MA Course in Kodály Music Pedagogy

The 2-year MA Course in Kodály Music Pedagogy is the Institute's flagship programme, offering the highest level professional training currently available in this field in the world. What makes this programme unique and truly exceptional is the internationally sought after faculty, possessing vast experience and expertise on the Kodály concept implemented throughout the full spectrum of musical training, from early years to university level. The variety of specialisations available for students wishing to enrich their general understanding of Kodály-based music education creates wonderful opportunities for immersion in the fields of:

- Choral Music Education
- Voice Pedagogy and Repertoire
- Instrumental (Piano) Music Pedagogy
- Kokas Pedagogy
- Solfége Methodology
- Church Music Studies
- Conducting and Repertoire
- Kodály in Research
- Music for Students with Special Needs
- Early Childhood and Primary Music Education

Regular visits to the Institute's partner schools, where Kodály-based school music education can be experienced in its most authentic form, together with teaching practices of graduate students all contribute to the harmonious blending of theoretical understanding and practical skills. 

MA Course Content

List of subjects is available here in this document.

General Information

This comprehensive study programme provides an authentic background into, and an all encompassing scientific knowledge about the world-famous educational philosophy of Zoltán Kodály.

Those graduating from this course are capable of:

• adopting, preserving, developing and transmitting/teaching the Kodály method,
• taking part in writing and editing educational materials that affect public music education,
• taking part in analysis and research opportunities dealing with the development of the entire spectrum of music education, based on their musical and historical knowledge, and their knowledge of pedagogy philosophy and methodology,
• using their international music pedagogic knowledge to benefit Hungarian music education,
• taking part in the quality development of music education through their acquired knowledge, imagination and taste,
• sharing their musical and music pedagogical knowledge with others,
• training qualified new professionals and amateurs through their direct instruction as well as their own example (and pedagogical efforts in the case of a teacher's degree),
• actively taking part in the shaping of the general musical knowledge and the musical life within the community,
• playing useful active and initiative roles in the institutions of Hungarian and international musical life,
• the continuous broadening of the (vocal and instrumental) musical repertoire relevant to the practical aspect of Kodály music pedagogy.

Eligibility for admission:

• BA, BEd, BMus or equivalent
• proficiency in English
• successful completion of entrance examinations

The language of instruction and examinations (both aural and written) is ENGLISH. 

Non-native English speakers must submit proof of English proficiency. As a guide, we expect an intermediate, type C general language, or intermediate (B2) complex-type state-recognized exam, or an equivalent: TOEFL iBT min. 60, IELTS Academic min. 6.0, Cambridge min. 154, etc.

The programme is comprised of 4 semesters, with the fall semester starting at the beginning of September, and the spring semester lasting until the middle of June. The graduation ceremony is usually at the end of June.

Entrance examinations are held online and in-person on 4-5-6 June, 2025. 
Applicants will be notified individually about the procedure after the application deadline. 

For applicants residing in the following continents/countries online examination is NOT available:

• Europe (up to Russia and Turkey, from these two countries online examination IS available)

For applicants residing in the following continents/countries online examination IS available:

• Asia (including Russia and Turkey)
• North America
• South America
• Africa
• Australia (Oceania)

For details about accommodation please follow this link.

The Institute reserves the right to change or amend any of its programmes, requirements for degrees, tuition, fees, etc. from year to year.

Application

However, applicants are kindly asked to send the applications at their earliest convenience so that necessary arrangements can be made and applicants can be informed of acceptance in time.

Do not forget to attach the following documents to your application:

• detailed curriculum vitae including a photo of you
• motivation letter
• copy of your highest school certificate(s)/degree with English translation
• copy of your academic transcripts translated into English (if any)
• photocopy of your passport
• proof of English proficiency

Notification of acceptance will be sent out no later than 15 June.

Expenses for new STUDENTS ENROLLING FOR the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Fees for the 2025-2026 Academic Year will be updated soon. 

