From the History of Higher Musical Education in Uzbekistan During
the Period of Independence
Sahodat B. Murtazova
a
, Sadokat K. Murodova
b
and Jamoliddin K. Togaymurodov
c
University of Economics and Pedagogy, Karshi, Uzbekistan
Keywords: Music Education, Conservatory, Classical Music, Pop Music, Jazz, Traditions, National Spirituality, Musician,
Competition, Instrument, Festival, Research, Handbook, Program, Theatre, Music Theory.
Abstract: This article delves into the exploration of the history of higher musical education in Uzbekistan since gaining
independence. It reflects on the comprehensive reforms undertaken across various sectors, including
education, with a focus on music education. It acknowledges the concerted efforts globally to study, promote,
and preserve national cultures and traditions. Particularly emphasized is the significant role played by higher
musical education in fostering cultural identity and heritage. The article scrutinizes the establishment of music
education institutions such as the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan and various pedagogical institutes, along
with their contributions and achievements. It discusses the evolution of music education curricula to meet
contemporary demands, exemplified by the introduction of new subjects. Additionally, it highlights the
progress made in training specialists in musical arts at universities and pedagogical institutions across the
regions. Overall, the narrative underscores the elevation of Uzbekistan's cultural and musical landscape
through strategic reforms and educational advancements since independence.
1 INTRODUCTION
Over the years of independence, a wide range of
works has been carried out in our country to educate
young people who are spiritually mature and
physically healthy, patriotic, and selfless, forming
them as a harmonious, intellectually capable, perfect
personality.
On March 19, 2019, President of the Republic of
Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward 5
important initiatives to establish work in the social,
spiritual, and educational spheres based on the new
system. These are, first of all: to increase the interest
of young people in music, painting, literature, theater,
and other types of art, to reveal their talent; secondly:
to physical education of young people, creating the
necessary conditions for them to demonstrate their
abilities in the field of sports; thirdly: the organization
of effective use of computer technology and the
Internet among the population and youth Fourth: to
raise the morale of young people, organize systematic
work to widely promote reading among them; fifth: it
a
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6361-9361
b
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5517-0094
c
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0372-1493
consists of current priority issues such as women's
employment.
The first of these five important initiatives put
forward by our president is dedicated specifically to
increasing the interest of young people in music,
painting, literature, theatre, and other types of art,
identifying their talent, and in this regard, consistent
reforms are being carried out in our country.
Today, the peoples of the world are making
serious efforts to study and popularize their national
culture, and spirituality, preserve and develop their
rich traditions, establish creative cooperation,
organize international festivals, and scientific and
practical conferences, and conduct scientific research.
The role of the International UNESCO is great in this.
At the initiative of this organization, serious attention
is paid to the issue of studying and researching objects
of intangible, spiritual, and cultural heritage. Special
mention should be made of events within the
framework of the organization's projects "Silk Road -
the way of communication", "Music for Peace", and
"List of masterpieces of the 20th century".
332
Murtazova, S., Murodova, S. and Togaymurodov, J.
From the History of Higher Musical Education in Uzbekistan During the Period of Independence.
DOI: 10.5220/0012843400003882
Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 332-337
ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8
Proceedings Copyright © 2024 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda.

Also, at present, when forming young people as a
spiritual, mature, perfect personality, special attention
is paid primarily to the professional level of
educational institutions and the teaching of educators.
As our President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted in this
regard, "it is extremely important to solve another
problem: This is the professional level of the teaching
staff and their special knowledge. In this regard, it is
necessary to create an environment that actively
promotes the processes of education, issues of
spiritual and educational maturation and the
formation of real values" (Mirziyoyev, 2017).
The reforms that began in the early years of our
country's independence came to the fore in
subsequent years.
In this regard, the meeting of the President of the
Republic of Uzbekistan Sh. Mirziyoyeva with
representatives of the creative intelligentsia of
Uzbekistan on August 3, 2017 "Literature and the art
of cultural development – his speech on the topic
"The foundation for strengthening the spiritual world
of our people", August 15, 2017 "On the organization
of the activities of the Union of Composers of
Uzbekistan", August 8, 2017 "On measures for the
further development and improvement of the
activities of the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan",
November 17, 2017 "On measures for the further
development of the art of Uzbekistan, which has a
national status", April 26, 2018 "on further
development and improvement, decisions and
decrees are of paramount importance for the
development of the industry.
As in all areas, national musical traditions were
revived, and special reforms were carried out in the
field of music education. There are also wide
opportunities for studying and preserving folk oral
musical traditions.
