Rimsky-Korsakov was born in Tikhvin, 200 kilometres (120 mi) east of Saint Peter

sburg, into an aristocratic family with a long line of military and naval servic
eâ his older brother Voin, 22 years his senior, became a well-known navigator and e
xplorer.[3]
Rimsky-Korsakov later recalled that his mother played the piano a little, and hi
s father could play a few songs on the piano by ear.[4] It is said that Rimsky-K
orsakov inherited his mother's tendency to play too slowly.[5] Beginning at six,
he took piano lessons from various local teachers and showed a talent for aural
skills,[6] but he showed a lack of interest, playing, as he later wrote, "badly
, carelessly, ... poor at keeping time".[7]
Although he started composing by age 10, Rimsky-Korsakov preferred literature ov
er music.[8] He later wrote that from his reading, and tales of his brother's ex
ploits, he developed a poetic love for the sea "without ever having seen it".[9]
This love, and prompting from Voin, encouraged the 12-year-old to join the Impe
rial Russian Navy.[8] He studied at the School for Mathematical and Navigational
Sciences in Saint Petersburg and, at 18, took his final examination in April 18
62.[6]
A teenage man with a full but neatly trimmed moustache, wearing a dark naval uni
form
Rimsky-Korsakov as a naval cadet
While at school, Rimsky-Korsakov took piano lessons from a man named Ulikh.[10]
These lessons were sanctioned by Voin, who now served as director of the school,
[3] because they would help the youth to develop social skills and overcome his
shyness.[8] Rimsky-Korsakov wrote that while "indifferent" to lessons, he develo
ped a love for music, fostered by visits to the opera, and, later, orchestral co
ncerts.[11] Ulikh perceived that he had serious musical talent, and recommended
another teacher, Feodor A. Kanille (Théodore Canillé).[12] Beginning in the au
tumn of 1859, Rimsky-Korsakov took lessons in piano and composition from Kanille
, whom he later credited as the inspiration for devoting his life to musical com
position.[13] Through Kanille, he was exposed to a great deal of new music, incl
uding Mikhail Glinka and Robert Schumann.[8] Despite Rimsky-Korsakov's now likin
g his music lessons, Voin cancelled them when Rimsky-Korsakov was 17, as he felt
they no longer served a practical need.[8] Kanille told Rimsky-Korsakov to cont
inue coming to him every Sunday,[13] not for formal lessons but to play duets an
d discuss music.[14] In November 1861, Kanille introduced the 18-year-old Rimsky
-Korsakov to Mily Balakirev. Balakirev in turn introduced him to César Cui, and
Modest Mussorgsky; all three of these men were already known as composers, desp
ite only being in their 20s.[15] Rimsky-Korsakov later wrote, "With what delight
I listened to real business discussions [Rimsky-Korsakov's emphasis] of instrum
entation, part writing, etc! And besides, how much talking there was about curre
nt musical matters! All at once I had been plunged into a new world, unknown to
me, formerly only heard of in the society of my dilettante friends. That was tru
ly a strong impression"