The development of a person's creative self-realization is one of the main guidelines for the modernization of the modern Russian education system. However, an analysis of the content of curricula, programs, the state of the modern practice of teaching students of colleges of culture and arts enrolled in specialties related to musical art, indicates a lack of attention of teachers to the problem of creative self-realization of students. Mastering by students of musical and compositional activity can contribute to their successful mastery of the means of musical expression, finding their own methods of creative self-realization. The author of the article concludes that the process of development of creative self-realization among students of colleges of culture and arts in musical-compositional activity is a gradual transition from self-knowledge and self-assessment by students of their capabilities in the implementation of this activity, – through the formation of their skills and abilities of musical improvisation, composing music, developing motivation for self-development, developing creativity, – for self-assertion of students and self-assessment of the results of musical and compositional activity. The article presents a methodology for the development of creative self-realization of students of colleges of culture and arts in musical and compositional activities, including: forms of education - small-group, individual and practical classes; forms of extracurricular activities - a music room, a music lecture hall, a creative workshop; teaching methods - observation of music, research, brainstorming, author's introspection, associative, portfolio; techniques - explanations of one's own actions, feedback, reflection; methods and techniques of creative work - combination, transformation, sketch work.