The article is devoted to the problem of preserving Russian ethnic identity. In the era of globalization, the identity of many countries is experiencing a crisis. A manifestation of national identity is the traditional folk art of an ethnic group. It is in him that what is called the spirit of the people is manifested. In modern conditions in Russia, it is not only necessary to preserve the Russian culture, but also to raise it to a new height. To achieve this, it is necessary to change the curricula of schools and universities, which can help the experience of teaching a course on historical ethnology of Russia to the students of the Higher School of Folk Arts.