General Professional Studies and Skills
MUSIC THEORY AND SOLFÉGE (BA)
This course provides theoretical and practical acquisition of the music language's elements (harmony, form, counterpoint). While Music Theory studies the characteristics of periods in music history and methods to analyze them, Solfége, by improving musical skills in many ways, wishes to improve practical proficiency in those styles.
Study units:
1. Renaissance (modal) style scales, set of notes, C clefs, church and secular genres
2. Baroque period, the evolution of tonal major-minor language, Baroque genres and forms, the practice of basso continuo
3. Classical style/1: the classical harmonic language, diatonic, chromatic and enharmonic modulations.
4. Classical style/2: Classical forms and analyses, the sonata principle in the Classical thinking.
5. 19th century: Romantic world of harmony; new key relationships, distance principle, instrumental and vocal genres.
6. 20th century: analysis of Bartók pieces, movements in the 20th century: dodecaphony, serialism, etc.
4. The 4th semester is concluded with a complex comprehensive examination in Music Theory and Solfége.
Duration of the course: 4 semesters
ANALYSIS (MA)
This course is composed of:
- studying music's internal order and structural relations through examining the characteristics of periods in music history
- acquiring comprehensive analysis of various compositions
- developing analytical thinking
Some analysis tasks are performed on the piano.
Assessment:
Active participation is required every class; written examination at the end of the semester.
Duration of the course: 2 semesters
TRANSPOSING AND SCORE READING (BA)
(for students of piano/orchestra and choir conducting/organ/composition)
The aim of this course is to make students review and become familiar with instrumental scores in practice, and also to use them in the frame of one-to-one teaching. The syllabus also includes the knowledge of C clefs and transposing instruments, sight-reading and transposing of simple pieces (partly by playing keyboard duets).
For pianists there are no lessons held during the semester, however, students of piano must complete the following tasks at home and perform the pieces at the evaluation held at the end of each semester.
The material of the course (exam) is transposing in every key:
- Bach Fugue in four parts, except for BWV850 (Autumn Semester)
- the 1st movement of a Beethoven sonata, except for op.27/2, op.49 (Spring Semester)
Besides the pieces of Das Wohltemperierte Klavier's two volumes other fugues are acceptable as well (partitas, prelude és fugues, Kunst der Fuge, recommended examples: WK I: C major, B flat minor, WK II: E major, B major).
The aim of the task is to strengthen the student’s familiarity with the texture of music, and to confirm if the student has the necessary score reading skills. The act of transposing is not only reading individual notes but also finding the connections between these notes. These connections (i.e. the underlying harmonic structure of the piece, figuration etc.) ought to be “read” with the key-neutral method of solmization (perhaps assigning them scale degrees), then adapting them into a certain key.
Duration of the course: 2 semesters
CHAMBER MUSIC (BA/MA)
This course is compulsory for students of classical instruments (except for organ), and for the others it is an elective course that can also be chosen as an extra chamber music course for students of classical instruments.
Playing music in groups is the most fundamental way of instrumental performing art. Students are required to understand the aim and importance of chamber music and become proficient in various music genres. Early music and contemporary music are also represented in the syllabus.
Chamber music improves musicians' flexibility, sense of rhythm, dynamic control.
Students are required to play their instrument on a professional artistic level.
Chamber music classes start only a few weeks after the beginning of the semester, due to the time and precision needed for organizing chamber groups.
Taught by:
for Strings and Keyboard: professors of the Chamber Music Department, for Woodwinds and Brass: professors of the Woodwinds and Brass Department, for other students: professors of their main subjects
Duration of the course: major-dependent; see curriculum
CHAMBER MUSIC FOR MUSIC SCHOLARS AND CONDUCTORS (MA)
The aim of the subject is to give the opportunity to students majoring in non-performing arts (musicology, composition, conducting, and other theoretical majors) to participate in practical musical performing activities.
As students of these programmes have various backgrounds in instrumental or vocal performance the way of completing this subject is not strictly regulated.
Those who have a background of several years of learning and performing on an instrument can participate in chamber music classes or orchestra projects. Those who do not have a significant background with an instrument, can be members of choirs/vocal chamber music ensembles or contribute to contemporary music projects. For those who are not members of any ensembles, the chamber music department arranges vocal chamber music classes or chamber music classes. Students may also participate in projects of the Liszt Academy Choir or other ensembles, as well as classes organized by the chamber music department. They may contribute to the concerts organized regularly by the department of the musical projects they participate in.
For the completion of the subject, regular (weekly) attendance in the musical project verified by the leader of the musical project (leader of an ensemble, chamber music professor) and/or contribution to a department concert attached to the musical project are necessary. The completion of the subject is approved by the head of the department or the professor designated by the head of the department.
STRING QUARTET (BA/MA)
The aim of this course is to familiarize students with the string quartet literature. Also, see the description of Chamber Music.
Taught by: professors of the Chamber Music Department (Strings)
Duration of the course: major-dependent; see curriculum
PIANO ACCOMPANIMENT (BA)
(for students of piano)
During the semester, participants of this course have to go to 10 main subject classes of other instrumentalists or singers, and collaborate with them as piano accompanists, or assist students of orchestral conducting when requested by the Conducting Department. After a class is over, they get a signature from the professor of the given class. When they have collected 10 signatures on their Piano Accompaniment Sheet, they have to show it to the Head of the Piano Sub-Department (Professor Kálmán Dráfi - as of 2013), who signs the course in the index at the end of the semester.
Piano Accompaniment Sheet available online or at the International Office (Room 014).
Duration of the course: 4 semesters
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC (BA/MA)
Depending on the major or the study programme, this course is either
a) a practical course where students perform pieces in a group and get introduced to the modes of contemporary music notation. Students are also prepared for performing in ensembles.
b) a series of lectures on contemporary music and/or contemporary concert attendances
Taught by: professors of the Composition Department
Duration of the course: major-dependent; see curriculum
SECONDARY PIANO (BA)
(for all BA students, except for student of piano)
Piano is a means of getting to know pieces extensively and improving students' harmonic sense. Students are required to practice chord, scale, passage, and acquire sound knowledge of styles, playing at sight and vertical orientation in printed music. For students of piano the equivalent course is Piano Accompaniment.
Taught by: professors of the Secondary Piano Sub-Department
Duration of the course: major-dependent; see curriculum
ORCHESTRA (BA/MA)
(for students of strings, wind instruments, and percussions)
Students can experience professional and pedagogical aspects of orchestral performing. This course familiarizes students with significant pieces from different periods and also enables them to play these pieces on a concert-platform.
The orchestra regularly performs, participates in the Academy's events, on Hungarian and International composers' anniversaries, and at local and international music events, festivals.
Duration of the course: 6 semesters (BA), 4 semesters (MA)
CHOIR (BA/MA)
Students can experience the choral performing art's professional and pedagogical aspects. This course familiarizes students with significant pieces from different periods and also enables them to perform these pieces on a concert-platform.
The choir regularly performs, participates in the Academy's events, Hungarian and International composers' anniversaries, local and international music events, festivals.
The choir's programme mostly consists of a cappella pieces, however, they occasionally perform oratorical pieces with the orchestra.
Duration of the course: major-dependent; see curriculum