Hey Kids, Meet Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) Russian Romantic Era Composer
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov was born in 1844 in Tikhvin, a village east of St. Petersburg, Russia. Though Nikolai showed a talent for music at an early age, he pursued an education at the School for Mathematical and Navigational Sciences in St. Petersburg and later joined the Imperial Russian Navy. It was not until he met Mily Balakirev in 1861 that he decided to concentrate on developing his musical skills. When Rimsky-Korsakov was not at sea, Balakirev encouraged and taught him how to compose music. It also was through Balakirev that Rimsky-Korsakov met four other composers who later became known as the The Five.
In 1871, Rimsky-Korsakov took a post as the professor of composition and orchestration at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. During his first few years as a teacher at the Conservatory he also concentrated on developing his own skills as a composer.
In 1872, Rimsky-Korsakov married Nadezhda Nikolayevna Purgold (1848-1919), a pianist and composer. Modest Mussorgsky, another famous composer, was his best man at their wedding.
Rimsky-Korsakov died in 1908, having written some of our most celebrated music. His works include Flight of the Bumblebee from Tsar Saltan and the symphonic suite Scheherazade. He is also recognized for his talents as an orchestrator. It is his version of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition that has taken its place in the standard orchestra repertory.
Watch a performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee, played by the Canadian Brass.
Grab the Composing with Kids Scavenger Hunt Worksheet to get started. Then jump into our free app to begin creating your own masterpiece!
Play Rimsky-Korsakov's biggest hits with our free and premium beginner & easy arrangements—print instantly!
Make learning about the life and music of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov engaging and fun with worksheets, coloring pages, and more.
No experience needed! Get ready-to-teach lesson plans and resources for Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov — print instantly!
The Flight of the Bumblebee Game is a lively twist on musical chairs. Students play a game while listening to Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee and reinforce what they’ve learned by answering review questions between rounds.
How to Play:
A high-energy twist on musical chairs! Half the kids form a circle to create the beehive. The other half are buzzing bumblebees. When Flight of the Bumblebee starts playing, the bees weave in and out of the hive. When the music stops, the hive quickly joins hands to trap as many bees as possible inside.Next Round:
Trapped bees join the hive, and the game continues until only one bee remains — the winner!Make It Educational:
Between rounds, pause to ask quick review questions about Rimsky-Korsakov and his music — perfect for reinforcing learning while having fun.You’ll Need:
A recording of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee
Instant unlimited access to 650+ premium piano & instrumental sheet music arrangements, theory worksheets and games, composer resources, and lesson plans. New resources added every month. Cancel anytime. Start $36 Unlimited Access
