The widespread use of orchestras and ensembles of Russian folk instruments is one of the characteristic musical phenomena of our day. It testifies to the steady growth of the cultural level of Soviet people, their desire for active participation in musical life. Orchestras and ensembles of Russian folk instruments are very diverse - both in the professional category and in the instrumental composition. This circumstance largely determined the task of this work - to show a typical score for a Russian folk orchestra (location of groups, instruments, recording rules) and characterize its instruments. The manual also introduces the most common compositions of folk orchestras and ensembles in musical practice, including the instruments of the symphony orchestra used there. A separate chapter is devoted to the characterization of famous orchestras of Russian folk instruments, amateur and educational groups.