How many instruments did Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov play?

Answer 1

He began to learn piano at age six (some say 11) first from a 'man named Ulich' and then from Feodor Kanille. He was good pianist, though not a public performer

on the instrument, and played duets with his techers and friends and used it to play through music scores. When appointed inspector of bands in 1873, he purchased

various instruments and learned to play them. These were probably band instruments, but he may have purchased orchestral instruments too as he had long wished to become familiar with various instruments. At that time he began a book on orchestration. In 1877-8 he wrote concert pieces for Oboe, Clarinet and Trombone with military band. His frequent use of solo violin in many compositions would imply that he studied violin, too, but there is no record of him playing any of these instruments with friends or students, let alone in public, and it seems that he just became familiar with their workings and it was only on the piano that he was proficient.

Answer 2

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov grew up playing piano. His mother and father each could play a few songs. He started taking lessons when he was six, but admitted that he wasn't very good. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov is known as a classical composer rather than an instrument player, however.

Answer 3

Are you asking what did he play?

He played violin and viola but his principal instrument seems to have been piano.