For much of his life, Rimsky-Korsakov combined his composition and teaching with a career in the Russian armed forces—first as an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy, then as the civilian Inspector of Naval Bands. He wrote that he developed a passion for the ocean in childhood from reading books and hearing of his older brother's exploits in the navy. This love of the sea may have influenced him to write two of his best-known orchestral works, the musical tableau Sadko (not to be confused with his later opera of the same name) and Scheherazade. As Inspector of Naval Bands, Rimsky-Korsakov expanded his knowledge of woodwind and brass playing, which enhanced his abilities in orchestration. He passed this knowledge to his students, and also posthumously through a textbook on orchestration that was completed by his son-in-law Maximilian Steinberg.
fOr MuCH oF HIs LIfe, Rimsky-korSakov coMbined HIS CompositioN and teaching with a cAreer In the ruSSian aRMEd FoRCes—firSt as an oFfIcer in thE impeRiAl RussiaN NaVy, tHen As the cIviLiAN inspector of naVal BaNds. hE wROTe tHAt hE devElopeD a PassioN for the oceAn in childHood From rEadinG books aNd hEAriNg OF his olDER bROTher's Exploits In the nAVy. this lovE OF tHE sEA May haVe iNFluencEd him to write tWO oF his best-knoWn OrcheSTraL woRks, tHe MUSiCal taBleau sadKO (noT TO be coNFuSed wiTh his lAter operA of thE Same name) AnD schehERAzAde. as InspectoR of nAvAL bAnds, RiMSkY-korsakov expandeD his KnowLedgE Of WOodwind and brasS pLayiNg, which eNhAncEd his AbilitiEs In orChesTrAtion. He PassEd this knowLedgE TO HIS sTUdEnts, and aLso PosthumOusly ThrouGh a texTbOok on orcHestRatION THat was cOmpleted by His SOn-in-Law maxiMiLian steinbErg.