The development of musical art largely depends
on the education system in this area. The Government
of the Republic of Uzbekistan has established strict
measures to establish musical education and
strengthen the material and technical base of
educational institutions at its various stages, the
development of educational, educational, and
methodological, research, concert performance and
creative work.
It should also be noted that our national musical
heritage and its history, the art of Bakhshiki began to
be introduced into the system of culture and art
education as a special range of subjects. Our national
music has begun to occupy a worthy place not only in
special educational institutions (higher and secondary
specialized educational institutions of culture, art,
schools of music and fine arts), but also in the
educational system of secondary schools.
At the same time, the research carried out by our
scientists on classical music, published monographs,
teaching aids and textbooks are also noted.
The development of musical art in Uzbekistan
began in the early years of independence and was
enriched by a rich spiritual heritage that has reached
us to this day. Musical culture and education the life
of the most recent period of independence relates to
fundamental reforms in the spiritual, socio-economic,
and political spheres carried out in our republic.
2 METHODOLOGY
Over the years of independence, Uzbekistan has also
undergone several changes in the system of higher
music education. Of particular importance for the
development of the industry is the fact that various
trends and genres have qualitatively entered a new
stage of development in accordance with the
requirements of the time.
The State Conservatory of Uzbekistan - the
system of higher musical education has fulfilled its
main function of effective organization of activities.
49 professors with professional potential, 70
lecturers, 69 honorary teachers worked at the
conservatory, including people's artists of
Uzbekistan, Zahid Khaknazarov, Farrukh Zokirov,
Mansur Toshmatov, Ismail Jalilov, Munojot
Yulchieva, Nasiba Abdullayeva, honored artists of
Uzbekistan, Ofelia Yusupova, Feliks Yanov-
Yanovsky, Tukhtasin Gafurbekov, Ravshan
Yunusov, honored artists of Uzbekistan Kuvonch
Usmanov, Bahodir Salikhov and others are there.
Their skills and potential are spreading not only in our
republic, but also on the stage of the whole world.
Specialists in the field of music are trained at 24
of the 6 faculties of the Uzbek State Conservatory.
The Conservatory trains specialists in composition,
musicology, choral and opera-symphonic conducting,
European classical, national, and pop-oriented
performance (types of vocals), modern technologies
(musical sound engineering). In the 1992-1993
academic year, 144 students studied at the Faculty of
Oriental Music of the Tashkent State Conservatory,
47 of whom were freshmen.
Over the years of independence, the conservatory
has gained its place in the republic as a scientific and
methodological center for educational institutions of
musical education, as well as for musical creative
communities. The faculty of the Conservatory
continued to work on the preparation of textbooks,
From the History of Higher Musical Education in Uzbekistan During the Period of Independence
333

teaching aids for students and classes of music
education. For example, in the 1992-1993 academic
year, Professor A.Odilov's textbook "History of
Performing Arts" was published at the Faculty of
Oriental Music, a methodological guide for primary
classes of institutes of arts and Culture, an educational
manual by Professor M.H.Toirov on flute class, a
textbook by teacher A.M.Dadamukhamedov on
rubob (musical instrument) classes were created.
Professors and teachers of the conservatory
constantly collaborated with prestigious music
educational institutions of neighboring countries,
tirelessly improving their qualifications. For
example, in the 1991-1992 academic year from piano
department in Gnesiniks institute I.M.Benderskaya in
Russia, N.F.Vasileva in Leningrad Conservatory,
which named Rim-Korsakov, L.A.Vagapova in
Moscow Conservatory, which named
P.I.Chaykovskiy, L. K. Krilov completed an
internship at the Tashkent Institute of Culture (Krilov,
1992). The students listened to valuable lectures on
various genres of musical art and got acquainted with
curricula, programs, methodological manuals in
educational institutions.
The opening of the pop department at this
conservatory in 1996 played an important role in the
development of jazz art. Among the masters of spring
art, such musicians as E. Jivaev, I. Pinkhasov, G.
Borisov, Yu. Turaev, V. Saparov taught at the faculty.
In 1998, Big Bend (a small jazz community), formed
under the leadership of Bahodyr Murtazaev
(Murtazaev, 1998). At the initiative of the faculty,
conferences dedicated to jazz music were held in
Uzbekistan. Concerts were organized at the Uzbek
State Conservatory in collaboration with Jazz
Orchestra, which named Botir Zokirov, in which, in
addition to world musical works, great attention was
paid to the performance of Uzbek national songs in
the jazz direction.