PAYMENT

The tuition fee - based on the pro-forma invoice issued by the Institute - must be paid for the first semester prior to enrolment, and for the second semester no later than 15 February.

Ways of payment:

1) bank transfer:

Bank name: MAGYAR NEMZETI BANK (=Hungarian National Bank)
Bank address: 1054 Budapest, Szabadság tér 9., Hungary
Name of account holder: Liszt Ferenc Zeneművészeti Egyetem (=Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music)
Address of account holder: 1061 Budapest, Liszt Ferenc tér 8., Hungary
HUF-based account number: IBAN HU22 1003 2000 0142 6768 0000 0000
EUR-based account number: IBAN HU34 1003 2017 0142 6768 0601 0014
Swift code (SWIFTBIC): MANEHUHB or HUSTHUHB (or HUSTHUHBXXX if the system requires 11 characters to input)

Please make sure you pay your tuition fee in the given currency, and to the account that accepts that given currency.

Please write this reference into the appropriate field when transferring: "Kodály Institute".

2) by banking card:

Types of cards accepted: all kinds of VISA, EUROCARD/MASTERCARD, American Express.
Please contact us for details regarding this way of payment.

Please be aware that paying by banking card involves a 2-5% commission that the bank charges on the card holder. Please make sure with your bank at home that transactions are allowed in Hungary. 

Please note that we cannot accept cash and cheques.

LATE PAYMENT

Those students who do not pay their fees by the given deadline the following late payment fines will be applied: 1st week: 3 % of total amount, 2nd week: 5 % of total amount, 3rd week: 10 % of total amount.

If payment is not done by the end of the 3rd week the student is not allowed to continue studies in that semester.

Exams & Evaluation - in general

The entrance examination is usually in June for studies commencing in September. Students will be notified of the exact dates by e-mail no later than 1 April.

Examinations are held at the end of each semester in January and May. Students are notified of the content of the examination and the exact dates during the semester. Examinations are evaluated by five grades: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – 5 being the highest and 2 the poorest grade. 1 is considered as fail.

CONTENT OF THE in-person ENTRANCE EXAMINATION IN THE PAST 

I ) Solfege-Music Theory Written Examination

DICTATION:

• two-part polyphonic material (about 8 bars)
• part of an art song (Classical or Romantic): notation of the soprano and bass parts, indication of chords
• a 20th-21st-century monophonic tune
• triads and seventh chords in root position and/or their inversions
• completing the missing parts of a 4-part Bach chorale

Download sample exam tasks here: ma_entrance_exam_samples / ma_student_copy / ma_teachers_copy

II) Aural Examination

1. Personal interview to have a better understanding of the applicant’s

• musical background
• background of music pedagogical interest
• level of familiarity with the Kodály concept of music education

2. Solfege-Music Theory

• sight-singing of an easier Classical or Romantic art song with own piano accompaniment (e.g. Mozart: Die Verschweigung KV 518)
• sight-singing a monophonic 20th-century tune
• playing a sequence of 4-part harmonies from figured bass at sight

See an example of sight-reading and figured bass.

3. Folk Music

Singing 25 folk songs from the applicant's home country by heart. Applicants are expected to provide a list of the scores and texts of the 25 songs for the examination. 

4. Singing

• 1 Baroque or Classical art song or aria
• 1 Romantic art song and
• 1 freely chosen art song or aria with piano accompaniment
  
  The chosen repertoire must be in minimum two languages and the pieces must be sung in the original language and by memory. Applicants must provide a list of the chosen pieces. 

5. Piano

• a freely chosen Bach piece, at least on the level of the three-part inventions
• first movement (allegro) of a Classical sonata (Beethoven, Haydn or Mozart)
• a freely chosen piece from a 19th- or 20th-century composer
  
  Applicants must provide a list of the chosen pieces.

6. Conducting

Conducting a two- or three-part choral piece.