In 1949, the Department of folk instruments was established, which was headed by an outstanding virtuoso dulcimer player, founder of the Belarusian professional dulcimer school, art director of the State Orchestra of the BSSR Joseph Zhinovich, who was later awarded the honorary title of People’s Artist of the USSR, the academic title of professor and the State Prize of the BSSR. Talented graduates were invited to teach at the department: Georgy Zhikharev (balalaika, domra), Elfrida Azarevich (bayan), Samuel Ratner (conducting). Accordion and guitar classes were gradually opened, and mandolin was optionally mastered. The Department’s staff was replenished and expanded mainly due to its most talented graduates: Pavel Pogotsky (class of domra, balalaika, guitar, ensemble), Leonid Smelkovsky, Galina Osmolovskaya (domra), Eduard Lembovich, Grigory Grishaev, Valentin Chaban, Gennady Mandrus, Robert Nazarenko, Vladimir Savitsky, Tatiana Braginets (bayan). Later, the Department included graduates of Gnessin State Music and Pedagogical Institute: laureate of the All-Union Festival, author of works for the balalaika Professor Nikolai Proshko, Professor Petrovna Pisarchik (bayan), PhDs in pedagogical sciences, Associate Professors Konstantin Bulygo (bayan) and Eleonora Skuratova (accordion), graduate of Ural Conservatory named after M.Mussorgsky, Professor Boris Sinetsky (bayan) and others. After I.Zhinovich, the Department was brilliantly and fruitfully led by such famous musicians as Associate Professor Georgy Zhikharev and Honored Worker of Culture and Arts of the Republic of Belarus, Professor Mikhail Solopov.
Along with educational, scientific, research, creative and methodical work, concert and performing activities of the teaching staff and students also occupied a special place. The performing traditions, laid down by previous generations and constantly developing over the years, became even more active after the division of the Folk Instruments Department in 1980 into the Bayan and Accordion Department (head of the Department — Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus, Professor Nikolai Sevryukov) and the Stringed Folk Instruments Department (head of the Department — People’s Artist of Belarus, Professor Evgeny Gladkov). These Departments have conducted thematic, solo, and ensemble concerts in Belarus and abroad. Solo concerts were performed by V.Chaban, N.Sevryukov, I.Otradnov, V.Pisarchik as part of the trio of accordion players “Minsk”, A.Shuvalov, I.Kvashevich, L.Skachko, S.Belskaya, V.Pligovka, A.Daraganov and I.Daraganova (Kalenchits) as part of the duo “Expression” and others.
In recent years, many young teachers have been invited to work at the Department, among them: Olga Shevchenko, Alexander Shuvalov, Elena Volynets, Igor Kvashevich, Alexey Daraganov, Irina Kalenchits, Svetlana Belskaya, Lidiya Skachko, Vladislav Pligovka, Sergey Butor, and others.
In the period from 2011 to 2016, the Department was headed by Associate Professor Miron Bula, and from 2016 to 2024 by Associate Professor Alexander Shuvalov. Since September 2024, the Department has been headed by PhD in Art History, Associate Professor Lidiya Skachko (on parental leave since March 10, 2025; the duties of the Head are being performed by Professor of the Bayan and Accordion Department A.Shuvalov).
The Department conducts extensive research, creative and methodological work. With the active participation of the Department, republican contests and festivals are held, and large-scale creative projects are being implemented. Over the past decades, the participation of talented students in various international performing competitions has noticeably intensified.