In June 2015, the Uzbek State Conservatory
hosted a festival dedicated to jazz music. As part of
the festival, master classes by French jazz pianist
Pierre de Batman were organized for students. As
well as Jazz works were performed on the piano
together with foreign musicians Sanjar Tursunov, a
student of the Musical academic lyceum, attached to
Conservatory of Uzbekistan. Students studying in the
field of pop jazz have not only mastered professional
skills in the learning process, but also improved their
musical taste and performing skills. Jazz, as the most
public form of musical art, requires integrity and
extraordinary research.
Professors and teaching staff of the conservatory
also participated in national music competitions as a
member of the jury and chairman. For example, on
June 28-30, 1995 in Shakhrisabz, R.Gasimov, who
associate professor of the department of “Traditional
Performance” at the conservatory participated as
chairman of the jury in the selection of amateur
performers. Professors of the department
Shorakhmetov Sh., Samadov R., Tashpulatova I.,
Azizbayev S., Ermatov M., Kodirov U., Israilova Kh.,
who actively participated in the organization of
International Competition, which named Yunus
Rajabiy.
In the decree "On the development of theatrical art
of Uzbekistan", adopted on March 26, 1998, along
with the development of theatrical art in the Republic,
measures were established to strengthen and develop
the educational system in this area. In particular, the
Tashkent State Art Institute identified such tasks as
expanding the range of specialist training, improving
the teaching style to the level of world patterns
(Rizaev, 2005). This document considered the needs
of the theatrical communities of Uzbekistan for
qualified playwrights and directors, and set tasks for
organizing two-year higher training courses for
playwrights and directors from talented youth with
higher education. Among the young talented
specialists who studied at this institute,
E.Khushvaqtov, S.Sirojiddinov,
Ya.Khudoyberganov, R.Madiev, B.Kholmirzaev,
M.Otajonov made a significant contribution to the
development of the theatrical art of the republic,
bringing new works to the stage.
There was also a musical theatre studio at the
conservatory. This studio organized 44 events, 28
concerts and performances during the 1999-2000
academic year. The management of the conservatory
often received letters of thanks from the artists of the
studio for their performances. For example, the
administration of the Academic Lyceum at Tashkent
State Technical University sent a letter of thanks to
the Conservatory for the concert of symphonic and
opera music on December 21, 1999.
In the years of independence, in connection with
the requirements of the present time, the teaching of
new subjects was established at various departments
of the conservatory. Since 1999, the Department of
Music Pedagogy has developed curricula and a
program in such subjects as "modern problems of
piano performance" and "Technique of piano writing
by 20th century composers".
There are also a number of works on the training
of musical art specialists at universities and higher
educational institutions in the field of pedagogy
operating in the regions of the republic. We can see
this on the example of the music faculties of Navoi
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State Pedagogical Institute and Bukhara State
University and Karshi State University.
The direction of "Music education" and the
department of music within the framework of the
Navoi State Pedagogical Institute, the Faculty of
Education were established in 1988 as part of the
faculty of "Methods of Primary Education". From
1988 to 2012, Professor O. O. Fayziev worked at the
department and took the post of manager.
1 professor, 1 candidate of arts, 5 senior teachers,
4 female teachers actively worked at the department,
the scientific potential of the department was 18
percent. In total, 196 students studied in the direction
of "Music education", of which 44 studied at stage 1,
51 studied at stage 2, 50 studied at stage 3, 51 studied
at stage 4.
Since 2013, the master’s degree in music
education 5A-111101 has been established. In
department, professors and teachers, such as
O.O.Fayziev, O.T.Ashurova, U.O.Mirzaev,
B.N.Umrzakov, Sh.M.Majidov, Sh.I.Jalilov,
S.B.Saidiy, Z.S.Ochilov, O.A.Khayitov,
A.K.Azimov, F.T.Buronov taught students in various
fields of music.
Professors and teachers of the department have
widely introduced new modern teaching technologies
that meet the requirements of the modern higher
education system, based on the main goals and
objectives of the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan
"National Program for Advanced Training" and "On
Education". For this purpose, professors have
developed many textbooks, teaching aids. During the
period 1991-2013, 12 teaching manual books, more
than 120 scientific and methodological articles were
published.
Since 2003, the scientific circle "Music Theory"
has been established at the department. Such teachers
as Normurodova Lobar, Muhammadiev Dadakhon,
Sanatova Shoira, Fayzieva Umida, Rustamov Jasur,
Kahhorov Bakhtiyor played an important role in the
activities of the circle.
