Piano Study in Soviet-Russian Schools of Music

Translator' s note: The following is a translation of the Syllabus of Special Classes in Piano for Music Schools approved by the Department of Education of the Ministry of Culture of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and published in Moscow (1960) by the Ministry of Culture.

The first part, translated in its entirety, states the general principles and pedagogic aims of the study program; the second part, of which we publish a partial translation, sets up the requirements in detail. The course of study presupposes graduation from a preparatory music high school (“ Music School for Children”) and leads to a diploma qualifying the graduate to teach in a preparatory department of a USSR music school or to fill a position as coach-accompanist. It is not the course of study for the highest level of training in conservatories such as the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. The translation consciously sacrifices excellence of English style to close adherence to the original Russian.