His published compositions include six polonaises, six marches, and several quadrilles, waltzes, écossaises, songs, and works for piano.
Despite this setback, he attached himself to music quite early and proved himself to be adept at playing instruments, learning the cello, violin, and piano all without a teacher.
In 1820, he retired after 10 years of teaching to Volodimirov (Volodimirovka), Kursk in the Verkhneploskovsky Selsoviet of Pristensky District.
In 1814, another publication, entitled Erato after the Greek muse of poetry and passion, was produced which compiled more of Zhilin's vocal works.
Known to be a contemporary of the Austrian composer Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Zhilin was primarily involved in piano music, writing everything from challenging concert pieces to hearty, salon works.
Aleksey was lauded for his highly developed, piano musicianship and both his compositional and recital concerts throughout Western Russia were well attended during his lifetime.
His popularity was also enhanced as well due to one his most famous romances, "Baby, wearing a film asked" being featured in Platon Grigorievich Obodovsky's five-act, melodrama "Belisarius," a work that had amassed incredibly prestige and became a canon piece of repertoire at The Bolshoi Theater for a time.
[4] In 1808, Zhilin was invited to teach at St. Petersburg Institute for Blind Workers and once there, developed a fully-functioning orchestra, along with training composers and musicians as well.