As a special achievement of talented students, we
can say the following: talented students successfully
participated in the Republican Scientific Olympiad on
"theory and history of music", which is held every
year. In the 2013-2014 academic year, a 4th degree
student from among talented students, Normuradova
Lobar, was awarded the III place at the II stage of the
Republican Scientific Olympiad of Schoolchildren on
the subject "Theory and history of music".
The department also organized the folk singing
and dancing ensemble "Layli". The artistic direction
of the ensemble was carried out by professor O. O.
Fayziev. Until these years, the ensemble performed
with its concert program at events in the Navoi
region. The concert program of the ensemble
included Uzbek-Tajik folk songs, Bukhara and other
folk songs. The ensemble attracted talented students
studying in the field of music education, who took
part in the republican examination competition
"Talantlarni izlaymiz" (Looking for talents), held in
2004-2006 among the teams of pedagogical institutes
of the Ministry of Public Education, taking the higher
place of the "Grand-Pri" in 2005. The winner of the
competition – At the festival "Uzbek folklore-art and
customs" in 2005, it took the honourable 1st place in
the Republican review competition "Diyorim
taronalar" (My homeland’s music), held in Jizzakh
between the laureates and pedagogical institutes of
the Ministry of Public Education system in 2008.
The Music faculty of the Uzbek State University
plays a special role in the development of music
education in Uzbekistan and the training of mature
musicologists. This department was founded in 1977,
during these years the department was headed by
associate professor Sami Aziz’s son, associate
professors M.Abdukarimov, R.Primov, M.Murodov.
The department currently employs 1 candidate of
pedagogical sciences, senior lecturer, 1 associate
professor, 2 senior teachers, 1 honoured artist of
Uzbekistan, 5 teachers. The scientific potential was
30%. The department taught music teaching methods
and school repertoire, music history, music theory,
solfeggio, vocal performance, traditional and folk
singing, choir and choral studies, conducting,
instrumental performance and ensemble, theory and
methodology of music teaching, instrumental
performance, instrumental ensemble, innovative
technologies of music teaching, instrumentation,
choral arrangement, Uzbek classical singing,
children's musical literature.
In department R.T.Primov, M.E.Ismoilova,
A.N.Rahmonkulov, O.T.Khalilova, K.Y.Kurbonov,
M.Sh.Kurbonova, M.K.Murodov, S.N.Batasheva,
L.K.Pirnazarov, F.S.Azizov, S.B.Murtozov teached
students.
The department has always collaborated
scientifically with the faculty of arts of TPU, the
music faculties of SamSu, BukhSU, TermizSU. The
department has a circle of young musicologists,
which involves more than 30 talented students. In it,
students conduct creative, scientific research.
Professors and teachers of the department
participated with their creativity in such competitions
as "My Homeland Uzbekistan", "pop art in
Uzbekistan", "Uzbek Song Festival" and
"Yagonasan, holy Homeland", which are held on a
republican, regional, municipal scale. Professors and
From the History of Higher Musical Education in Uzbekistan During the Period of Independence
335

teachers of the department have developed an
electronic collection of children's songs for grades 1-
7. The songs were arranged and recorded on DVDs
and SD discs and magnetic tapes and were used in
student practice.
The group "Ziyo Sadolari" (Brilliance music),
organized at the department of music, successfully
participated in the competition "You are the only one,
Holy Motherland", organized on the 23rd anniversary
of independence, and took first place at the regional
and then the republican stage.
In Bukhara, the birthplace of shashmakom and
classical music, a music department was opened at the
faculty of Primary Education Methodology of the
State Pedagogical Institute (now BukhSU) in 1962.
Experienced teachers, teachers of folk music Tura
Juraev, Bokijon Ashurov, Mubinjon Azimov, Davron
Karimov, Valentina Dashich, Nina Smirnova, Istat
Kholova, Lidiya Presnyakova worked at the
department.
From the first years of independence of the
Republic, in order to develop national music and
instill it in the minds of young people, through the
efforts of the university rector's office and the dean's
office, a new department of "Traditional Music" was
created at the music faculty, to which an experienced
musician was appointed, now at the same time
people's artist and composer Ulmas Rasulov was
appointed. As well as, Ari Boboxonov, Orif Atoev,
Hikmat Nematov, Rahmatilla Inoyatov, Shodi
Sharipov, Tolib Temirov, Obid Temirov, Shokir
Sharipov was invited to work. Teachers of higher
educational institutions Ahmad Bahriev and Said
Saidiy started working at the same department. Later,
the department of "Traditional Music" was headed by
associate professor Fayzulla Turaev in 2000-2006.
