event. Russian music is not entirely limited to claa\ssical music. Of course rock concerts are a major ritual part of teen life. I'm less sure about the late Soviet period and modern Russia. Elvis and rock muscians have taken music out of the image of an elite efete passtime. It took the Soviet Union some time to have rock concerts and they were rarther toned dow affairs. Dressing up for vlaasical performances performances is no longer expected. Rock muscians like to dress down, here the principal attendees were older teenagers and young adults.
s outside the country. Hopefully HBC readers might have some useful insights here.

Prodigies

There are many famous child music prodigies. The most famous is certainly Mozart in the 18th Century, but there have been many others in the 19th and 20th Century. The clothing they wore for their performances were often examples of contemporary formal boys' clothing. I've just begun this page, but would be interested in any comments or contributions by HBC viewers. We have noted some important profigies ain the Soviet Union and will cross index them here when time permits.

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Created: April 9, 2004
Last updated: 6:39 AM 7/19/2010