Over the years, Professor M.Mahmudov, the head
of the department, has grown the scientific potential
of the staff of the music department, and specialists in
this field have made significant progress in
successfully defending research papers. With the
moral support of a mentor who closely helped
teachers with the ability to conduct scientific research
in the selection of topics and scientific supervisors,
dozens of candidates of sciences came out.
Researchers of music pedagogy and methodology,
such as B.Mustafayev, Z.Rakhimova, A.Bakhriev,
B.Madrimov, one after another successfully defended
their scientific works.
Professor M.H.Mahmudov also made a
significant contribution to the emergence of research
on musical culture and history, musicology, and the
musical heritage of Bukhara. The scientists of the
department have published 4 monographs, 1
textbook, more than 10 teaching aids, about 100
scientific articles and dissertations, and received a
ministerial grant for scientific research.
In 2009, a folklorist, professor O.Safarov,
O.Atoev, F.Turaev’s work, "Bukhorcha and
mavrigi", professor F.Turaev’s work, "Bukhara’s
music", were published in 2011 "The History of
Bukhara Shashmakomi" were published in 2011.
People's artist of Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan
Akhmadzhan Shukurov, honored artist of the
Republic, composer Orif Atoev, honored artist of
Turkmenistan Imamkul Yolliev, honored worker of
culture of Uzbekistan Kadyrkul Zhurakulov, honored
teacher of the Republic of Uzbekistan Fazliddin
Bovorov, Professor Olimjon Fayziev, candidates of
sciences, associate professor Bakhtiyor Mustafoev,
Zebo Rakhimova, Bahrom Madrimov, singers Usman
Inoyatov , Usman Jabborov, Sharif Sharipov, it was
at this faculty that such former students as Shukhrat
Tillaev, Feruza Asadova were educated.
In achieving the above-mentioned successes,
great credit goes to such masters as Kamol
Khairullaev, Ismat Shamsiddinov, Shamsiddin
Raikhonov, Toshpolat Tursunov, Makhmudzhan
Rakhmatov, Fayzullo Tooraev, Sanokul Dostov,
Sattor Murodov, Akhtam Koshaev, Lidiya
Presnyakova, Tamara Radjabova, Mardon Dostov,
Ashraf Gafurov.
Professors-teachers of the department, based on
their educational tasks, direct the scientific work of
students in the process of conducting scientific
research, as well as improve their professional skills
and ensure their active participation in cultural and
educational events of the republic and the region. to
increase the cultural level of young people, to form
their high spirituality. In particular, Salimova Hulkar,
under the scientific guidance of associate professor
Madrimov B.H., is the winner of the student grant
competition, as well as the winner of the 1st place of
the regional stage of the Zulfiya Prize, a participant in
the republican stage competition; Eldosheva Iroda
took 1st place at the regional stage of the competition
"Yagonasan, mukaddas vatan" and 2nd place at the
republican stage.Also, such students as Komilova
Gulrukh, Asadova Feruza, Samieva Mehriniso took
an active part in various regional and republican
competitions. competitions. In 2012, a 4th grade
student Samieva Mehriniso became the winner of the
regional stage of the state prize competitions
"Zulfiya" and "Nihol". Feruza Rakhmatova, a 3rd
year student, took the honorable 3rd place at the
Republican Scientific Olympiad held in Samarkand
in May 2014 in the field of Music Theory.
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So, since the first years of independence, our
national identity, spiritual heritage, traditional values,
our Uzbek national musical heritage, and attitude to
music education and training have risen to a
qualitative level. Several achievements have been
achieved in the higher music education system. In the
following years, large-scale reforms are being
implemented aimed at presenting our rich spiritual
heritage to the world at the international level. In this
regard, special importance is attached to the training
of professors and teaching staff of the higher music
education system, talented personnel.
3 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, over the years of independence, the
sphere of music education has literally risen to the
top, and in the effective establishment of systemic
activities, the formation of music education at the
State Conservatory of Uzbekistan and state
universities in different regions of the republic, the
scale of the work carried out, educational and
methodological, scientific work has reached a
qualitative stage. In the following years, the focus on
the development of the field, the conditions in which
it is created, are the basis for achievements in this
regard.
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